To date, I really haven't commented on the death of Ted Kennedy.  Now that he has been buried, its a little bit easier to examine what people are saying about him, and reflect on who he was.  What bothers me in general about the commentary regarding Kennedy's death are the references to how we need to thank him for his "sacrifice" and "public service".  In fact, this is a common phrase that is echoed whenever someone who has spent a great deal of time in politics has died... and is even used when a major political figure simply retires to private life.  Their "public service" must be honored and praised.

Politicians, no matter which side of the aisle they sit on, deserve no honor for "public service".  They are elected, and compensated, for doing a job.  They rarely, if ever, "sacrifice" themselves in that job.  In fact, they are compensated far too much, and take from the public for their own individual needs far too much.  All politicians do this, Ted Kennedy among them.  They also create rules for themselves which other people who are not members of the ruling class do not enjoy.  They receive benefits for what they do that are far more lavish than the average person, and make sure that the rules are written in such a way that it is difficult to get them out of politics until they choose to leave.

He became Senator, not because of any specific sacrifice on his part, but because he had a rich and privileged father, and two brothers who had made waves in politics before him.  And while in office, he never sacrificed of himself.  Politicians never do.  Favor is curried to them by anyone who wants a bill passed, and they take from those people whatever they want for their own personal enjoyment.  Whether it's killing off a wind farm because it will obstruct your vacation home's view, or avoiding scrutiny in the death of a woman.  He had power, and he used it.  He enriched himself at the expense of all of us... and took from us not only money, but freedom.

Exhalting politicians for their "sacrifice in public service" is an insult to real public servants who truly do give of themselves or the benefit of others.  Those who serve in the military, firemen, and those police officers who choose not to allow themselves to be corrupted, truly sacrifice themselves for the greater public good.  Not only should what they do be held up more as an example, but we should not diminish the term "sacrifice" by claiming others do it when they clearly do not.