How cynical are you about politicians?

[angellous_evangellous]

Do you think that they're all scumbags?

Do you think that any of them really believe what they say?

Just curious.

 

[Storm]

I'd say 8 on a scale of 1-10.

They're not ALL scumbags... but the good ones don't last.

 

[Revoltingest]

If find'm generally dishonest, incompetent or both.
I believe that they will continue to do whatever they've been doing.
What they say about it is mostly irrelevant.

 

[Awoon]

I dont think they are scumbags.

I do think they are all influenced by lobbyists and not the voters of their districts.

They operate in a hierarchical system set up by themselves like businesses and religions do.

 

[Vega]

I find there are many decent politicians, but the antics of the unqualified take precedence in the media. My particular congressman is excellent, but you can't get much done in politics by yourself.

 

[doppelganger]

I'm with Plato. Anyone who seeks political power is probably lacking the moral fiber to wield it with integrity and honesty as a public servant.

 

[bobhikes]

On the local level you can get some good ones, but by the time they get to the state level they are corrupt and on the National level they are deeply ingrained into a corrupt system.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm with Plato. Anyone who seeks political power is probably lacking the moral fiber to wield it with integrity and honesty as a public servant.

I'd limit that to politicians who actually win.
The election/campaign process weeds out the trustworthy ones.

 

[doppelganger]

I'd limit that to politicians who actually win.
The election/campaign process weeds out the trustworthy ones.

Agreed. The cost to run a campaign for any significant office guarantees corruption.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I don't think I'm cynical about politicians. Most could be described as scumbags. Most also probably convince themselves they believe what they say.

 

[YmirGF]

Do you think that they're all scumbags?

Do you think that any of them really believe what they say?

Just curious.

I am about as cynical as one can get. I don't believe anything a politician says. My overall mantra is, "if you see a politician's lips moving, they are lying to you". Anyone who thinks otherwise, in my view, is simply naive.

 

[Flankerl]

The most honest politicians are those with the crazy utopian ideas that never will be accomplished.

 

[doppelganger]

"Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by the dumb." - Plato

 

[Shermana]

Do you think that they're all scumbags?

Do you think that any of them really believe what they say?

Just curious.

Herman Cain is the least of all current political evils, and I'd actually bet that he actually believes at least some of what he says.

 

[Oneatatime]

I think a fair few politicians are scumbags who put themselves ahead of all other considerations including the welfare of the country. This is somewhat innevitable because in order to rise that high you have to be willing to **** over anyone in your way and be a competent liar in order to convince the electorate that you're on their side.

I don't doubt that many of them believe in what they say. Tories hate the poor and vulnerable and make this abundantly clear in their policies, or attempted policies at least.

 

[Caladan]

Do you think that they're all scumbags?

Do you think that any of them really believe what they say?

Just curious.

I think many of us here have unrealistic expectations from them. politicians are an extension of the public.

 

[Levite]

Do you think that they're all scumbags?

Do you think that any of them really believe what they say?

Just curious.

The only thing worse than the scumbags who constitute America's elected national officials are the moneybag greedhead plutocrats who buy and sell the elections in order to own the government.

Not quite as bad as politicians, but running a close second: the idiotic apathetic sheeple who put them into office time and time again never shaking off their ignorance and thumb-up-the-a**-itis long enough to try electing some sane, honest, and ethical people to the Congress and the White House.


Not that I am cynical.

 

[SageTree]

I do not think being a politician should be a career.

And I wouldn't say I'm too optimistic that many of them agree with me on that.

Cynical though? Eh, I'll just leave it at that.

 

[Majikthise]

I am about as cynical as one can get. I don't believe anything a politician says. My overall mantra is, "if you see a politician's lips moving, they are lying to you". Anyone who thinks otherwise, in my view, is simply naive.

Yup..

 

[internationalist]

If good politicians come along (like Gandhi, MLK), they get shot. And then people complain that most politicians are liars and scumbags.