Could you cope with honest politicians?

Tony · 29-04-2010, 18:24

Are we grown up enough to be able to cope with honest politicians.

What would you think to one who was straight about having had a life in the past, maybe admitting to still not being perfect now?

Would bare faced honesty be a devastatingly powerful weapon or just the route to oblivion?

Womerry2 · 29-04-2010, 20:04

Shouldn't we ask whether we need rather than want to know?
I think, for example, hat someone's marital status and/or conduct is an entirely private matter.

Gothic_Angel · 29-04-2010, 23:32

If they were honest people would be annoyed that they tried to get the majority to do one thing whilst they did/have done what they urge others not to do (or do, depending!) As people are often annoyed when they do what they shouldn't (or don't do what they should) and lie about it.

epiphany · 29-04-2010, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gothic_Angel

If they were honest people would be annoyed that they tried to get the majority to do one thing whilst they did/have done what they urge others not to do (or do, depending!) As people are often annoyed when they do what they shouldn't (or don't do what they should) and lie about it.

Well hopefully if they knew they were going to have to be more open, they would be less inclined to behave in such a way that would eventually show them to be hypocritical.

In theory. I suppose in reality this doesn't work, such as with foreign policy, since the hypocricy is so blatant yet it's simply not at the front of people's minds.

redrobbo · 30-04-2010, 00:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Womerry2

Shouldn't we ask whether we need rather than want to know?
I think, for example, hat someone's marital status and/or conduct is an entirely private matter.

An interesting observation Womerry2.

Take a look at the various election leaflets that have come through your letterbox on behalf of candidates (of all parties) currently standing in the local and parliamentary elections.

Here's a sample of some election leaflets that I've seen.....

"G is married and lives in ...." (Green)
"Her two daughters were both born at the Jessop's hospital. A's eldest has just graduated from Sheffield University". (Conservative)
"J lives locally with his partner and their two young daughters" (Labour)
"A is married to....." (Lib Dem)

All these leaflets proclaim marital status, family details and a link to Sheffield or the council ward in which the candidate is standing.

I'm not sure that this is really of any interest to the voters, but maybe I could be wrong? Aren't voters more interested in what candidates say their policies are and what they want to achieve if elected?

Pooch_1 · 30-04-2010, 00:58

[QUOTE=Tony; Are we grown up enough to be able to cope with honest politicians.[/QUOTE] Is there such a thing as an HONEST Politician ?????

redrobbo · 30-04-2010, 00:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

Are we grown up enough to be able to cope with honest politicians.

What would you think to one who was straight about having had a life in the past, maybe admitting to still not being perfect now?

Would bare faced honesty be a devastatingly powerful weapon or just the route to oblivion?

Most political parties screen their candidates, if only by asking "Is there anything in your private life that you should tell us about which may embarrass our party?"

And if a candidate should confess to "having had a life in the past" and/or "maybe admitting to still not being perfect now" - then it's at that point that political oblivion occurs!

Jack_Smith · 30-04-2010, 04:51

Hopefully they will be honest.

The honest politician is a legendary creature embodied like an average politician, but without a personal agenda that is dominating his or her worldview, and with a tendency to speak the truth which distinguishes him or her from an ordinary politician.

The honest politician is one of the few fabulous creatures that does not seem to have been conceived out of human fears. In even the earliest references they are fierce yet good, selfless yet solitary, but always mysteriously truthful.

jobee · 30-04-2010, 05:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

Are we grown up enough to be able to cope with honest politicians.

What would you think to one who was straight about having had a life in the past, maybe admitting to still not being perfect now?

Would bare faced honesty be a devastatingly powerful weapon or just the route to oblivion?

Computers help us find the truth, such as,

http://www.debtbombshell.com/

Halibut · 30-04-2010, 05:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by jobee

Computers help us find the truth, such as,

http://www.debtbombshell.com/

Well done Jobee, you've missed the point by a country mile.

I'd like to think I could cope with an honest politician, but I don't know where to find one.

