Honest Politician

NOTE: This article was originally published in A Few Days With Figgins.

Figgins has had increasing opportunities,in recent days, to witness the cynical view that most seem to have of American politicians. This can be summed up by saying that it seems to be, generally, accepted that the description “Honest Politician” is an oxymoron.

Figgins has, also, been witnessing how very discouraging I find this. That aspect really peaked today when one Presidential Candidate announced a decision to not run a “negative ad” that his campaign had prepared. My discouragement comes from the fact that I haven’t heard a single representative of the media express even the most vague possibility that what the candidate said was true … that he had given further consideration to what he was about to do and he had come up with the courage of his convictions and decided not to do it. This particular candidate is an ordained Baptist minister. He teaches from The Scriptures, which say, “let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay” … in other words, say what you mean and mean what you say. So why is there not even the slightest consideration from the media that this guy is doing just that?

One of the ironies in this is that the aforementioned “negative ad” was prepared as a response to a candidate who has been less than believable himself. As an example, he claimed that he had seen his Father, a former Governor of Michigan, march with Martin Luther King Junior. When confronted with the fact his Father had never participated in such a march, this other candidate said that he had only been speaking allegorically, that he knew his Father marched with King “in spirit”. For some reason, the media didn’t seem to greet this with the same level of cynicism they leveled towards today’s “negative ad” decision but it did provide another example of why, generally, American politicians are deserving of the media’s attitude.

So, maybe American politicians are getting what they deserve. They’ve, generally, proven that the description “Honest Politician” is an oxymoron. So, “Justice Served!” Right?! Well, what about us, Americans? Are we getting what we deserve? I have to say, “I think so.” Its not been that long since we twice-elected an adulterous Presidential Candidate who dodged the culpability of his philandering by questioning the meaning of what the word “is” is. And yet, instead of mocking and rejection, many still regard him as a heroic figure. As a matter of fact, there’s even the possibility that the next Presidential Election could result in a return to that same administration.

OK, so maybe we’re getting what we deserve too. But I say, “It doesn’t have to remain that way.” When you think about it, we’re actually getting what we are letting ourselves deserve. And, I say, “Let’s change that!” Let’s stop putting up with American politicians dodging the truth by letting them debate what the meaning of the word “is” is. Let’s stop accepting allegory, as an excuse for not being genuine. And, by all means, let’s continue to express skepticism about things like today’s “negative ad” announcement, if it doesn’t seem credible. But, shouldn’t we, at least, allow the possibility of an American politician saying what they mean and meaning what they say? If we don’t, what is their incentive to do so? Moreover, shouldn’t we be demanding this of our politicians instead of just accepting that, in our nation, the description “Honest Politician” is an oxymoron. By doing so, I think we end up deserving better and by being better from getting what we deserve.