The Psychology of those who run for national political office

[Mac1958]

I was watching someone talking about something somewhere about something some time ago, and they were discussing how national politics are now so nasty, so intrusive, and so distorted by social media now that our REAL Best & Brightest know to stay the hell away from it. Completely.

Anyone who runs for the House, Senate or White House now knows that they and their family will be the subject of an absolute non-stop, 24 hour a day, FLOOD of attacks, lies, distortions and fake news that, not only can badly affect their family and personal life, but making it pretty much impossible to get out a real message or actually improve anything.

So what are your thoughts on any or all of the following?

1. Do you think it's true that many people who would otherwise be helpful are just choosing to stay away?
2. What do you think is the psychological makeup of someone who's willing to put themselves and their family through this?
3. If many of our real Best & Brightest are now avoiding politics, is that leading to a decay in the quality of our political "leaders" and governance?
.

 

[JoeMoma]

1. Yes!
2. Narcissist
3. Yes!

 

[Mac1958]

1. Yes!
2. Narcissist
3. Yes!

Brevity is the soul of wit!
.

 

[Timmy]

Even a local part time office would be a pain. All the crazies show up demanding things as if you were elected to be their butler .

 

[JoeMoma]

One reason politics is corrupt is that people that run with the beleif that they can do lots of good findout that they can't really fight the establishment so at some point they decide they may as well get theirs while they can.

 

[mudwhistle]

If people were allowed to sue liars this wouldn't even be a problem.

 

[NYcarbineer]

If people were allowed to sue liars this wouldn't even be a problem.

All Mostly False statements involving Donald Trump | PolitiFact

All False statements involving Donald Trump | PolitiFact

All Pants on Fire! statements involving Donald Trump | PolitiFact

 

[LoneLaugher]

If people were allowed to sue liars this wouldn't even be a problem.

Awesome.

 

[dturner1157]

It is sad that the state of the political landscape has gotten so ugly.
It's gotten to the point that there is little governing being done, because most all energy is spent demonizing "the other side", that they have forgotten what they were debating in the first place.

 

[Mac1958]

It is sad that the state of the political landscape has gotten so ugly. It's gotten to the point that there is little governing being done, because most all energy is spent demonizing "the other side", that they have forgotten what they were debating in the first place.

Yeah. I think it's all been exacerbated a thousand-fold by the 24-hour news cycle and social media. When you're trying to drink water out of a fire hose, who knows what you're actually consuming.
.

 

[Freewill]

I was watching someone talking about something somewhere about something some time ago, and they were discussing how national politics are now so nasty, so intrusive, and so distorted by social media now that our REAL Best & Brightest know to stay the hell away from it. Completely.

Anyone who runs for the House, Senate or White House now knows that they and their family will be the subject of an absolute non-stop, 24 hour a day, FLOOD of attacks, lies, distortions and fake news that, not only can badly affect their family and personal life, but making it pretty much impossible to get out a real message or actually improve anything.

So what are your thoughts on any or all of the following?

1. Do you think it's true that many people who would otherwise be helpful are just choosing to stay away?
2. What do you think is the psychological makeup of someone who's willing to put themselves and their family through this?
3. If many of our real Best & Brightest are now avoiding politics, is that leading to a decay in the quality of our political "leaders" and governance?
.

1. Do you think it's true that many people who would otherwise be helpful are just choosing to stay away?

Yes

2. What do you think is the psychological makeup of someone who's willing to put themselves and their family through this?

The majority are into power, at least on a local level. They have little else going on in their lives that make them feel validated, so they run for office. Who would Pelosi be without her position?

3. If many of our real Best & Brightest are now avoiding politics, is that leading to a decay in the quality of our political "leaders" and governance?

The decay happens because most of the "best and brightest" don't want to be in the trenches, i.e. Trump. I have seen and been part of local government in action. The best of ideas can be shot down by the ignorance or bias of the many.

 

[gipper]

T

I was watching someone talking about something somewhere about something some time ago, and they were discussing how national politics are now so nasty, so intrusive, and so distorted by social media now that our REAL Best & Brightest know to stay the hell away from it. Completely.

