NationStates Jolt Archive

What do we want from them?


Politicians always tend to get villified for breaking promises, dodging responsibility, spinning unfavourable stories, making unrealistic claims and so on and so forth.

But if they didn't do this then they either don't get elected in the first place, or if they do get elected and do something wrong and take responsibility for it then people demand their resignation. Politicians are (apparently) people too and make mistakes, but when they make a mistake if they take responsibility for it they get fired and if they dodge responsibility they get castigated.

They have to do what they do in order to get people to vote for them, politicians are a reflection of society. The fault isn't with them, it's with you the voters. Either you accept politicians making mistakes without losing their jobs or you accept them dodging responsibility. Because at the moment politicians lose either way.

So, in a vague attempt to make a rant into a debate, do we expect too much of politicians? Are we actually unfair to them?

Politicians differ from criminals in that they commit their crimes with impunity and behind a veil of legality.

What do we want from them?


Politicians always tend to get villified for breaking promises, dodging responsibility, spinning unfavourable stories, making unrealistic claims and so on and so forth.

But if they didn't do this then they either don't get elected in the first place, or if they do get elected and do something wrong and take responsibility for it then people demand their resignation. Politicians are (apparently) people too and make mistakes, but when they make a mistake if they take responsibility for it they get fired and if they dodge responsibility they get castigated.

They have to do what they do in order to get people to vote for them, politicians are a reflection of society. The fault isn't with them, it's with you the voters. Either you accept politicians making mistakes without losing their jobs or you accept them dodging responsibility. Because at the moment politicians lose either way.

So, in a vague attempt to make a rant into a debate, do we expect too much of politicians? Are we actually unfair to them?

Nope, and nope. And it is normaly other politicians that call for resignations, not Joe Public.

If you don't like the politicians the don't vote for them. If you don't like any then run yourself. That's the beauty of democracy, you get what you vote for. Well, usually.

That's the beauty of democracy, you get what you vote for. Well, usually.

No, you get what the majority votes for - and if they vote for idiots, which is usually the case, you're screwed. Moreover, most times you're stuck with choosing between Bowl of Shit A or Bowl of Shit B. They both may smell very slightly differently, but they're both shit.

No, you get what the majority votes for - and if they vote for idiots, which is usually the case, you're screwed.
Which is why you help campaign for someone who isn't an idiot, or run yourself.
Moreover, most times you're stuck with choosing between Bowl of Shit A or Bowl of Shit B. They both may smell very slightly differently, but they're both shit.

Again, campaign for someone who isn't shit or run yourself.

Which is why you help campaign for someone who isn't an idiot, or run yourself.

But what if I'm an idiot, or there are no non-idiots running?

Again, campaign for someone who isn't shit or run yourself.

See above.

The prob with the UK is that you don't get to choose yr leader!! We only get to choose the ruling party who choose their leader. What if we want a leader from a minority party??
Fat Cahnce!!! There is no such thing as democracy in the real world

Unless u live in scandanavia or holland

LOL

Again, campaign for someone who isn't shit or run yourself.

Umm I don;;t know about America but here in the UK MP's have to pay for the privalge of becoming MP's. And that cost ait cheap.

Umm I don;;t know about America but here in the UK MP's have to pay for the privalge of becoming MP's. And that cost ait cheap.

They have to pay a deposit of £500, if they get more than 5% of the vote that gets refunded to them.

The prob with the UK is that you don't get to choose yr leader!! We only get to choose the ruling party who choose their leader. What if we want a leader from a minority party??
Fat Cahnce!!! There is no such thing as democracy in the real world

Unless u live in scandanavia or holland

LOL
The leader has to win a constituency like everyone else, and people know who the leaders are before the election begins. It's not like they pull someone out of a cupboard after the election is over and surprise you with them.

If you don't like the politicians the don't vote for them. If you don't like any then run yourself. That's the beauty of democracy, you get what you vote for. Well, usually.

What wishful thinking.

They have to pay a deposit of £500, if they get more than 5% of the vote that gets refunded to them.


The leader has to win a constituency like everyone else, and people know who the leaders are before the election begins. It's not like they pull someone out of a cupboard after the election is over and surprise you with them.

£500? Naa it's more than that.

£500? Naa it's more than that.

It's around that level. Hence why you get joke candidates etc.


Edit:

link (http://www.stonewall.org.uk/beyond_barriers/community/diverse_communities_active_lives/get_yourself_elected/1071.asp)
Potential MPs need to be nominated for election by a proposer and a seconder, both of whom must be registered voters in the relevant constituency. The nomination must also be signed by eight other electors and submitted along with a fee (known as a deposit) of £500 which is returned to candidates who get more than 5% of the votes cast

I'm not a fan of politicians or of government, they screw up, lie about it, think about themselves first and then retire to live a great life from all the money they made. They don't even look like us! Our representitives are nothing like the average man; just a bunch of stupid lawyers.
All people need to be free is a libertarian constitution and very small communities with direct democracy and yearly elected bureacrats to manage health and monetary systems.
The only difference between the despots of old and governments today is that as long as the media is impartial, we can remove elected 'representitives' every <5years(UK). Then again, this system would exist if people truelly wanted to be free.

politicians sometimes forget that they are public servants, they are leaders too but first and foremost their duty is to the nation, not to themselves nor to their trivial "place in history." I would agree though that politicians are to some extent a reflection of their society, but I would also argue that society is shaped by the dominant classes in order to maintain a status quo regardless of ethics.

Politicians are lizards, but you have to vote for them to ensure the wrong lizard doesn't get in...but every once in a while you get a good lizard...

Politicians are lizards, but you have to vote for them to ensure the wrong lizard doesn't get in...but every once in a while you get a good lizard...

Out of interest did anyone get the reference?