How often don’t I hear people grumble about politicians, whether on a national or local level. The accepted perception seems to be that they are all useless, more or less corrupt or morally bankrupt. I myself have been known to wax a tad cynical when it comes to matters of a political nature and it is easy to see how councillors, MPs and ministers are mistrusted as people mistrust estate agents and second-hand car salesmen.
I do believe that politics is the art of deception and manipulation and it has not helped that in this country the current government have elevated the skills of spin and media influence to an art form.
And yet, why are we surprised? We don’t consider politicians to be in any way ‘better’ than we are. So where does this expectancy that they should be morally superior and upstanding in every sense originate?
Perhaps deep down we long for the days when a dominant hierarchy told us exactly where we should be on life’s ladder. People are startled to find out that our elected leaders and parliamentarians are actually as flawed and as human as we are.
Humanum est errare as well as Homo homini lupus. In-between these two we need to try to get on with the cards we’ve been dealt. Not to worry!
I do believe that politics is the art of deception and manipulation and it has not helped that in this country the current government have elevated the skills of spin and media influence to an art form.
And yet, why are we surprised? We don’t consider politicians to be in any way ‘better’ than we are. So where does this expectancy that they should be morally superior and upstanding in every sense originate?
Perhaps deep down we long for the days when a dominant hierarchy told us exactly where we should be on life’s ladder. People are startled to find out that our elected leaders and parliamentarians are actually as flawed and as human as we are.
Humanum est errare as well as Homo homini lupus. In-between these two we need to try to get on with the cards we’ve been dealt. Not to worry!
2 comments:
I think on the whole politicians get into politics to "make a difference" and do something for the benefit of the community. Some are corrupt to start with, and some are corrupted along the way, for sure, but they are elected by the people, and the people should take more interest in politics and politicians to help keep them and the system honest. In the end we get what we "deserve" as few people really take an interest.
I think you're right, Di. People in politics are just as flawed and fallible as the rest of us. The fact that they set out to 'serve the community' does however imply that they will be held to certain standards.
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