Is telling lies a special quality for a politician?

Question

I can't wait to see the answers for this.

Answer 1

I have a degree in Political Science and the first two classes I took were Lying 101 and Deny Everything 101. My second semester was Cover Your Butt 101.

Answer 2

Yes.

Politics is (originally) the science of being polite. It's a process of telling people what they want to hear, and getting people to agree with you.

In a culture that does not value true and honesty (at least, not any time the message is unpleasant) it's natural that those most schooled in lying and spin would rise to leadership.

Answer 3

I dream of a world where it is otherwise. I dream of a world where all politicians under go a truth serum interview prior to election day. I dream that the interviews will be nationally televised.

Answer 4

Our polititians are professionals (like wrestlers). Who says they lie? Do wrestlers lie?

Anyone who wants to be successful in either field stretch the truth as far as it can go. Sometimes they cross the line and it becomes a lie. How do you stop it? Don't vote for professional polititians or go to professional wrestling matches (go to the local high school matches).

Answer 5

A definite and resounding yes, at least a very significant majority of black South Africans are, as proven time and time again by the racist ANC. I, as a white South African can understand the need for several of the reforms instituted by the ANC, however, their implementation has been racist to say the least. The fact that there are white civil servants and judges left in South Africa is merely a portrait of the present, the ANC have on numerous occasions stated that the judiciary is "too white" and that whites "do not belong" in civil service but should be self employed, remarkable when you consider that those who are self employed are now forced to surrender their business' or significant percentages thereof to black South Africans' in terms of BEE. The ANC have also recently attacked the numbers of white police officers' in service, clearly stating that they too do ot belong in the service of the government. What about students in Mamelodi as recently as 2005 chanting "kill the whites, kill the Boer", is lack of education also to blame for this? Our learning institutions must be worse than I had thought. Look also at the ANC's continual attack on white history and culture, I wonder how much longer Afrikaans will exist, will any streets, buildings and cities be allowed to bear the names given to them by the former white governments? Why can whites not be allowed to play their sports of choice without being forced to select black players to the teams when there are none to select? If black people aren't interested in playing rugby and cricket, why should we be forced to force them tp participate, the answer, racism. Why to is no one allowed to criticise the ANC or its leaders regarding issues of crime, corruption, nepotism etc without being branded a racist? It is true that a racist's first retort is to label his counterpart as a racist. Why can the ANC not mention white South Africans without speaking of the evils of colonialism and apartheid in the same breath? Should we be vilified till the end of time? I suppose the opinions of people such as Watzzup on this forum are also not shared by any other black South Africans? I will not even mention personal experiences.

Answer 6

its the most important part of politics, getting the rich to finance your campaign and the poor to vote for you. and lie to them all.

Answer 7

plenty of liars that aren't politicians, but not many politicians that aren't liars.

Answer 8

I think it's a job qualification.

Answer 9

No, they come naturally, just like lawyers.

Answer 10

It is part of their requirements.