Can a politician be honest? Would you vote for them?
By jeffaim
@jeffaim (215)
United States
December 7, 2006 1:08pm CST
It seems that in the United States it is impossible for a politician to be honest and get elected or stay in office. If a politician admits that issues are complex or that there are two sides to be considered, many people will not vote for them because they believe that only their side is right. Would you vote for someone who said that they would accomplish all of your beliefs, but it would be difficult to do, and would require raising your taxes? Do you think it is possible for a politician to be honest and still be successful? Is this different in other countries?
5 responses
@ownado (1679)
• Portugal
10 Jan 07
Of course there must be some politicians which are honest because it's like this in every job, there are honest and not honest people but I don't like politics because for me (almost) them all are not honest so I don't spend time voting because no matter which one is chosen they normally don't do what they promised.
1 person likes this
@chrisianmusic (35)
• United States
15 Dec 06
I feel that as long as we have a two party system (because let's face it, that is what it has come to be), it will never happen. People will lie about their true beliefs just so they can fit into a red or blue crowd and be a success. The one guy who is honest is going to be completley ridiculed and will never have a chance. The only thing that would really overthrow that whole mentality is if there was a huuuuuuge social awakening that snapped people into focus with the entire world instead of an entire community. But unfourtunetly for us americans, that isn't quite so easy. Every government comes to an end/change at one point, we can only hope that happens to ours is soon, otherwise everyone is going to be in some serious sh**
@jeffaim (215)
• United States
19 Dec 06
thanks for your comment - I agree and would love to see an independent third party play a bigger role. Especially because it seems that BOTH parties are controlled by larger business interests - they just cater to different industries and constituencies.
@janet069 (663)
• United States
7 Dec 06
Regretfully, honest politicians do not go very far in office. Take a look at Jimmy Carter. He is a good, honest, and moral individual who held the nation's highest office for 4 years but becuase of his morals he was voted out for a 2nd term. He has done a lot of good for mankind since his presidency, much more than Bush can ever aspire to, but people did not see him as being able to make the tough decisions a president has to make. I wish this were not true but people elect a person they feel will do what they want done, regardless of whether or not it is moral or correct. Basically it would be a fluke if an honest one managed to sneek in.
@wandale (95)
• United States
15 May 07
I can only hope that in a few hundred years, the history books will get it straight that Carter helped the country in the long term, and Reagan harmed it! I feel like there's not much chance that we'll get an honest president in the near future because campaign financing is in a state where in order to be elected, it's more important to be a massively successful fundraiser than it is to be a great politician. What we've got now is a system that rewards being slick and palatable over being honest or having follow-through-- it seems like it's often of better benefit to your career in politics to say the thing that sounds good to your audience than it is to say what you really think.
@Smith2028 (797)
• United States
27 Jan 07
It is possible for a politician to be honest and get elected. However, it is rare in our society.
Examples: Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), and Senator Dr. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Zell Miller (D-GA), Joe Liberman (I (D)-CT)
The men mentioned above are some of the most honest and real politicians I know. They are willing to stand for what they believe no matter who they make mad or how unpopular it makes them. Through his years in the House, Representative Pence has constantly represented the people of his district first rather than the party.
