Service to city is not about money

(UNEDITED) Reading the Nov.15th article, "How Much Should Your Mayor Make?" was disconcerting. Have we forgotten that though some re-imbursement may be necesarry for certain positions, this is a place of service? When we combine a position of honor with money/reward we find that our most honorable people in society are unwilling to fill these positions.

 Benjamin Franklin said: "Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of men...the love of power and ...money...when united in view of the same object, they have in many ways the most violent effects." Franklin felt that instead of uniting to solve problems, the power/money/prestige loving individuals would work against their competitors creating problems/rumors/hate/etc. (The 5000 Year Leap, A Miracle That Changed the World, Skousen, pg. 66,67) I believe our current payment for public offices attributes to why many honest and capable people will not run for office and why politics are generally so ugly. You can't run and win without big sponsors or a big back pocket..oh yeah, and a high tolerance for 'mud'. It is also a big reason why we can't work across political lines towards the merit of ideas. Instead people work 'for' or 'against' ideas depending upon lines of friendship or politics.

 Please remember that public servants are serving. President George Washington set a great example when at great personal sacrifice he refused any payment for his service as Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary War and as President of the United States.

 Cindy Hellewell

Syracuse