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The politicians largely reflect the people they govern. I don't think we can expect much better from them as compared to the general population...not to mention

The politicians largely reflect the people they govern. I don't think we can expect much better from them as compared to the general population...not to mention of course the vested interests and lobbying capability of corporations. And again corporations have shareholders, employees, etc...

rcMgD2BwE72F 8y ago
>The politicians largely reflect the people they govern. Yet, people expect the politicians not to simply reflect them. Who or what is at fault then?
- chosenbreed 8y ago
  I think it is naive to expect someone to be better simply because they hold public office. Politicians are as fallible as anybody else...but I don't think that's a big problem in the long run. In the long run they will reflect the choices of large swathes of people. I think politics/policies are lagging indicators. For examples I give rulings on slavery, voting for women, voting for people of colour, legalisation of same-sex marriage, (bans on smoking in certain places), etc
colordrops 8y ago
> The politicians largely reflect the people they govern Is that really true though? The statement is so vague.
- PeterisP 8y ago
  In this regard it's absolutely true - the vast majority of people clearly are not willing to undertake meaningful lifestyle sacrifices to fight against climate change.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
munificent 8y ago
I think a more precise statement is that politicians reflect the people who got them in office. In theory that means the voters. In practice in the US, because election spending is so huge and effective, it means the wealthy.
TOGoS 8y ago
> The politicians largely reflect the people they govern. Someday I'd like to visit the universe you live in. It sounds nice.
- PeterisP 8y ago
  IDK, in my universe (at least for this topic) politicians reflecting the people they govern means that any nontrivial short-term sacrifice to even start fighting a war against climate change is an impossibility, the voters will throw them down the moment they'd propose devoting a meaningful amount of resources (with the associated cuts to other areas needing funding) or forcing major lifestyle changes on everyone, not just those who volunteer to live in a more eco-friendly manner.

rcMgD2BwE72F 8y ago

>The politicians largely reflect the people they govern. Yet, people expect the politicians not to simply reflect them. Who or what is at fault then?

chosenbreed 8y ago
I think it is naive to expect someone to be better simply because they hold public office. Politicians are as fallible as anybody else...but I don't think that's a big problem in the long run. In the long run they will reflect the choices of large swathes of people. I think politics/policies are lagging indicators. For examples I give rulings on slavery, voting for women, voting for people of colour, legalisation of same-sex marriage, (bans on smoking in certain places), etc

colordrops 8y ago

> The politicians largely reflect the people they govern Is that really true though? The statement is so vague.

PeterisP 8y ago
In this regard it's absolutely true - the vast majority of people clearly are not willing to undertake meaningful lifestyle sacrifices to fight against climate change.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

munificent 8y ago

I think a more precise statement is that politicians reflect the people who got them in office. In theory that means the voters. In practice in the US, because election spending is so huge and effective, it means the wealthy.

TOGoS 8y ago

> The politicians largely reflect the people they govern. Someday I'd like to visit the universe you live in. It sounds nice.

PeterisP 8y ago
IDK, in my universe (at least for this topic) politicians reflecting the people they govern means that any nontrivial short-term sacrifice to even start fighting a war against climate change is an impossibility, the voters will throw them down the moment they'd propose devoting a meaningful amount of resources (with the associated cuts to other areas needing funding) or forcing major lifestyle changes on everyone, not just those who volunteer to live in a more eco-friendly manner.