weber

"There are two ways of making politics one’s vocation: Either one lives ‘for’ politics or one lives ‘off’ politics. By no means is this contrast an exclusive one. The rule is, rather, that man does both, at least in thought, and certainly he also does both in practice. He who lives ‘for’ politics makes politics his life, in an internal sense. Either he enjoys the naked possession of the power it exerts, or he nourishes his inner balance and self feeling by the consciousness that his life has meaning in the service of a ‘cause’. In this internal sense, every sincere man who lives for a cause also lives also lives off this cause. The distinction hence refers to a more substantial aspect of the matter, namely to the economic. He who strives to make politics a permanent source of income lives ‘off’ politics as a vocation, whereas he who does not do this lives ‘for’ politics. Under the dominance of the private property order, some-- if you wish-- very trivial preconditions must exist in order for a person to be able to live for politics in this economic sense. Under normal conditions, the politicians must be economically independent of the income politics can bring him. This means quite simply, that politician must be wealthy or have a personal position in life which yields a sufficient income".

An individual can make politics his life work by either living for politics or living off it. An individual does so by thinking about it or actually living it. A person lives for politics if it becomes his life passion because of the power he may get from it or in his thoughts; he feels that his life will have meaning. Such an individual may feel that he has a cause to which he must serve. If he lives for a cause, then he will have to live off the cause. He does so by creating income from politics. In other words, politics becomes a job that will ensure him an income. If on the other hand, he does not use politics as a source of income, he is living for politics and as such, politics has become a way of life for him. However, an individual who lives for politics must not depend on the income from politics. He has to be wealthy or have enough income from another source for economic support.

I chose this passage because the majority of politicians today had prestigious jobs which provided them with high incomes. Many enter politics with their ‘pockets’ already ‘filled’ and upon leaving expect their pockets to become even ‘fuller’. Many politicians do not depend on the income from politics. They receive much money from donations given to them by celebrities and huge corporations. The passage outlines quite clearly the intent of those who ran for political offices and what their intentions are: to make money or support a cause.