Overpaid retired politicians

Former House Speaker John Perzel is currently awaiting trial for allegedly spending taxpayer money on campaigns. He's accused of misusing more than $10 million in tax dollars to get himself and his cronies elected and re-elected. In fact, "the grand jury found Perzel went to great lengths to maintain control and expand his power through illegal means", according to the 2009 press release from then-Attorney General Tom Corbett's office. Perzel is is currently receiving more than $7,100 per month in pension (over $85,000 per year) in addition to a lump-sum payment of more than $200,000 received after his November defeat at the polls. And he won't have to repay any of it even if he's convicted on all charges.

Is it ever about the voters?

I often wonder if any of our public officials are truly pursuing office to help the will of the people come to fruition. There may be fewer in Pennsylvania than some other places but they're not unicorns; Surely a few do exist. The problem is, I'm having great difficulty finding them. Time after time in local elections, we appoint new judges who've never practiced law. We have district justices with no college education. We have representatives on the state & local level who've never held a job (outside of their lavishly compensated elected positions). How can they possibly make the best decision for Pennsylvanians when they know nothing of the struggles of the working class, have no idea how to run a business or create jobs, and have only a void where the voters have experience?