Can politicians still be "honest" with people when things aren't good and win? (user search)
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
April 30, 2024, 07:00:14 PM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  Presidential Elections - Analysis and Discussion
  U.S. Presidential Election Results (Moderator: Dereich)
  Can politicians still be "honest" with people when things aren't good and win? (search mode)
Pages: [1]
Author Topic: Can politicians still be "honest" with people when things aren't good and win?  (Read 3621 times)
sg0508
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 2,061
United States


« on: February 23, 2014, 03:15:12 PM »

I suppose the answer to the question is "yes", but of course, words and phrases must be shaped very, very effectively and carefully to avoid insulting anyone.  So yes, politics will come into play.

I ask this concerning the thread that pondered some of the blunders made by Mitt Romney during the last campaign and particularly, the "47% remark".  As an educated, middle class American, it isn't hard to see that the middle class is in big, big trouble and sometimes, it's almost more relieving to hear someone who is brutally honest than someone who smiles and blows smoke up our behinds.  Throughout the '12 campaign, Romney all but stated three things:

1) The middle class in this country is beyond screwed near and long-term
2) There is nothing that any domestic politician can or will do about it
3) The middle class is squeezed by the top 1% and the bottom 30%.

Of course, Pres. Obama spent a great deal of time talking the middle class up and 1.5 years into his second term, many middle class Americans are finally seeing that that their "middle class card" could expire soon. 

The 47% comment clearly insulted a lot of people, including those on some kind of welfare or gov't help, and it was a smack in the face.  Of course, behind closed doors, we can clearly admit that perhaps he was right and we don't like having the truth thrown in our faces.  That one comment may have cost Romney a very winnable race and on Election Night, it was clearly evident that Americans were sold that Romney didn't care about the middle class and that Obama's policies would help them (even though any educated human being probably realizes the opposite).

So, can politicians still be honest with people, or is it going to continue being a game of playing off of people's stupidity until the end of time?
Logged
sg0508
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 2,061
United States


« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2014, 06:14:39 PM »

Being fatalistic is terrible leadership.  If you think the country is screwed and there's nothing that can be done, don't run for political office.  It's the same in any leadership position.  You need to be positive and hopeful to lead people.

America has been in far worse straights than it is now.  What we look to in leaders is their vision towards a course of action that improves people's lives.  If you don't have that you will never change people's minds or create anything positive.  That's not Romney's fault per se, he just represents a morally, spiritually and intellectually bankrupt organization, the GOP.

3) The middle class is squeezed by the top 1% and the bottom 30%.

What are poor people doing to hurt the middle class?
Who do you think is supporting the people in that group, especially when the wealthy push large chunks of their share downward?
Logged
sg0508
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 2,061
United States


« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2014, 10:32:24 PM »

Being fatalistic is terrible leadership.  If you think the country is screwed and there's nothing that can be done, don't run for political office.  It's the same in any leadership position.  You need to be positive and hopeful to lead people.

America has been in far worse straights than it is now.  What we look to in leaders is their vision towards a course of action that improves people's lives.  If you don't have that you will never change people's minds or create anything positive.  That's not Romney's fault per se, he just represents a morally, spiritually and intellectually bankrupt organization, the GOP.

3) The middle class is squeezed by the top 1% and the bottom 30%.

What are poor people doing to hurt the middle class?
Who do you think is supporting the people in that group, especially when the wealthy push large chunks of their share downward?

How much of anyone's paycheck is going to poor people?  Not a significant amount and probably less than in the 1970s and 1980s.  The middle class has been squeezed by higher healthcare, education and housing costs, along with a weak job market.  It's not poor people taking too much of their money. 
I'm not going to get into a discussion with someone who believes that.  Sorry.
Logged
Pages: [1]  
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.025 seconds with 12 queries.