Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan
I don't usually distinguish political villains and corporate villains, since it's so obvious who the political villains work for...
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Politicians are out for number one, first, last, and always.
The primary goal of any elected official is to get
re-elected. This gives them a fairly simple view of issues.
1) My constituents will like it. It will get me
votes! I'm for it!
2) My constituents
won'tl like it. It will
cost me votes! I'm against it!
3) My constituents won't care one way or the other, so I'll do a deal. My support on this for you, in exchange for
your support on this thing
I want!
#3 is where the real work gets done, and the genesis of "He's an honest politician. He stays bought." If a politician makes that sort of deal, he better keep his word, it he expects anyone to do other deals with him in the future.
There are politicians presumed to be in corporate pockets, but you have to consider why. In some cases, the corporation is a major employer in the politician's area, and what's good for the company is good for the voters who elected the politician. He wants votes, so... In the more common case, the corporation is a major contributor to his campaign fund. Election campaigns are extremely expensive, and if a favor or two for a corporate sponsor produces funding, favors get done.
Ultimately, they stay in office because their constituents are happy enough with them to re-elect them. Sometimes you scratch your head and wonder why. An old friend went to grad school down south. He described the campaign of a local sheriff running for re-election against a reform candidate. His campaign platform was simple: "Y'all know me. Ah been yore sherriff for nigh on twenny years now. Ah already
stole everything
ah want! You let them new guys in, they gonna be in there grabbin' with
both hands!" He was re-elected in a landslide, by constituents who probably said "Course they would! Be what
I'd do!"
Was it de Tocqueville who said "The people get the government they deserve?".
(It's attributed to him, but it's been attributed to Thomas Jefferson and Shakespeare among others as well.)
______
Dennis