How do honest people suddenly turn dishonest when they go into politics?

1. 75

   SylviaSkyposted 13 years ago

   How do honest people suddenly turn dishonest when they go into politics?

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2. 60

   Leo Fuegazoposted 13 years ago

   Because politics has its codes. Either you adapt to them, or die, I think.

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   f_hruzposted 13 years ago

   They can't resists being bribed ... it's just too easy when the system will cover up for them while they play along with the rest who are in it mainly for the money as well ...

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4. 78

   FitnezzJimposted 13 years ago

   Mom, raised in DC, used to say 'thats how things work in DC'.  Lobbyists were a much stronger force in DC than constituents, I believe due to the 'out of sight, out of mind' effect.  Politicians respond to the hand that feeds them, no different than anyone else. 
   Fortunately, lobbyists are going 'out of style', and the more vocal or active constituents are grabbing the ear, but, we're still a long way from habitually reminding our representatives that the people are government too, and that we are the ones who granted them their position, to serve not to rule.  Not to serve our every whim, but to serve according to the powers WE granted THEM, as outlined in the Constitution.
   That was Mom.  Me, having watched this since the sixties, I blame it on Cool Aid.

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5. 60

   katescottukposted 13 years ago

   POWER - give a person power and they want more, more, MORE!
   
   And they will do almost anything to get it!!

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   camloposted 13 years ago

   I think a lot of honest people would like to go into politics, but I think the ones who mostly manage (successfully and in a big way) are dishonest. So, most people in politics were never honest to begin with.

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7. 38

   Scott_Griggposted 13 years ago

   They don't.  It's just that they're now under a little bit more of a microscope.
   
   I mean, look at the records of most of the people who get into trouble.  Chances are they were crooks and snooks before the voters voted them in, it's just they chose to ignore the character question.
   
   I worked for several high profile politicians.  I can say that every one of them were honest, hard-working people.  It's that one in ten or twenty that stands out and gives the rest a bad rap...seriously, though you do often wonder if they are ALL dishonest, they aren't.

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8. 59

   MickSposted 13 years ago

   One of the main requirements for being a politician is the ability to lie, so are these 'honest' people really, closet liars who come out once they've been elected?

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   Sri Tposted 13 years ago

   It becomes ego driven. Power is of the ego. The need to feel important. No one is honest all the time. It is two sides of the same coin. Either may be used when necessary.

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10. 61

    C.V.Rajanposted 13 years ago

    Sometimes we do not have adequate qualification and experience to get into a job, but somehow we sneak into it; after joining, we get on-the-job training, gather experience and then we can even become experts in it! "Dishonesty" is the trick of the trade that naive and new politicians learn once they settle in politics

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11. 61

    GNelsonposted 13 years ago

    This is not a new problem.  Here are a few quotes that I like,
    
    Those who are to smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. - Plato
    
    The trouble with a political joke is that very often they get elected. - Will Rogers
    
    Once a man wants to hold public office he is absolutely no good for honest work. - Will Rogers
    
    Few men have the virtue to withstand the highest bidder. - George Washington
    
    You don't have to convince the people of anything.  You just have to convince the person they elected.  Money is a very good convincer.
    
    Corporations and the rich get what they want and the rest of fight the war.  Oh, and politicians retire wealthy.

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12. 61

    Fotographerposted 13 years ago

    They don't turn dishonest. They already were dishonest, only we didn't realize that fact before. Nothing can turn a truly honest person into a dishonest one.

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13. 60

    mio cidposted 13 years ago

    i don't believe people turn dishonest when they go into politics, they were already dishonest or what they would normally do and not consideredn to be dishonest now is viewed through the lens of partisanship and portrayed as dishonest by political adversaries.

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    arbposted 13 years ago

    If they were honest to begin with, they soon learn they can't move the mountain unless they barter, trade and return favor. Pretty soon what once looked wrong looses weight in the infamous "Its the way things work here". Perhaps talking to the American people instead of each other all day long would help them remember right from wrong or we could insist that they take their mothers along.

