That's the title of an article at Casey Research. Here's an excerpt.
The electorate must by now recognize they are electing incompetents at best, and at worst, crooks, but the constant, naïve, pro-democracy mantra is, “We just need to elect the right people.”
But, the “right people” aren’t (and won’t be) running for office. Instead, we will continue to have “the average American legislator [who] is not only an ass,” as H.L. Mencken wrote, “but also an oblique, sinister, depraved, and knavish fellow.”
The Sage of Baltimore had it correct that to be elected and stay elected in American politics to any full-time position requires the suspension of any ethics or good sense a person may possess. Even those who begin political careers with the best intentions and have measurable abilities that would make them successful in any field soon realize that the skills required to succeed in politics are not those required outside politics.
. . .
Because democracy is open to any and all who can get themselves elected, either through connections, personality, or personal wealth, it’s a social system where leadership positions become a hotbed for sociopaths. Maslow’s self-actualizing man won’t have an interest in politics. In contrast, those stuck on the need for esteem are drawn to it like flies to you-know-what.
. . .
Those wishing to get elected and stay elected must be prepared to break every moral rule they have ever known, if the end justifies it. Economist Frank Knight noted that those in authority “would have to do these things whether they wanted to or not: and the probability of the people in power being individuals who would dislike the possession and exercise of power is on a level with the probability that an extremely tender-hearted person would get the job of whipping master in a slave plantation.”
There's more at the link.
I've said for years that I trust neither the Democratic or Republican parties to put America first, ahead of their own partisan political interests. This is why.
Peter
Yep. Getting elected means you need to make so many promises to so many people, the only people who get elected are sociopathic liars. Seems like our political discourse is much more about keeping score than about doing what's best for the country.
ReplyDeleteTerm limits.
ReplyDeleteI thought term limits were the answer, too, but they're only one small part of the solution. (And, my two cents on them: no limit on number of terms served, but terms will not be consecutive-serving a term, or portion thereof, in elected office in the United States prohibits service in, in any capacity, or receiving compensation, in any form, from a government in the US for a period equal to the regular term of office just vacated, with the exception of salary and benefits commensurate with rank in the active duty military. And note, in the United States, not the federal government. The scum that inhabit federal office learn their skills in lower offices).
ReplyDeleteThat said, limiting terms may have a beneficial effect, but it's not the solution.
There is no way to keep liars, cheats, thieves, egomaniacs, manipulators, sociopaths, psychotics, would-be dictators, et al out of public office; part of the solution is to reduce, first, the number of offices these people may occupy, and second, reduce the effect these offices have on the populace.
In short, very much smaller government, across the US and not just federally, and a government(s) with such extremely limited funding that despite the desire to control others, there exists no operable mechanism to do so.
Unfortunately true. And I.B.'s comment is spot on.
ReplyDelete"Keeping score" is getting close. It is a game, a super bowl type thing. Its treated like mechanations in a sports betting pool; if I do this, that will cause this, which will prevent that. The american people vote as if its all a big game. How many times have you heard "a vote for X is a vote for Y". Threats, scare tactics, manipulation. Immoral voting. Vote for the person you believe is going to do the best job, period, regardless of party. Anything else is immoral.
ReplyDeleteWhich leads to an uneducated electorate, without "virtue of the people". Which calls into question the education system.
Which also must call into question universal suffrage.
Lots of ox's gonna get gored in this discussion. Bottom line; not gonna be fixed.