WASHINGTON, D.C. and SACRAMENTO, CA -- Politicians decry Washington as a sewer but when they get there, they treat it as a hot tub, says George Roche, the astute president of Hillsdale College. Indeed, the reality, apparent to all but the willfully blind, is that senators and congressmen of both parties are supposed to represent their districts in Washington but usually wind up representing Washington and its special interests to their districts. The way they describe this process is to say, in sanctimonious tones, "I have grown," as they listen for quick applause from the press. This process is also true on a state level, and the time has come to recognize it officially.

Instead of Al Gore (D-TN) in a news story, readers would see Al Gore (D-EPA) because Mr. Gore’s true constituents are federal environmental regulators, an unelected gang that goose-steps around the country depriving people of their property without compensation. Bill Clinton may be described as (D-UN) because of his faith that this wind tunnel on the East River performs any useful function beyond its own preservation and enrichment, at U.S. taxpayer expense. And the (UN) designation would apply to anyone who believes in a bureaucratic solution to international problems, much less those on the domestic scene. National Security Advisor Sandy Berger is clearly (D-PRC), as in People’s Republic of China. But there is nothing partisan about this process.

Even conservative writers described Bob Dole, the Republicans’ recent presidential candidate now stumping for Viagra, as (R-IRS). Also appropriate would be (R-ADM) for the Archer Daniels Midland corporation, an outfit fabulously wealthy due largely to the Niagara of federal pork that Mr. Dole favored. The current crop of Republican hopefuls, including Elizabeth Dole, talk a good game but don’t show sufficient spine to eliminate the real problem, an immoral and unconstitutional code that taxes Americans at a higher rate the harder they work, and makes taxes the largest single expenditure for many families.

Or consider the venerable Ted Kennedy (D-PBS), dedicated to preserving government radio and television, or Lamar Alexander (R-DOE), tolerating a federal Department of Education that should be shut down tomorrow morning. Then there’s Dick Gephart (D-HHS) and Barbara Boxer (D-ACLU), a champion of race and gender quotas reminiscent of Pat Schroeder (D-NOW).

California’s Assembly Speaker, Antonio Villaraigosa, a former teachers’ union organizer, qualifies for (D-CTA) as do Scott Wildman and Carol Migden, currently trying to quash the state’s charter schools under the heel of union power.

While describing true constituents, we should also dispense with titles such as "the honorable" for government officials. Even in the rare cases where they are accurate, these are a belch from the days of feudalism, which is where we seem to be heading.

What began as a country with a government has become a government with a country, with competing groups posing as victims in order to qualify for more government largesse. As F.A. Hayek warned, the ever encroaching state weakens the independent character and steers a nation down the road to serfdom.

As C.S. Lewis noted, if you are on the wrong road, there is nothing "progressive" about continuing in the same direction. You need to stop, turn around, and get on the right road. The challenge for the new century is to establish a country with a government that serves and represents the people, not the reverse.

-- K. Lloyd Billingsley