What do you feel that politicians today are lacking?

Question

Okay, don't give me the obvious, "They could get brains". If that's all you can think of, then you might consider getting your own. Really, how can we improve the political system?

Answer 1

Morality and integrity.

The problem is that politicians have to lie in order to get elected. They have to tell voters whatever they want to hear, even if they have to tell different things to different voters.

And of course once they start lying, it's very easy to continue lying. They corrupt themselves.

Answer 2

the first way we can improve the system is by we, the voters, not giving in to the urge to prejudge or assume. Politicians, like other people, lack things or have assests on individual basis'. I disagree with the obvious, "they could get brains", as obvious--that merely speaks of the speaker, not the politicians they speak of. The inability to give a thoughtful answer could be indicative of many things. As with politicians, it is fruitless to speculate. If we want to change the makeup of our political climate, we need to get very involved. The very concerned might consider running for office, campagning regarding their most concerning issues. No system is perfect. Ours, designed by the founding fathers, is still revolutionary and new. We can expect kinks, and discouragement. The main thing which concerns me is the very apparent large numbers who are willing to rage based on assumptions about others, rather than on physical evidence. For example, those who bash the questioner when one points out Bush's sitting in the elementary classroom for seven minutes before moving after the 9/11 disaster at the first tower. The facts speak for themselves, and his role as President allows that his citizens may question his action or inaction. Indeed, accepting Presidential responsibilities does include opening oneself up to the necessary judgement of the people. Turning this judgement back on the questioner is a smokescreen tactic which does not deal with the issue--a President unable to react in a prudent, appropriate way to disaster, as horribly illustrated by the deaths from Katrina. Neysayers will respond by attacking those who point these things out, but the facts speak. Loudly. We need to have better accountability during elections (one of the ballot boxes was lost until March of 2005 in my district), so that elections cannot be thrown. In final analysis, we do still have a government of the people, which is reflective of the populace.

Answer 3

They lack compassion and morals. It seems like all they are concerned about is making as much money as they can, yet they cannot raise minimum wage so people can get off of welfare. More people are on welfare than before. They talk about limiting welfare, but won't give incentive such as raising minimum wage so people can take care of themselves. Their concern is lobbyist for big business. It's ok for those companies to leave this country so they don't have to pay a good wage to third world countries, then have the nerve to sell it back here for an outrageous price to make a profit. On top of that, they are not penalized for it by our country. They just don't care about this country. They only want to be a "politician". Then when they are done with "politics", they become lobbyist to make more money. Sickening...

Answer 4

Politicians are lacking honesty and continuity. They are working for themselves to get re-elected so they make choices that is adverse to our society and against what their constituents want. I should say their choices are with the constituents who provide them with the most campaign money and they have to pay them back in ways that hurt a lot of other citizens in this country. I try to think of ways we can combat these lifelong career politicians and term limits would be one. I've often thought they should take a huge test to even be able to run for any office--one that indicates they know what this country is all about, every facet of it. I've thought of a group of citizens from every county in every state to rate their elected officials job performance every 6 months and choose a different group each time. The problem is, we can never keep the sly, Benedict Arnolds out of the mainstream of all these suggestions above. They would plant themselves in there inconspicuously and turn coat on the common and/or even prosperous citizens. In other words to be a honest and true lawmaker, is impossible in this country. Money is what it is all about.

Answer 5

We as a whole need to spend more time and energy saving our own country. We have involved ourselves in all peoples affairs, while we beat, murder and starve our own people. Our school systems need major overhaul, along with the heath care field. How many Americans are working just to make ends meet? And not making it. You cannot afford to visit a doctor without insurance. I do not believe these issues are a concern for our politicians, it doesn't affect them. They can afford health insurance, their kids are at private schools and their salaries are outrageous. How many actually had to "work hard" to make their wealth? Or was it handed down to them. We need to close our borders, raise minimum wage so you can actually live on it, and cap the health industry so all can receive care. Welfare needs to be limited to a certain length of time and schooling offered to those who need it. Let the other countries take care of themselves, and we pay attention to our needs. Land of the free and home of the brave. We fought to make this country independent and others can do the same for their countries.

Answer 6

I think what they lack is a sense of DUTY toward the people they represent: the VOTERS, NOT corporations, political action groups, or their own personal enrichment.

An obligation to SERVE their constituents and their nation rather than simple seek to enrich themselves, serve their corporate masters, and play the partisan game of our two-party system.

How to improve the system ? Line-item veto... stop the practice of slipping all sorts of little things into the bills... perhaps even force elected officials into a "pay-for-production" system...

Answer 7

They will not put party behind them and work together.

And the parties have went into too many extremes, both parties are answering to fringe groups and do little for the average citizen.

Answer 8

Integrity.

Answer 9

They all lack morals.

Answer 10

They lack TERM LIMITS.