[cstross]

Disagree. As a culture we have developed public offices that are structured to prevent anyone who might be elected with a mandate to effect change from doing so. The iron law of bureaucracy applies: after the first generation most of the staff of any organization see their job not as pursuing the mission statement of the org but as preserving their own jobs. Attempts to change things generate resistance from within because, hey, jobs might be threatened. Hell, political candidates who might challenge their party's ability to win future elections by accomplishing change (which might be unwelcome to some elements of the voting -- or election-buying -- public or oligaarchs) are weeded out before they get a chance to run for office.

The "disappointing" incumbent is merely a printed-paper face on the front of a machine. Which some loons choose to use for target practice. Resulting in the existence of a vast reactionary bureaucracy dedicated to extirpating threats to printed-paper faces.

[mcguire]

Do you by any chance know any elected officials or career civil servants?