Do you agree with this sentiment?

[Colon]

"Politics is corrupt, politicians and their cronies are above the law and we need a thorough overhaul of the system."

 

[Borachio]

I'd agree more with "Politics is often corrupt, politicians and their cronies can sometimes work around the law, and we need ongoing reviews of the system."

 

[Akka]

I partially agree with the second part, but I really don't feel the first is true.
Then again I'm not from the US

 

[Lexicus]

The principal problem is that politicians are just puppets of businessmen. Businessmen are above the law to a far greater degree than politicians.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

Politician is a liar by definition. It is not the same as just a ruler, governor or administrator. And politicians try to pretend to be those, when it is needed, and deny they are (were) those, when it is no longer plays good for them.

You can't just overhaul the system, because it would be illiberal, undemocratic and communist. Which is bad and evil. And that is a well-establshed fact. All the top respectful people say so. Accidently, they all are politicians, businessmen, their paid subordinates and other beneficiaries.

 

[warpus]

"Politics is corrupt, politicians and their cronies are above the law and we need a thorough overhaul of the system."

Yeah sure, if you live in Turkey or the U.S. or Russia or something.

 

[Evie]

No. Some politicians are corrupt ; certainly. A lot more aren't corrupt, but come from powerful moneyed groups (it's not corruption ; it's where the opinions they trust come from). But it's precisely the notion that ALL politicians are corrupt that shield and protect the actual corrupt ones. Because when we see corruption, far too many voters go "Eh, they all do it anyway, and we know this one" ; or "No one's gonna be better", or worse they just refuse to vote, abdicating their power to actually punish politicians and try to improve things.

In short, while there is some basis to the sentiment, it's the worst possible sentiment to hold in regard to the situation.

 

[Akka]

No. Some politicians are corrupt ; certainly. A lot more aren't corrupt, but come from powerful moneyed groups (it's not corruption ; it's where the opinions they trust come from). But it's precisely the notion that ALL politicians are corrupt that shield and protect the actual corrupt ones. Because when we see corruption, far too many voters go "Eh, they all do it anyway, and we know this one" ; or "No one's gonna be better", or worse they just refuse to vote, abdicating their power to actually punish politicians and try to improve things.

In short, while there is some basis to the sentiment, it's the worst possible sentiment to hold in regard to the situation.

Yup, strongly agree.
Binary thinking is the bane of intelligent thinking, and also "they are all corrupts" just seems an excuse to avoid democratic responsibility and switching the blame on others.

After all, the uneasy truth is that a democratic system will give people who they vote for, which means they are somewhat responsible for who they get.

 

[Ryika]

I think it's sufficiently close to reality for America where the two-party system basically renders half of what makes a good democracy useless, but for rest of the west? Not so much.

 

[Gori the Grey]

No, I do not.