'' Yes I did smoke dope at University and I thoroughly enjoyed it '' would be refreshing wouldn't it?

DragonofAna · 30-04-2010, 08:50

Here's a report from the Totally Honest Party -

The country is going bankrupt and there is nothing we can do to stop it.
Mass unemployment is definitely on the cards.
We will have to raise tax to 60% across the board and even that is not likely to be enough.
We have no real policies that are any different from anyone elses because no-one has a clue what to do.
In twenty years time things will be much the same as now.
We want to have the euro so we can screw the British just like we did when we last changed the value of British money.
My wife is a dog who no man would look at twice, which is why we are married. I feel very secure.
I used to be a heroin addict which is why I want to legalise all drugs.
My mother is an alcoholic so I am lowering the cost of alcohol.
I feel so depressed - I really don't care about anything other than having lots of money in my pocket and a backup job to go to when I get booted out of office.

Thanks for your time.

Longcol · 30-04-2010, 09:09

I think a lot of the electorate would have no problem with honest politicians.

I think the majority of the press would find it incredibly difficult to cope with and continue to distort / exaggerate regardless.

Unregistered · 30-04-2010, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

Are we grown up enough to be able to cope with honest politicians.

Yes - I agree with Nick.
.
.
.

Br8inend · 30-04-2010, 15:19

Would politicians ever tell the truth and admit they are corrupt power mad money grabbers?

slimsid2000 · 30-04-2010, 15:23

"Hi peasants - I'm David Cameron but you can call me Dave. You know the one thing I hate is scroungers taking money from honest, down to earth, hard working, tax paying families. I'd round em all up and shoot em if I had my way. (Of course i don't mean myself and my expenses claimes which is totally different and entirely justified).

Now please vote for me because I went to Eton and I had a fag. "

No it would never work.

slimsid2000 · 30-04-2010, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by redrobbo

Most political parties screen their candidates, if only by asking "Is there anything in your private life that you should tell us about which may embarrass our party?"

And if a candidate should confess to "having had a life in the past" and/or "maybe admitting to still not being perfect now" - then it's at that point that political oblivion occurs!

Except for Liberal dems. They love a good scandle

chem1st · 30-04-2010, 15:27

Depends how honest, I wouldn't want a square.

Br8inend · 30-04-2010, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimsid2000

"Hi peasants - I'm David Cameron but you can call me Dave. You know the one thing I hate is scroungers taking money from honest, down to earth, hard working, tax paying families. I'd round em all up and shoot em if I had my way. (Of course i don't mean myself and my expenses claimes which is totally different and entirely justified).

Now please vote for me because I went to Eton and I had a fag. "

No it would never work.

I started a thread on Clegg and mentioned , and this fact , that louis Theroux was Cleggy fag and it was his duty to wake Cleggy up in the morning. All this at one of londons poshest boarding schools... go to bed with Clegg , wake up with cameron. With louis Theroux bringing you breakfast .

Alien · 30-04-2010, 15:42

My guess is most politicians start on the road to political life with good intention. To move forward you have to move up. Climbing the ladder to success means you have to rub shoulders with those already there. "There" I would bet = corrupt.

Womerry2 · 30-04-2010, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by redrobbo

Take a look at the various election leaflets that have come through your letterbox on behalf of candidates (of all parties) currently standing in the local and parliamentary elections.

All these leaflets proclaim marital status, family details and a link to Sheffield or the council ward in which the candidate is standing.

I'm not sure that this is really of any interest to the voters, but maybe I could be wrong? Aren't voters more interested in what candidates say their policies are and what they want to achieve if elected?

It is of even less interest when this kind of detail is given about a rival candidate (as in a recent leaflet, where one party made a point of stating that a rival candidate currently lives outside the ward).

The more "information" I am given about a candidate's private life, the less convinced I am that they are able to represent the interests of their constituents.

"Vote for me because I'm me": If voters fall for this, they should not be surprised that their MP turns out to be self-serving.