There are good reasons why so many people have become disenfranchised and apathetic about politics in America - politicians and their antics drive them nuts!
It STRUCK me today that there are some very specific behaviors that politicians exhibit on a regular basis to erode voter confidence. These behaviors lead to feelings of what's the point; they're all crooked; or, why should I even bother voting.
Here's 10 examples of what politicians do to turn people off:
1. Dancing Around the Issue - failure to answer direct questions. Talking in circles. Providing a 3 minute response to a 30 second question. Click here for an example from Barack Obama.
2. Talking Out of Both Sides of Their Mouth - saying one thing and doing another. Pandering to one group today and their rivals tomorrow. Flip-flopping. Click here for an example from Hillary Clinton or here for an example by George Bush.
3. Making Sh$t Up as They Go Along - embellishing stories to make themselves seem more important. Stretching the truth about their role in things to gain favor or sympathy. Creating their own legend. Removing the words "I don't know" from their vocabulary. Click here then here for an example from Rudy Giuliani.
4. Making Excuses - failure to take responsibility for mistakes. Claiming ignorance over areas of direct responsibility or oversight. Blaming the other guy. Click here for an example by David Vitter.
5. Pushing the Panic Button - manipulating people into thinking that failure to act will result in imminent peril to themselves, their family or the community/nation. Playing on people's fears. Painting the worst case scenario as the only scenario. Click here for an example by George Bush.
6. Clouding the Issues - making things harder than necessary to understand. Turning common sense into Common Sense
7. Waxing Poetic - using five dollar words when fifty cents would suffice. Making simple concepts out to be philosophical conundrums. Quoting obscure passages, authors or speeches. Using pithy statements to replace regular communication. Click here for an example about Mike Huckabee.
8. The Guilt Trip - making you feel guilty for disagreeing with their position. Talking down to you. Using morality or ethics as justification for a position when the facts do not line up in their favor. Taking a condescending attitude. Click here for an example by George Bush.
9. Taking the Fifth - refusing to answer legitimate questions. Acting like they don't hear you. Failure to respond to e-mails. Giving you the brush off. Click here for an example by Dick Cheney.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
10 Things Politicians Do that Drive Voters Nuts
10. Ring Around the Rosey - answering every question with a question. Playing the "Yes, BUT" game. Making every argument circular, until it ultimately becomes somebody else's fault. Click here for an example by George Bush.
These types of behaviors are what make people lose faith in the election process. American voters should feel comfortable "calling out" politicians who use these tactics. If anything, politicians should be held to a higher standard of honesty and integrity, as they are supposed to be role models who inspire others to get involved and exercise their rights.
Many politicians drive me nuts, and the only way I know to really tell them how I feel about their behavior is through my VOTE. Your vote matters too - don't let political antics keep you from casting it!
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