Why do people want to become politicians ?

Question

I can see that some politicians are in it for altruistic reasons and that they want to contribute to the good government of their country and to represent the wishes of their electors. Unfortunately some of them show signs of having different reasons such as power, influence, money, esteem and privilege.

Answer 1

You have hit it on the head. There are 2 reasons. One a wish to help people, the other because of the power such a position can give you. Unfortunately those who wish to help people find it difficult to get through the bureaucracy they face and others get corrupted by the power game. We therefore end up with more politicians (certainly the higher up ones) who play the power game instead of doing the job they were elected to do.

Answer 2

I'm an altruistic politician at local government level. I get sick of people assuming that we're in it for the money or power. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I could earn more doing shelf-stacking and get to have a life of my own outside work. And as for power?! How much power does it take to keep bashing your head against a brick wall?

Answer 3

I had a conversation with a couple of local politicians. They were members of the local Urban District council and we covered this subject.. Their view was that politics,even up to national government level was all a big game of scoring points off of the opposition and so on rather than doing more to improve the lot of the voters who elected them. They tend to view the voters as mugs. They feel that when you move up the ladder in politics it is an easy cushy and rewarding career and providing you have enough mates in the background you are set for life.

Answer 4

All these people on here saying they only do it for money. You obviously have no idea what is involved in becoming a politician. You usually have to come from a privileged background, attended Eton, Cambridge etc to get your law degree and political sciences degree. You have to be like a sponge and be able to absorb and remember everything. You ask a politician a question on any subject and he will be able to answer it. They have to spend their lives knowing what is happening in the world, from Governments in Far East countries to post offices closing in this country.

What with death threats, being pelted with eggs, no privacy, put up with abuse, not only themselves but their family. Every detail about their lives written in the papers, dragging up some silly thing they did when they were 10 years old, now suddenly it's a scandal and could ruin their career.
I know I wouldn't be able to do it and wouldn't want to.

Good luck to them. Anyone who has a calling to go into that job has to have the patience of a saint.

Answer 5

Most of those altruistic types get burned out after about 2 years in Congress, then retire.

Answer 6

My hope is that most began a career in politics with the wish of serving their fellow country men and women. Unfortunately most seem to get over the public servitude part rather quickly and it becomes about what they can get for themselves.

Answer 7

If you can't beat them join them! I guess maybe people start out wanting to change things, but after a while of hanging around with all those politicians you start to feel the greed!

Answer 8

Politics is, by its very nature the will behind the manipulation of power and resources.

Its always been about the money and the power.

Answer 9

to control the masses. A bit like religion

Answer 10

many are evil and want their favourit acts of evil legalising so they can practice their evil without getting done, like the quires did, politics is full of them.