“Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.” – Charles de Gaulle
According to a recent Gallup report, Americans regard the clergy as the most honest and honorable of all professions. This annual survey also lists the bottom three professions voters tolerate; Car salesman was rated nine, politicians rated 8 and lobbyists rated 7. It surprised many voters to hear so many considered car salesman more trustworthy than those running our governments now.
Since political parties merchandise candidates like breakfast cereal, we are actually trading votes to the highest bidder like used car salesmen who hock their high mileage junkers on the late, late shows. “This has become the ultimate indignity in the democratic process.” – Adlai Stevenson
This poll shows how Americans view honesty and ethics in 21 professions. Congress was rated “very low” due to their low ethical standards. Only 9% of those surveyed said Congress has “very high” standards. Senators ranked third lowest in the poll, earning a 49% ethical rating, which beat out stockbrokers. Nurses ranked as the most respected profession with a 83% positive rating. Pharmacists, doctors, police officers and engineers received mostly higher ratings also.
Governors were ranked much higher than lawmakers around the nation. Only 15% of participants said they had a “very high” opinion of governors, and 48% gave governors an “average” rating while 35% rated them as “very low.” “Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the others.” – Oscar Ameringer
The public’s distrust for car salesmen is universal. As we hear the words “car salesman,” we think of that cigar smoking, tire kicking, slick haired, unfashionably dressed shyster who tried to sell you a car driven by a little old lady from Pasadena. Although this is a bit of a stereotype, behind every prototype lurks some truth. And, “What people believe prevails over the truth.” – Sophocles
Of course we all understand why lobbyists rate last. They have always been the most questionable ingredient in the political equation. This is political fact without a hint of invented fiction. “Too often government responds to the whispers of lobbyists before the cries of the people.” – Andrew Cuomo
If there is something to be extremely concerned about it’s the dismal rating they gave to politicians! It’s abhorrently disturbing. Many blame their current intolerance for politicians as due to our extreme political divide. But that theory is nebulous. In 1513, Machiavelli, considered the king-philosopher of political manipulation, wrote “The Prince.” In that thesis, he profoundly and insightfully described the behavioral patterns of politicians whom he had studied for years. Even in the 1500s, politicians had very low ratings in the Renaissance opinion polls. Politicians never spoke of morals. “The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of today.” – Nicolo Machiavelli
Forbes told us, “Let’s face it, life is a sales game.” It is called marketing. Businesses, car salesmen, telemarketers and politicians have been touting the merits of their deeds for centuries. The inimical political position society has taken today is, politicians are so desperate for a piece of the action, voters expect grandiose returns each election! Just like those ludicrous claims car hawkers make, voters are actually buying into these charismatic “pitches” for “add-ons.” They are willing to trade liberty for votes. They have convinced themselves those public gifts are “easily financed, even if James Madison reminded Americans, “Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.”
When these promises are broken, voters go after politicians the same way they denigrate that sales guy who sold them a “barbeque machine.” The one that burnt up three days after their “too good to be true” deal was made. Instead of a wake up call to the real world, voters “bellyache” until the next election and they vote for them again. The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee our happiness, only the ability to pursue it. And when it’s time to buy another car, most avoid the last salesmen who pulled a bait and switch. Yet they buy from the same type of slick talking shyster who makes the same enigmatic “pitch.” “It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.” – Ben Franklin
According to Pew Research, Americans remain deeply distrustful of our political system and very dissatisfied with their government. Just 20% say they trust the government in Washington to do the right thing most of the time – a sentiment and an opinion that has changed very little since former President George W. Bush’s second term in office and the beginning of the unpopular Iraq war.
As we recently witnessed last election, after four years of federal progressive domination, things have to get very bad before many Americans will even consider crossing party lines and voting for a sure winner over a proven loser to maintain party loyalty. This illogical thinking of giving in to your party and living within a lower standard of living to spread the misery and wealth around, has been a failed liberal agenda since Huey (Kingfish) Long took over the Democratic party in 1893.
Since the election of Barack Obama, who reignited interest in the progressive party, we have had no sustainable economic growth cycle in America compared to those we achieved during and after the last two great wars. We continue to feed a declining world birthrate with easy access abortions.
And that is one of the most salient reasons why car salesmen are favored over politicians.
Next time you vote for an incumbent, remember that shady car sales guy: Did he honor his word or was he a blood-sucking coward? How many pledges did he make that were never filled? How long did it take for buyer’s remorse to set in after you closed the deal with her or him or did you get a real deal at all?
Buyer’s remorse is hard to swallow. When a buyer loses faith in the product, he loses faith in the seller. When a buyer feels a seller got the best of him in a deal, voters have the power to bring more Mr. Smiths into our governments. When you vote for a candidate, you are investing in America. Do we need to elect seasoned pros or more patriotic Americans and be patient that this is on-the-job training for them? Did that last candidate deliver “change you could believe in?”
After visiting America for the first time, Alexis de Tocqueville proclaimed: “As I see it, only God can be all-powerful without danger, because his wisdom and justice are always equal to his power. Thus, there is no authority on earth so inherently worthy of respect, or invested with a right so sacred, that I would want to let it act without oversight or rule without impediment. The principle of equality has prepared men for things it has predisposed men to endure them and often to look on them as benefits. And I believe the greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults. That is the only way we can return pride to our political class.” – Alexis de Tocqueville, Discovery in America
