Since the corruption is on the rise, should our politicians be required to take annual lie detector tests?

Question

Can we make the government positions less desired by croocks? Should the voting history of elected officials be made easily accessible for the public? Should the election campaign expences be limited to a certain amount, paid by our taxes and not by crooks trying to pave their way to greater wealth and political power? Isn't it time for a true multiple party system?

Answer 1

You want politicians to be honest!?
OUr whole society is built on a carefully constructed system of lies and deceite. If honestly were suddenly introduced to the system everything would collapse. No one would know what to do.

Answer 2

You ask some good questions. Let me answer them.

1. Since the corruption is on the rise, should our politicians be required to take annual lie detector tests? Corruption is not on the rise. The system has been corrupt ever since politicians realized they can influence behavior by whom they tax. So, NO.

2. Can we make the government positions less desired by crocks? Yes, you can. You can vote them out of office.

3. Should the voting history of elected officials be made easily accessible for the public? They are a matter of public record, so they are easily found.

4. Should the election campaign expences be limited to a certain amount, paid by our taxes and not by crooks trying to pave their way to greater wealth and political power? No, not at all. If I want to spend $10,000,000 to get elected, why shouldn't I. The problem is NOT the politicians. It is the uneducated public masses who flock to the voting booth and don't have a clue for whom they are voting and why they are voting. You can thank the government sanctioned child abuse indoctrination centers (public schools) for this.

5. Isn't it time for a true multiple party system? How many political parties do you want? Why don't you start your own?

Answer 3

I'll answer your questions in order, starting with the title question:

1. Yes, as long as the lie detector questions are reasonable (I don't want to know about their sex lives or anything).

2. Yes. If government positions have less power, they are less attractive to those who would abuse that power. When the government creates a lot of rules over buying and selling, government will begin to be bought and sold.

3. Yes, but I think voting records are already easily accessible to the public. Many public interest groups regularly report and publish Congressional votes, and government websites often keep a record. There are also free websites that regularly publish Supreme Court decisions.

4. No, individuals should have a right to support candidates they believe in. Putting the government in control of campaign expenditures would just become another method of strengthening incumbency and the two-party system. The guys writing the rules are going to write them so they keep winning the elections.

5. I would like to see a multiparty system, if we can get one without sacrificing the best parts of our current system.

Answer 4

Our politicians should be regularly subjected to lie detector tests and to regular audits of their finances. Since most politicians continue to support the Drug War, despite the fact that 75% of Americans think we should try a different approach in dealing with drug problems, politicians should also have their hair and urine regularly sampled.

In answer to your supplemental questions:
It is unlikely that government will ever be undesirable to the corrupt because of all those juicy government contracts that get passed out like candy to special interests.

Yes, the voting records of members of Congress should regularly be published in newspapers and online such that the American people will always know whether their representative has gone off the deep end or not.

Yes, campaigns and elections should be paid for with taxes as part of every American's civic duty. If people aren't not willing to support democracy with a few extra dollars of taxes, then maybe they should leave.

Yes, it is time for a multi-party system. The Democrats and the Republicans are nearly indistinguishable in their actions, if not their rhetoric. We need genuine parties that aren't for hire by every big special interest group.

Answer 5

Im not sure if lie detector tests are the exact answer, but you are on to something. We do need to find a way for politicians to be checked upon in deeper ways. Its clear media atention, while eye opening, doesnt really get the job done. I dont think that politicians should have the "same" freedoms as we common people. I think they should have to prove every minute of the day that they are on the up and up. With so much corruption and secrecy many politicains have carte blanche to do as they please and serve their own interests. we see it all the time. Less money for the job, limits on campaign contributions, and more watchdoging.

Answer 6

Sounds good, but is it really enough? We may need to take further steps. The thing about politics is that decisions must be made for the good of the people. That's the whole point of a government. The politicians have to be ready to sacrifice some privacy if it's supposed to help the people. Oh, and the whole thing about corruption is that it consists of deals no one is supposed to know about. so just b/c we elected someone doesnt mean that we know that they're corrupt.

Answer 7

1) Corruption isn't much worse now than in other eras. Maybe now not quite as bad as in the early 20th century.
2) Lie detector tests are only slightly more than 50% effective.
3) Try passing election reform in a House full of crooks and see where it gets you.

Answer 8

maybe if someone invented a lie detector that actually worked. But then if we had one that worked
ALL OF US would be subject to haveing tests done
at every turn just cuz someone else thought we should.

If you don't like a politician look up his voting
record on the net. (Already available and have been for years) and then vote for someone else.
I do like the idea of no campaign contributions
over $100 but not paid out of our taxes.
If we paid for it then we would have 10,000 candidate
for president every election. What a circus that would be!!!

Answer 9

Corruption's not on the rise. It's always been there, ever since the first cave man tried to take over the cave. Believe it or not, the US isn't anywhere near the worst. Some countries are so bad that people doing business there plan bribes for government officials into their operating budget!

Answer 10

Lie detector would be good. But I think we need to do what the English do. Every week they have a candid discussion in a room with the Prime Minister and he must defend his position. And its not nasty its real, he must sit there and answer the question. And simply put he must respond every week with answers that make sense. So its like constantly reaffirming the direction while deflecting attacks. And if there is an attack on your position that seems to be justified it thus gets hashed out.

Answer 11

An annual lie detector test would only confirm what we already know...politicians tell lies. If we really want to stop electing corrupt politicians, we need to get out and vote based on our own research instead on relying on 30 second sound bites.