Please make a distinction between politicians and people in politics. There are a lot of people who qualify as the latter but not the former, and that particular set does tend to be people of high moral character (not exclusively, but there are a lot of good people working in politics outside of elected office; the difference is that they have shunned the spotlight while actual politicians embrace it... weird symbiotic relationship).
That said, I get sick of politicians on a very regular basis, and don't really have the opportunity to block them out (though there are lots of opportunities for bitching behind closed doors). But I have a terrible knowledge of why they are what they are, and grieve for them as much as for our inability to change them.
I do not pay as much attention to politics as I should. So perhaps I ought not to be commenting on this subject at all. But... well, from what little I do see of it, from what little I've read, a lot of politicians in this country make me sad. I am sure there are many reasons, possibly even good reasons, for politicians to be the way they are - running a country, a state, a city is a hard job, I am sure - but quite often, I just end up feeling ill thinking about it.
The answer you're looking for comes from the English Historian, Lord Acton, when he said, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely". It seems even those with the best intentions fall to the "dark side" after a year or so in office.
When you're surrounded by sycophants who seem to carry out your every wish, and lobbyists stuffing money in your pockets, it's probably very easy to take the path of corruption.
But it's more than that. Becoming a politician is attractive mostly to a specific kind of person--people who want very badly to be liked, to be validated, to have the crowd, but generally people who are popular because they are cagey and persuasive rather than because they're good looking or charismatic
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That said, I get sick of politicians on a very regular basis, and don't really have the opportunity to block them out (though there are lots of opportunities for bitching behind closed doors). But I have a terrible knowledge of why they are what they are, and grieve for them as much as for our inability to change them.
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I do not pay as much attention to politics as I should. So perhaps I ought not to be commenting on this subject at all. But... well, from what little I do see of it, from what little I've read, a lot of politicians in this country make me sad. I am sure there are many reasons, possibly even good reasons, for politicians to be the way they are - running a country, a state, a city is a hard job, I am sure - but quite often, I just end up feeling ill thinking about it.
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When you're surrounded by sycophants who seem to carry out your every wish, and lobbyists stuffing money in your pockets, it's probably very easy to take the path of corruption.
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