Habemos resolutos politicum!

Whether one is catholic, religious or an atheist, inevitably there is inspiration to be found when over a hundred experienced high level leaders of the same consecration get together for a common purpose, in this case the college of cardinals to elect a new sumo pontífice to head the Holy See.

The history, the ceremony, the hierarchy, even degrees of mystery surrounding or to some extent haunting one of the world's oldest organizations.  The only handful of people which challenge it's fundamentals and objectives are overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of large numbers of admirers and followers. 

I think it was Christine Lagarde a couple of months ago, who suggested that European heads of state should get together in the same room and only be allowed to leave after they agreed upon a resolve for Europe's financial/economic/social and political dip.

I would take it one step further.

The former politicians who once were elected into office and now occassionally add on the disputes where political paths ahead should lie, knowing they no longer have a hand in governance that could hold them liable, they too should be obliged to either get into the room or take a vowe of silence and retreat to some sort of monastic life. 

All of them, on bread and water, disconnected from outside influences, inside a sealed room with nothing else to stare at than a painting of judgement day, contemplating and reflecting on the true essence of wrong and right, rather than left and right, with no possibility to abstain from the road in front of us.  The general public will then decide to which extent they want to stand in the rain or sit at home awaiting white smoke hinting a solution or indeed choose to be indifferent while community life will move on.

At present, it is certainly tempting to continue to see politicians come and go and the thought they will have a role for the rest of the (public) life they chose is potentially scary or maybe just annoying.  Then again, faced with the impossibility to one day simply abandon public office and therewith their share of responsibility just might be a good enough barrier for anyone to choose a career in politically serving the general public.