why is honesty important for politicians?

Answer 1

Because they are suppose to be servants of the people in public office. Not there for a good pay and self-goals. Like Hillary.

Answer 2

Honesty is, regrettably, more of a handicap than an asset to most politicians.

Most politicians probably embark on their careers with the belief that they can and will succeed simply by being honest. But most politicians discover, in the course of their very first election campaign, that honesty doesn't win votes. It should, of course. But it doesn't. Because, to be elected, politicians have to start making promises that they don't want to make; probably know that they can't deliver; and certainly know that they will be trying to wriggle out of - or simply ignore - once they ae elected.

After that first election victory, it becomes a slippery slope: an ethical slide in which the only remaining goal is simply to get and keep office, no matter what.

And politicians get away with it: because they are good at telling lies; and because, through bitter experience, we have come to expect them to lie.

Bill Clinton is widely regarded, by both Democrats and Republicans, as the greatest living politician in America. This despite the fact that he is a self-confessed liar. He is an expert at winning elections. It did not matter that most voters had him pegged as Slick Willy - not Honest Bill. Despite that, people liked him. They recognized that he was unusually intelligent; and they did not mind that he was pretty obviously a rogue.

Democracies don't seem to like Saints as their leaders. They want clever, adroit, likeable leaders. Honesty - indeed, morality in a very broad sense - is not all that important.

Occasionally, of course, a politician turns out to be not only clever and adroit, but also unusually honest. There aren't many examples that spring to mind. Britain's Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady, is actually the last one I can remember. Her honest expression of her true opinions frequently got her into trouble, but her incredible toughness kept her secure; until, finally, she was stabbed in the back by her own party.

Answer 3

Have you ever heard of the saying "honesty is the best policy"? There is no such thing as honesty in politics. When the politicians preach honesty, they don't practice what they preach. This goes for both parties, and all other parties. If there were any honesty in politics, this country would be a better place

Answer 4

Honesty is the most important trait of politicians in order to stop corruption, bribery and money laundering. The government will lose money if the politicians are not honest.

Answer 5

If I don't have accurate information, I can't make a wise choice, and my judgment is going to be faulty.

Every candidate says that he/she stands a certain way on many different issues. How their stand relates to my feelings determines how I ultimately vote. If they lie or exaggerate or in some other way aren't completely truthful about how they feel about various issues, then my ability to make an accurate assessment is handicapped.

Another way to put it- How can I wisely choose which college to attend if they're not honest about what their professors' credentials are, about what courses they offer?

How can I give good advice if the person with the decision doesn't give me accurate info about the situation?

Answer 6

It isn't. If it were we wouldn't have all this garbage in office. Money is the most important factor. I don't think honesty is even in the top 100 most important things.

Answer 7

Isn't honesty important for everybody?

Answer 8

Anything that becomes scarce becomes important. The more scarce something is, more important it becomes. Considering the scandals and lies in current politics, naturally honesty is becoming more and more important.

Answer 9

Politicians honest? Noway can these 2 words co-exist.

Answer 10

It isn't important to them. Honesty usually only gets politicans in trouble which is why the lie so much. Politicans have to please so many and there are so many different issues that if they want to get reelected they have to lie. If you wanted politicans to more honest, then put in strict term limits, and then politicans wouldn't have to lie because they wouldn't have to worry about getting reelected.