Politically incorrect

Yet another survey has come out showing the disillusionment people have with politicians. This was from the UK, where the atmosphere is particularly bad after the expenses scandal, but these ‘they’re all the same’ and ‘only in it for the perks’ sentiments can be found in any country, and is often held as the reason for voter participation is so low, the opinion being that if they’re all the same, what point is there in trying to choose between them. It just struck me how ironic this is, since it means the more politicians misbehave, the less accountable or scrutinized they become. Surely there is no other public domain where misbehavior is rewarded with being left to get on with it?

People get so riled up about so many things that ‘others’ do in their society, even when these ‘others’ have very little to do with them, so it is amazing why there isn’t the same level of excitation when it comes to the group of offenders that actually have a duty to them. This is probably due in part to frustration at the hopelessness of doing anything about the system, but possibly also has roots in a submerged inclination for deference to those in charge. Whatever the reason, this apathy is perhaps the most dangerous mood in society, since as they say, for evil to triumph all that is required is for good people to stand by and do nothing.  And the problem is that while few politicians might be really worthy of our respect, they vary in how they underserving they are of it.

Churchill was on the mark when he said democracy was only the best of a bad lot, and depressing as this may be, it is still a valid principle to apply to who should run it. They may not be great, but there’s always worse, and why can’t people get motivated by that?