When I was introduced to my first political campaign nearly 37 years ago, I was told by one of the experienced campaign professionals, “There is Chicago politics, there is Lose-i-ana politics, and there is all the rest.”

Over the years, his assessment of the American political landscape has been proven correct over and over. As yet another Chicago politician faces our justice system, I find it very sad, and have only one question: Where are the people of Illinois?

Ok, and maybe several more questions.

Why do you elect these scumbags? As my mother would say, “What were you thinking?" Aren’t you in charge? Why can’t you tell the difference between those who only want to line their pockets and those who only want to serve the public interest? What keeps you from doing a better job of discerning the qualities we all hope for in our leaders: unimpeachable integrity, sound judgment and an innate instinct to do the right thing? After all, integrity and sound judgment are all that is required to earn the public trust.

Is that too simple?

When Sam Nunn retired from the U.S. Senate in 1996, he said he had tried “by word and example” during his 24 years of service, to demonstrate “that it remains possible to be involved in the political process and still retain both intellectual honesty and ethical behavior. In the final analysis, this may be the single most important responsibility of public service.”

Indeed.

We need men and women in public office who firmly believe in Nunn’s basic tenet of public service. And we need an electorate in every state that will not vote for anyone who demonstrates anything less.