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    Rob Hanlonposted 13 years ago

    When all the local prospective Candidates for the last Election were assembled before an inquiring public audience, a question was asked of them all : "If elected are you going to stand up for the views of the local population or will you follow your Party's policies ?"
    Everyone of course said they would stand up for the views of the local population ...
    In an ideal world, yes they would, but as most people know this is not an 'ideal' world and people get influenced by people in ways that they may feel compromised ... which is why a lot of politicians come across as 'dishonest'.
    Also, every miniscule thing a politician does is reported by the media that would make Snow White appear to be the Grim Reaper, so they can be made to appear 'dishonest' even if they were not.

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    ajuvrposted 13 years ago

    'cause politics=poly tricks ,synonymous to dishonesty

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17. 39

    TopManagementposted 13 years ago

    In politics mostly people spend lot of money for gain victory but after  gain victory they want to earn more and more money like other candidate and they for provide plenty of facilitates for other, they thing about only our family. In politics all candidate are corrected and they take bribe from other people far give high post...

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    Information Ninjaposted 13 years ago

    Does that actually happen?  I only thought dishonest people went into politics.

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    mcrawford76posted 13 years ago

    You believed their commercial when they told you they were honest??

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    Mr. Happyposted 13 years ago

    Very few politicians are honest people, I would say. Most of them are lawyers and lawyers are not the most honest people out there to begin with.
    The few honest politicians have a hard time in politics because they are honest. Politics nowadays is a game of sorts, where lying, deception, greed and ruthlessness are attributes which one needs to have in order to win.
    Lobbying is also there to poison the process. Interests are looked after when millions of dollars are taken one way or another. Then, there are the earmarks ... $#&^ never ends!
    Lobbying is plain bribery but it has been legalized. Awesome!

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21. 60

    SpringWposted 13 years ago

    "People don't change. They just stand more revealed."--Chas Olsen

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22. 0

    Butch Newsposted 13 years ago

    I think you're assuming they were honest in the first place.
    
    Many people enter politics for their own interests.

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23. 60

    izoooomposted 13 years ago

    The realization that most things are not clear-cut or black and white, when you are living as part of the change you want instead of watching it on the outside is a tough one. It is quite easy to give up on the honest idealism and enter the honest realism.
    Reality has different colours and everyone's reality is very different.
    
    Yes, I realize everything I just wrote above is BS but  that's politics :-)

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    Nkem Nwosuposted 13 years ago

    The answer is simple, there so many dishonest people over there (96%)  there dishonesty stings and like  leprous is infectious.Many of those who got assassinated  refused to be infected while the rest 4% will soon give up,resign,thrown out or back down.The honenest people that suddenly turns dishonest are those who places their career over their  morality.

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    Bob Francisposted 13 years ago

    I believe it is the nature of Politics. My belief is that "Honest Politicians" if any exist must fall in with the "good old boy" syndrome, otherwise they will basically become Islands unto themselves. The good old boys will boycott them and they will not receive any support or cooperation from them! I write Political articles, perhaps from a simple layman's perspective.
    
    My belief is that if all polititions had term limits, were subject to job performance reviews, received no raises if they were not performing to pre-set standards, fired for derelict of duty, retired on Social Security and jailed for criminal activities, the corruption in D.C. (the land of oz) might possibly be eliminated. The voters in the Country must take a stronger interest in Government. Face it the politicians are very entrenched and are not likely to kill the "Golden Goose." The Voters, must  do it for them!
    A Quote from Thomas Jefferson: "When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe."  It has happened as predicted my friend!

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26. 0

    surlyoldcatposted 13 years ago

    Thing is, they aren't as honorable and honest as they make themselves out to be. It's all about presentation and the "spin." There are no statemen, which is what we need. Until we as a nation wake up and work all of the elected so-called officials out of office and start electing people of good conscience, morals, and no affiliation with the two big parties will we start getting our problems under control.

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