What made them run for government offices?

Ideally, someone runs for a government position because he wants to serve his country. He wants to help think of ways to improve the community. He wants to gain power so as to more able of controlling the bad guys in the country. Now, reality check. These politicians we have right now rarely have that ideal vision upon running for a government position. So, what is/are now their goal for running? Simple. They want to have to money and political power. Being a government official doesn't mean you have the highest paid profession in the world. In fact, a politician uses more money for campaigning than the total salary he will have whenever he gets elected. But, they will still pursue running because a government position will guarantee them of a political power. With this power, they can virtually control almost everything. They will use that power to gain access on different departments of the government therefore exposing them to the ways that they can earn money. And those ways are more likely to be illegal than legal. That's why government officials are being compensated while having their salaries. What I mean is that they have those "illegal ways" that give them additional (larger than their actual salaries) money. And that is what we call corruption.

I don't know politics. I don't even have a blood line from them. I am curious too why they run for the government offices position. It seems to me that they are competing and fighting for whom will become and can sit in the position they wish for. I don't think the salary there is big. How come they fight for it some even wish to kill their opponents just to win. I really wonder why. But I have some feeling inside that what they want is POWER. Because when they are in the position, they will have the power to gain more income due to some give aways or commissions from some large companies or projects in their places. Pardon me if I am wrong but most of them are there for personal benefits except for those who really want to help and serve the people. I hope politicians have clear conscience and will willingly submit themselves to the service of the people and not just for personal gains and interest.

It's true that the earnings of the government officials all through out their term will not compensate their campaign-election expenses. My observation from my few years working in government office, mostly politicians run for popularity and fame purposes only than a pure good public servant who have a helping hand to their populace.

As defined in Political Science being a public official is being public servant. They should serve the people ideally and not their own selfish ways. But that's very idealistic and far from reality. I come from a family of politicians. My parents were murdered because of politics. It's not that i'm his daughter that's why i'm saying this, but my father was the only real public servant i have ever seen my entire life. He never took his salary, he gave it to those who are in need. In the middle of the night we would be awaken by people calling for help. He was well loved by the people to whom he served and loathed by his political rival. My brother told me that being a politician is like a calling. It's in one's blood to serve the people. But once you are in that position and you are caught in the system (graft and corruption), it's difficult not to get involved.