Same as it ever was

"All might go well in a commonwealth if every one in the parliament would lay down his own interest and aim at the general good." -- John Selden's Table Talk.  Selden, an Englishman, lived 1584-1654.

There have since been a few assemblies that approached this ideal.  I think it's what the current City Council hopes to be.  It is certainly the standard they will be judged by.