Lying weasels

[Llamatron]

Politicians are down there with lawyers and tabloid journalists. They're incapable of answering questions or accepting resposibility for their actions. Their incompetance is matched only by their greed and lust for power. They wouldn't know the truth if it sat on their piggy faces.

So, what would happen if all of a sudden politicians joined the human race and actually turned honest? Would they all instantly lose theirs jobs as they revealed past screw ups and the sneaky tricks they've been up to?

[sp1814]

Only if they're caught out.

I think though, we should appreciate that no matter how corrupt we think our politicians are, in the UK we don't see anywhere near the level of corruption that is evidenced in other countries.

See:

www.kent.ac.uk/politics/research/kentpapers/
http://www.freewebs.com/govwebsites/
http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/7067-10.cfm

However, for a balancing view, also, have a look at 'DC Confidential' by Christopher Meyer (the British Ambassodor to the US in the run up to the invasion of Iraq). He has plenty of nasty/funny things to say about our own government.

[BigMac]

You also need to understand the media.

It is not always possible to answer 'yes' or 'no' to a question, yet that is a favourite trick of interviewers. It forces the politician into what seems to be bluster and is presented as a cover up or embarrassment - 'politician refused to answer/refused to deny claim xyz'. Sometimes it is like asking 'Have you stopped beating your wife?'

Then consider: politician makers policy statement or announces plan. Media suggest not popular - think again. Politician thinks again, responds to criticisms. Media headline: Politician in U-Turn (a bad thing) - shows lack of conviction in politician.

Ergo, politicians can't 'win' - they could be as honest as the day is long in Iceland in summer but (some of) the media will still try to suggest they are liars and incompetents. Some of them probably are, but not all and probably not even a significant minority.

I could go on - but will spare you.

[mike1222]

I blame the idiots who persist in voting for these lying scumbags allowing them to keep their greedy snouts in the trough. Vote for them and you are just endorsing what they do!

I'm not saying that I have an alternative system, but there must be a better one!

[Llamatron]

The only alternative is to ditch democracy and install me as a nice benevolant dictator. I promise to banish all double glazing salesmen and to only have the one palace.

[saxy_jag]

For me, one of the big tests at election time is to ask the canvassing prospective MP: a) where they live, b) where they grew up, and c) why they want to represent MY community as opposed to that in a or b (because they're usually different). I know the answer to the last question, of course - it's because they're so desperate to progress in their career that they'll stand for any constituency that their party will allow them to. And there was me thinking you became an MP out of some sort of loyalty or duty to your community.