Culture of corruption

In 2006 and 2008, the Democrats ran effective campaigns against the "Republican culture of corruption". Now we have the Blago scandal in Illinois, and not a Republican in sight. Republicans are now talking about the Democrats' culture of corruption.
The reality is that the entire political system has become a culture of corruption. Corruption is not limited to Republicans or Democrats, liberals or conservatives. So called conservatives certainly loved their earmarks. So called liberals, espousing their empathy for the common man, certainly did not mind living in high style.
The system has become one of insiders. House and Senate members are regularly re-elected. We hear of so called "safe seats" that the parties do not even bother to contest.
What is more interesting is what happens when an incumbent decides not to run, dies or is forced from office: we see an array of insiders lining up for the seat. In many instances, especially in cases of death or term limits (which I think are one in the same in the minds of some politicians) we get spouses, sons and or daughters as the candidate. Some of these are fine people, and some have actually built a legislative records, but what was really their qualification other than a family name?
If there are no family members, we get the musical chair playing office holders. This has become especially prevalent here in California due to term limits. The view used to be: City Hall to Sacramento to Washington. Now, we have former legislators coming back to run for County Boards, City Council and other former "lesser" offices. Heaven forbid they actually go out and work in private industry.
If the former officeholders don't want the job, then staff members will step up and run. Again, these are people, on both sides of the aisle, who have grown up in government and never worked outside of it. One of my biggest objections to the election of Barack Obama was the fact that I did not see any work in anything other than government. I get worried about people whose entire focus from the moment they got out of school was getting elected.
The pool of applicants for these jobs are shrinking and that is to our detriment. Most people do not have the inside connections to mount a campaign for office. Yes, we have party primaries, but the cigar smoke filled rooms still exist for picking candidates. If you are not a part of the party apparatus, good luck.
Public service is noble, but I do not believe the Founding Fathers intended it to be a permanent career. It may not be the time to pick on Ted Kennedy, but 46 years in the U.S. Senate? The man has really never held any other job in his adult life. How can he possibly have any perspective on the challenges faced by a small business owner? How does he gain any understanding of the concerns of people over crime in the streets? Does he really live under the laws he imposes? Does he gain any understanding of their effect? He, and many like him on both sides of the aisle have lived in a bubble and we are the worse for it.
We are in a time that calls for leadership and innovation. We need new ideas and perspectives. You won't get that with the same people. That is the change we need.