Get creative! Everybody: input please: "Politician vs. Representative"

[SparklyJr]

Hi everyone!

Okay, for my English Composition class, I was assigned to write a comparison essay comparing two synonyms (the idea came from Dave Barry's "Guys Vs. Men," the intro to The Complete Guide To Guys," so the essay can have a ring of humor to it).

I chose "Politicians vs. Representatives." Politician meaning the deceitful, bullshitting, photo-op sort of fella (coughBushiescough), and "representative" meaning an upstanding, honest man/woman, who is in office because they have a genuine desire to govern a people.

So-- I've already got a basic outline for the essay, but I want you guy's opinions! Use your imagination: What are the characteristics of a politician, vs. characteristics of a representative/statesman? It can be anything, really-- from their speech content to their hair spray. Whatever.

Note.. I wanted to use "Statesman" instead of "Representative" because I believe statesman is the correct synonym, but my English professor (who, by the way, has never taught an English class) advised me to use representative.. what do you guys think? If you can think of any other synonyms that would be more appropriate for the same sort of content, I'd like to hear those, too.

I'm excited to hear your responses! :)

-- Sparkly Jr

[reprobate]

1. OK, I'll start. The only difference is their constituencies.

The representative responds to his/her district-state residents, regardless of if, or how much money they have contributed to his/her campaign.

The politician responds to only those who have contributed to his/her campaign. The response is comensurate with the size of the contribution and the likelyhood of continued contributions.

In other words, it's all about the money.

[hermetic]

2. A Representative cares

while a politician scares.

[hermetic]

3. Pols listen to the money

while Reps listen to the many