Tangential but on-topic question and answer: What’s the biggest lesson to take out of national politics in the Modern [sic] Era?
As a career path, you (can!) become fabulously wealthy. Take the enrichment of Biden and family; Bernie buying 4 homes; the Obama’s working on their 3rd mansion (and what a mansion it is); Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein; Harry Reid; Nancy Pelosi. Examples abound.
Now, let your mind drift back to Harry Truman’s retirement from political office. Notice any difference?
You noticed that, too? No doubt, the surest way to wealth in America today is "public service". It goes way back, to the days of Dick Gephardt and Danny Rostenkowski.
IMO, the Founding Fathers had too much faith in the average voter, by not including term limits on Senators and Representatives. They couldn't foresee the invention of air conditioning, and what that would do to how Congress does its business today. IIRC, the last time the Congress passed a budget on time was the year before central air conditioning was installed in the Capitol.
If you've been to DC during the summer, as most of us have, you can understand why.