Why do citizens vote for known crooked politicians?

Question

In Louisiana, Edwin Edwards was elected governor four times. The last time was after an indictment for racketeering. Bill Jefferson took bribes and so did his brother. Ray Nagin proved to be a lousy mayor to have in a crisis after Katrina. Kathleen Blanco was elected governor just because she's female. The Democrats would have you believe that these people don't represent the entire party. Most corrupt politicians are Democrats. I wonder who this message will offend.

Answer 1

well democrats since you said corrupt politicians are all democrats LOL. tbh i think it's not just democrats... it's MOST political parties. and saying some one was elected b/c she was female is a sexist statement. :P

anyway... i think ppl nowadays just vote for whoever blows the most smoke out their rearend.

Answer 2

Unlike Repubilcans, who enter public office to enrich themselves, and are somewhat talented in the ways they profit through secret deals, partnerships, and paybacks after their terms expire, Democrats have a style of spreading the spoils to "birds of a feather", people who just congregate because they are generally corrupt and think power = money; they are pretty open about it, and it all begins during campaigns, when promises are doled out like candy. Since people working in the "grass-roots" of Democratic politics know they'll be getting their rewards pretty soon, patience is not practiced; expectations are high immediately upon election; therefore there's a lot of encouraging one's friends to get on the gravy train, bussing other beneficiaries to the polls, and lining up for lobbying positions and lobbying activities right away. There's such a short span between the votes and the rewards that it's very much like vote-buying. This works very well with immoral people who have short attention spans. They know the people are being robbed, but they figure they'll benefit first from the robbery.

Anyone who has faith in and votes for either major party of pie-slicers should be offended.

Answer 3

It's not just democrats who are corrupt.
But, the reason people elect crooked politicians is pretty simple -- favorable press, dispassionate voters, and a lack of solid principles in voting.

Depending on the slant of the news outlet people watch, crooks can be painted as victims, innocents can be painted as predators, idiots can be painted as heros, and geniuses can be painted as morons with no common sense.

It's quite common for people to vote on the basis of how much of an idiot someone was for supporting Bush, or how they hate someone's attitude towards a celebrity, instead of evaluating their particular positions in an objective way. People tend to listen to their friends preconcieved notions without verifying background facts. People vote their "gut" more often than not, and that swings wildly towards the biases of the media outlet they trust, not towards methodically reasoned conclusions.

Answer 4

All too often there is not choice but to vote for the crooks. In many cases it seems better to vote for the guy You know will sell out cheaply instead of one who will concentrate more on taking directly from the taxpayers instead of corporate donations.

Answer 5

Because we have this mentality that we must elect either Democrats or Republicans, both parties that are loaded with crooks.

Answer 6

it just goes to show how dumb the average person is...people dont follow what these crooks have done in the past,and the media will only exploit it if its to their advantage to do so.
as a rule of thumb,i consider all politicians crooks..

Answer 7

Did you forget about Bush, Chenney, Libby, or Rove? Libby breaks the law and his buddy George gets him out of it? Bush claimed he'd explain more about it after the legal process was complete and now that it is he's brushing it off as old news. I would too if I was tring to weasil out of explaining my actions. Find out the profits for Haliburton after we so-called "liberated" the people of Iraq. Oil is being stolen out of Iraq as we speak and are we to believe our military has no idea about it? Your complaining about rodents while looking past the wolves.

Answer 8

That is something my friend that has always amazed me also.We continually put these people of corruption in areas sensitive to our country and give them free reign over enormous amounts of money and power.Simply amazing we are.

Answer 9

Americans are stupid. They think that the elections are an American idol contest.

Answer 10

not me....i hate all crooked politicians and the dumbasses that actually vote for them