Since When Did Normally Well Read, Intelligent, Progressives, Start Trusting Politicians ???

[davidthegnome]

64. I think it's more a matter of...

which ones we distrust the least. The game is too rigged for it to be otherwise for most of us. Having been born in 1984, my experience with politics as an adult is still very limited, compared to many here. What I personally feel though, is that just about any politician is for sale, for the right amount of money. I mean... this is a system of legal bribery, which has become far worse since the Citizens United ruling. Am I going to trust people... even intelligent people I like... when it comes to such huge amounts of cash? Generally, no. As a general rule, people will do what benefits them and theirs.

I think holding the President's feet (and other politicians feet) to the fire, requires us to forge a new system. Campaign finance reform, primarily. Bribes, however prettied up or worded, need to be illegal. The financial interests, I think, have far more control over our government than honest or dishonest politicians - and certainly more control than the average voter.

I don't trust politicians, in general. There's some I like, but I do not trust them to do what's best for the American people as opposed to what's best for their campaign contributors. This doesn't mean that there aren't some politicians that are honest, full of integrity and the righteousness we would hope for... but I tend to expect the worst.

Who really has the power? Who ever has the money, I suppose. Certainly not me. So my opinion should prove irrelevant to politicians in any event.