Criticism of Politicians

**CountArach** · 07-20-2008, 05:22

I believe that you have hit the nail on the head as to why they are criticised, not in your numbered points, but rather by referring to them as a "class". They often consider themselves somehow difference from other people and hence they can seem aloof. Once you add careerism to that you end up with a lot of nasty possibilities.

**Marshal Murat** · 07-20-2008, 05:24

The only problem is that they don't get press, or at least not for the good deeds.

Bad news sells better than 'politician solves local problems'.

**Lemur** · 07-20-2008, 05:24

Originally Posted by CountArach

They often consider themselves somehow difference from other people and hence they can seem aloof.

Not here in 'Merica. Here they drink beer and talk dumb to let us know they're one of us.

In a new book, The Anti-Intellectual Presidency, Elvin T. Lim subjects all the words ever publicly intoned by American presidents to a thorough statistical analysis—and he finds, unsurprisingly, an alarmingly steady decline. A century ago, Lim writes, presidential speeches were pitched at a college reading level; today, they’re down to eighth grade [...] Since 1913, the length of the average presidential sentence has fallen from 35 words to 22. Between Nixon and the second Bush, the average presidential sound bite shrank from 42 seconds to 7. Today’s State of the Unions inspire roughly 30 seconds of applause for every 60 seconds of speech. Although it’s tempting to blame the sorry state of things on the current malapropist-in-chief, Bush is only the latest flower (though, obviously, a particularly striking one) on a very deep weed. Our most brilliant presidents, Lim says, often work hard to seem publicly dumb in order to avoid the stain of elitism—amazingly, Bill Clinton’s total rhetorical output checks in at a lower reading level than Bush’s.

**Evil_Maniac From Mars** · 07-20-2008, 05:31

Originally Posted by CountArach

I believe that you have hit the nail on the head as to why they are criticised, not in your numbered points, but rather by referring to them as a "class". They often consider themselves somehow difference from other people and hence they can seem aloof. Once you add careerism to that you end up with a lot of nasty possibilities.

But the political class isn't made up of a single cloned person, or even a single cloned personality. It's like saying that an entire hockey league is made up of the same type of person, over and over again. It's not - you have workers, slackers, and everywhere in between. Some of your players mighr be warm, making everyone feel welcome. Some might be cold as ice (pardon the pun), sending children scurrying with only a glance.

They're all different.

**CountArach** · 07-20-2008, 05:43

Originally Posted by Evil_Maniac From Mars

But the political class isn't made up of a single cloned person, or even a single cloned personality. It's like saying that an entire hockey league is made up of the same type of person, over and over again. It's not - you have workers, slackers, and everywhere in between. Some of your players mighr be warm, making everyone feel welcome. Some might be cold as ice (pardon the pun), sending children scurrying with only a glance.

They're all different.

I agree with you - there are some good politicians and I do stand up for those that I believe are good. However, the majority fit into the category of out-of-touch and aloof.

**Lemur** · 07-20-2008, 05:45

Originally Posted by CountArach

However, the majority fit into the category of out-of-touch and aloof.

All generalizations are true, except for the ones that are not. Furthermore, there are two kinds of people: Those who believe that there are two kinds of people, and those who don't.

**CountArach** · 07-20-2008, 05:46

Originally Posted by Lemur

All generalizations are true, except for the ones that are not. Furthermore, there are two kinds of people: Those who believe that there are two kinds of people, and those who don't.

Dude, you just blew my mind...

**Crazed Rabbit** · 07-20-2008, 06:09

The thing is, there's lousy people everywhere in every profession.

Politicians, though, are the only ones who make out to rule us through force of law. You can't refuse to deal with them.

CR

**Evil_Maniac From Mars** · 07-20-2008, 06:22

Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

Politicians, though, are the only ones who make out to rule us through force of law. You can't refuse to deal with them.

CR

Not necessarily. The entire bureaucracy has some sort of power over you, for a start. Secondly, the judges in all of the courts, as well as the police officers. Even the grocers have a form of power over you. You can refuse to deal with the last one. That's it. Heck, you can refuse to deal with politicians - just live as a hermit in some remote place, grow your own food, and survive by yourself.

Nobody is perfect. If we don't expect ourselves to be perfect, we shouldn't expect others to be. Everyone screws up. Everyone has someone who disagrees with them.