NationStates Jolt Archive

I have a hypothetical question on political ethics ....

All right, stop you laughing and I'll give you the scenario.

"A by-election is to be held in a country due to a member retiring from politics early. The election will be run in a seat that is a 'Marginal Safe Seat' for the current governing party, who have an overwhelming majority in their representative council.

In recent times many scandals have hit this government and its charismatic leader, and they are currently lagging in opinion polls for the country as a whole. The election will be seen as a litmus test for upcoming general elections to be held in 18 months; with both major parties running strong candidates the outcome is likely to be close.

However, an Independent candidate has decided to run in the election, when interviewed he said the main reason for him running in this by-election was 'To make sure that the opposition candidate looses', citing that he had a bad experience with him in a previous election where he was made to look a fool in front of the electorate"

The question is, It is ethical of anyone to run in an election, with the predominate intent being to augment the outcome of the election to defeat a political foe, regardless of the will of the people?

I would like to hear what people say on this one, its a common occurrence, but I've never hear much about what people think about this sort of political tactic.

Thank you

Semar

I would say that the Independant is a very selfish and vain person, and that it is unethical. but, if people vote for him/her then that is what the people want, and those people are obviously stupid.

It is unethical because the sole concern of a democratic representative should be to improve the conditions of their constituents.

Anybody who qualifies should be able to run for office, no matte the stupidity of their reasons. You should submit this as an NS issue. :D

That's not a bad idea, I might just do that.

Thanks for your input.

Semar

Politics is the moral equivalent of war without weapons. The actions of the independent candidate are politically acceptable. We could argue all day long about his personal ethics, but running for office regardless of the reasons for doing so, is perfectly acceptable in a democracy.

In recent times many scandals have hit this government and its charismatic leader, and they are currently lagging in opinion polls for the country as a whole. With both major parties running strong candidates the outcome is likely to be close.

However, an Independent candidate has decided to run in the election,

Are you talking about Canada?
No, the elections won't be in 18 months...

Thank you

Zouloukistan

Are you talking about Canada?
No, the elections won't be in 18 months...

Thank you

Zouloukistan

Nope, not talking about Canada.

I'm not going to tell you where I got the senario from, but it is happening somewhere in the world right now in a democratic government at one of the levels of politics (Federal, state (where applicable) or local).

Thanks

Semar

AHH!! I saw you correcting your
but Iit is happening
to
but it is happening

Merci

Zouloukistan

Nope, not talking about Canada.

I'm not going to tell you where I got the senario from, but it is happening somewhere in the world right now in a democratic government at one of the levels of politics (Federal, state (where applicable) or local).

Thanks

Semar
It happened here in Texas. A women ran for a Senate seat just to spite her ex-husband.

I think that the actions are ethical, so long as he's upfront about his reasons for running. If people choose to vote for such a candidate (I can't imagine why), then that's a legitimate choice (maybe they all want the candidate to lose too). If he's lying about his reasons and motivations, then I'd say it's unethical.

It happened here in Texas. A women ran for a Senate seat just to spite her ex-husband.

Wow, that's really petty, it's just amasing the lengths people go to in an effort to spite their ex sometimes. Thanks for that, brings a smile to the face.

Anybody else got an opinion on this one?

Semar

Politically acceptable? Yeah, his manifesto would be - Get [this guy] cos of wot he did too meee...
EDIT: Or maybe in that squeaky voice from Worms 'Revenge!'
I'd doubt that anyone would vote for him though.

what is politics if not unethical

Ihatevacations']what is politics if not unethical

Well, if it wasn't unethical, it probably be the combining of different viewpoints of the community as a whole through spirited, unbiased and uncontrolled debate, to create laws and policies that bring prosperity and general well being to the country.

I haven’t seen it yet, but (in terms of government) that’s what it should be, possibly.

Semar

To paraphrase Pratchett: 'Policeman means 'man of the city'. Hvae you ever speculated on the origins of the word politician?'

Any ideas?