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PaperclipPerfector  8d ago (text post)   25707 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of November 25, 2024

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Personally, I'd also say that, given that Democrats are supposed to be better than the Republicans,

And here is a great example of a political success. There is very little difference between Democrat politicians and Republican ones when it comes to being a "better" person. So if they have managed to convince you there is (and of course many Republicans will believe the opposite), then people like me have been successful.

To be clear, we get the politicians we do, because we deserve them, the lies, the obfuscations, the techniques to divide, work. We vote for the people that use them successfully. Never trust a politician, left or right. In my decades in politics there are perhaps a handful I would say were actual decent people.

Do you think that this was always the case? If not, why not? I could see an argument for the professionalisation of politics intensifying the incentives for winning and the consequences of failure, compared to when politicians were expected to be independently accomplished and wealthy.

The increase in wealth controlled by the US government is probably a factor. A senator has influence over billions of dollars. Very few individuals will have that level of influence outside of it. One with a professional machine behind them, to be organized will outcompete those without generally. Even Trump benefited from thousands of workers for the Republican party in each state for ads, flyers, get out the vote etc. Though it's possible we'll move into a more celebrity based era going forward. Social media is a significant amplifier, for at least the getting elected part of the job.

But politicians believing one thing and doing another is as old as politics itself. Power attracts the ruthless and ambitious.

Yes I think, there is a clear incentive driven change. Part of it is also an increase in wealth and power, a senator today has influence over huge amounts of money, power and prestige. It would be surprising if that did not attract the ruthlessly ambitious. It does have benefits, I think many politicians today are actually very competent. Just not very honest.

That's an even more cynical attitude than I tend to take on, but I can't really argue against that. I suppose it's true that there's a sucker born every minute, and some people and parties are extremely good at taking advantage of it.

In my decades in politics there are perhaps a handful I would say were actual decent people.

Could you share?

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