Anyone who runs for the House, Senate or White House now knows that they and their family will be the subject of an absolute non-stop, 24 hour a day, FLOOD of attacks, lies, distortions and fake news that, not only can badly affect their family and personal life, but making it pretty much impossible to get out a real message or actually improve anything.

So what are your thoughts on any or all of the following?

1. Do you think it's true that many people who would otherwise be helpful are just choosing to stay away?
2. What do you think is the psychological makeup of someone who's willing to put themselves and their family through this?
3. If many of our real Best & Brightest are now avoiding politics, is that leading to a decay in the quality of our political "leaders" and governance?
.

The political class has always contained the worst among us. Just ask Mark Twain.

 

[Timmy]

If people were allowed to sue liars this wouldn't even be a problem.

A pol who told nothing but the truth wouldn't get 5 votes .

We pretend that's what we want, but we don't .

 

[Mac1958]

Just imagine what you have to do from the beginning of the process: Glad-handing people to get their money and support, trying to keep enough important people happy to stay relevant, constant assaults from opponents and faceless social media trolls, dishonest and distorted attacks from the other party, having to toe the party line regardless of your true opinions, constant fundraising, pissed off donors and constituents, on and on.

I guess I can see a really narcissistic individual who's not married going through all this because they're just so damn important and the world just needs them so damn much.

But if you have a family? Obviously it's worth it to a politician, but DANG.
.

 

[gipper]

If people were allowed to sue liars this wouldn't even be a problem.

A pol who told nothing but the truth wouldn't get 5 votes .

We pretend that's what we want, but we don't .

No...that is terribly wrong.

Maybe leftists want their pols to lie. Seems most leftist pols do lie a lot. You want them to lie, because the truth is not acceptable to your beliefs.

 

[LoneLaugher]

If people were allowed to sue liars this wouldn't even be a problem.

A pol who told nothing but the truth wouldn't get 5 votes .

We pretend that's what we want, but we don't .

No...that is terribly wrong.

Maybe leftists want their pols to lie. Seems most leftist pols do lie a lot. You want them to lie, because the truth is not acceptable to your beliefs.

Yeah. You're clearly right. Cons hate liars and would never, ever vote for one.

 

[Timmy]

If people were allowed to sue liars this wouldn't even be a problem.

A pol who told nothing but the truth wouldn't get 5 votes .

We pretend that's what we want, but we don't .

No...that is terribly wrong.

Maybe leftists want their pols to lie. Seems most leftist pols do lie a lot. You want them to lie, because the truth is not acceptable to your beliefs.

No I'm right . Cons are probably worse ! They all lie about being religious and family values.

 

[gipper]

If people were allowed to sue liars this wouldn't even be a problem.

A pol who told nothing but the truth wouldn't get 5 votes .

We pretend that's what we want, but we don't .

No...that is terribly wrong.

Maybe leftists want their pols to lie. Seems most leftist pols do lie a lot. You want them to lie, because the truth is not acceptable to your beliefs.

Yeah. You're clearly right. Cons hate liars and would never, ever vote for one.

Did I say cons don't lie? Why do libs lie so much?

 

[dturner1157]

Somewhere along time the nature of politicians changed from being a "public servant" into a life-long career. That needs to change.
From the moment of entering office (under the new guidelines) one is almost required to lie in order to preserve one's "career".

This is why we need term limits. It will get politicians mind set right, or get them out.

 

[Mac1958]

Somewhere along time the nature of politicians changed from being a "public servant" into a life-long career. That needs to change. From the moment of entering office (under the new guidelines) one is almost required to lie in order to preserve one's "career". This is why we need term limits. It will get politicians mind set right, or get them out.

Those who oppose term limits say that elections are term limits, which is completely ignoring the fact that the longer a politician is in office, the more their power base is entrenched. Term limits and publicly-funded elections would immediately change the behaviors of these people.

Unfortunately, it still wouldn't address the declining quality of people who are crazy enough to run in the first place.
.