dxlightning
Platinum Membership
[ss:LostPeon's Gray][ss:LostPeon's Gray]
Posts: 1,246
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Post by dxlightning on Apr 17, 2007 12:14:03 GMT -8
Some of you know that I have aspirations of becoming a senator in USA someday, and I've been thinking about this subject for quite a while. I'm not going to participate in this debate, I just want to see what you all think.
I've always told myself that if I become a politician, I want to be a good, clean politician. Then, I think about how bad the politicians are viewed in current day, and it makes me wonder. I'm fairly certain that most, if not all politicians probably said the same things when running, but so many of them are considered corrupt anyway. It makes me wonder whether they're truly corupted by power, or whether it simply is necessary in order for them to do their jobs. For example, they'd need to vote for a bill to raise taxes in order to get support for their bill to greatly improve health insurance, etc.
So are politicians truly corrupt and greedy, AKA evil people? Or is there some underlying fact that's unknown to the public which is necessary for them to do true good in the world?
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Post by softspoken on Apr 17, 2007 12:27:12 GMT -8
Well, I think for most it starts off that way, but they don't get the popular vote, aka with the beliefs they stand by - the bigger, and more wealthy people do not favour, therefore the clean politicians, either don't get to run in office, or they get the boot. They just don't get the chance.... I think it's like they say they'll pass one lame bill in order to the love from the big, population players and then they'll make it equal in some other sense, like the side they really were running for. But in the end, if they want the power, they have to succumb to the Big, Few, Wealthy jackasses... to satisfy their needs and that's to keep the little people down. So power = corruption ----> staying in power. little people = unimportant and don't get their voices heard.
I'm afraid it's the sad truth. But you know, if you can change that - all the power to you, and I'd be very proud of you.
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Post by tyrantisius on Apr 17, 2007 13:02:54 GMT -8
Most politicians aren't corrupt. The system is. Down with the system, etc etc.
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Post by softspoken on Apr 17, 2007 13:54:02 GMT -8
That's basically my point/what I meant. The system itself is corrupt which causes the politicians to become corrupt so to speak.
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dxlightning
Platinum Membership
[ss:LostPeon's Gray][ss:LostPeon's Gray]
Posts: 1,246
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Post by dxlightning on Apr 18, 2007 6:19:13 GMT -8
Prone, haven't we already had the talk about you not participating with government discussions? You may want to delete that post before others see it.
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Post by softspoken on Apr 18, 2007 12:48:27 GMT -8
NO stop deleting posts. gawsh.
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Post by tranceeagle on Apr 18, 2007 15:15:54 GMT -8
Sometimes deleting a post is a very good move.
I've said some stupid things and deleted them.
So, am I allowed to post here? My post will: 1) Be Long(like my 1000 word posts of yonder and fonder days) 2) Cover many sides/aspects/flaws apparent in governments 3) Potentially heat things up 4) Be Long
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Post by tyrantisius on Apr 18, 2007 16:08:58 GMT -8
Do it hawk man, do it.
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Post by softspoken on Apr 19, 2007 1:29:25 GMT -8
yes, do.
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Post by tranceeagle on Apr 19, 2007 17:24:58 GMT -8
Wanting to run for office can be seen as both a noble cause or as a quick way to ruin your soul.
There is an old quote along the lines of "You try to change the system and instead the system changes you." And many movie plots use the same thinking. The honest, naive and clean cut young person wants to represent his/her community and make it better. They are full of passion and get elected because everyone likes them. Then they are slowly seduced by the dark side of politics. They make a deal that compromises their personal ethics but only do it because something good comes of it. Then the next deal does less good and the next one even less etc....
Then they are seen as old and soulless and usually die a mediocre death.
This scenario is a cliche and in my opinion an exaggeration. But it has a slight basis in reality.
Part of the problem are many of the people who run and part of the problem is the system.
So let's see the possible reasons.
The People who run:
The majority of the people who run and win belong to a higher level of social class. Mainly it's due to the money. The common man does not get represented by a common man.
Elections cost a lot of money and for the first election someone enters, a lot of that money usually comes from the candidate themselves. They are not "visible" enough to garner their party's or corporations and businesses financial support. If someone is already wealthy then it doesn't matter as much.
If someone is coming from this higher social class then they are already disconnected from the average voter. This detachment can cause a politician to lose focus on what their "true" job is, which is to be a leader and protector of the people they represent.
There are exceptions to this of course. Some people of higher means make it a mission to help those of lower means. They have compassion and empathy for people and thus actually will do more than average to help those people out. So if they get elected, the politician with a heart will at least attempt to get laws passed that help out.
Beyond the social class is the reasoning someone would have to run for office. Some of the most prominent reasons are
1) They don't like the way the government is being run and want to change it. 2) They like the way the government is being run and want to make sure it stays that way. 3) They want to be of service to others and use their expertise to improve things. 4) They like power.
The first two are decent enough and usually are the part of the platforms that politicians run on(everything is fine or everything is wrong). The 3rd one is for the more idealistic person who just wants to lend a helping hand, they are also probably the most rare type of person in politics. #4 is the creepy backroom dealing sycophant(def: a servile self-seeking flatterer) that you see in political movies about corruption.
The ones who like power aren't necessarily evil, but they do want power. And the lust for power could eventually lead them to do things that betray their personal ethics just so they can gain more power.
I'd like to hope that the #4's are as rare or even rarer than the #3's, but I'm not so sure they are.
So if you are thinking of going into politics you must think about what your current reasons are for going into it and also will you be able to withstand the compromises required and survive "The System"
Now it's taken a while to write this part so I'll leave the section on "The System" for later on, hopefully I'll get to it tonight.
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Post by tranceeagle on Apr 20, 2007 17:53:46 GMT -8
Ok here's part two.
Yes, politicians are corrupt!
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Post by softspoken on Apr 21, 2007 12:32:59 GMT -8
Yeah. totally. they BECOME corrupt in the process.
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Post by tranceeagle on Apr 26, 2007 1:59:56 GMT -8
Well I'm sure some are already corrupt before they come into it. Since if you're corrupt and realize that most politicians are corrupt, then you would think "Damn, I should be a part of that"
Like attracts Like.
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