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Politicians are just that class of criminals we’ve regulated well enough to keep the spotlight on them. Judging an entire nation by the ugliness of its politic

Politicians are just that class of criminals we’ve regulated well enough to keep the spotlight on them. Judging an entire nation by the ugliness of its politicians would be short sighted. We, us regular folk, have more in common with each other, with our global neighbours, than we ever will the ruling class. Not every US citizen is a Trump support, and not every Trump supporter is a buffoon. And Australian and UK politics are simply too embarrassing to even mention.

rayiner 7y ago
That’s not true at all. The people are the ones who elect the politicians, remember? In Bangladesh where I’m from, if you’re an American tourist hanging out in areas full of western expats you might be get the wrong impression. But make no mistake. Outside those pockets, you’re in a country where 1/3 of people think people born into Muslim families should be executed if they leave Islam. 80% of women are beaten by their husbands. Where 22% of women are married by age 15. (On the flip side, many things Americans do would bring great shame to a Bangladeshi family.)
- TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
  > That’s not true at all. The people are the ones who elect the politicians, remember? Don’t be so naive. In most democracies that I’m aware of, to win a politician only needs to win 51% of the vote. I’m in Australia and we have a preferential instant-runoff system[1] so it rapidly gets way more complicated than 51% majority, whereby most of our recent federal elections have been “won” by minority (less than 51%) parties forming a coalition. What you’re saying, then, is Bangladesh is full of savages and not to come there as a tourist, whereas it’s well know that Iran has a problematic government that frustrates it’s well educated, fairly ordinary, citizens. Edit to add: Trump didn’t win the popular vote neither; he won due to a quirk of the US electoral system. So I stand by my argument that we shouldn’t judge people by the politicians who claim to represent them. Edit to add: I just realised who I’m replying to. So now I have another question: why would you even write that? How do you get to being an appellate lawyer and think the political system wholly represents people’s beliefs? This is a genuine question. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system_of_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system_of_Australia

rayiner 7y ago

That’s not true at all. The people are the ones who elect the politicians, remember? In Bangladesh where I’m from, if you’re an American tourist hanging out in areas full of western expats you might be get the wrong impression. But make no mistake. Outside those pockets, you’re in a country where 1/3 of people think people born into Muslim families should be executed if they leave Islam. 80% of women are beaten by their husbands. Where 22% of women are married by age 15. (On the flip side, many things Americans do would bring great shame to a Bangladeshi family.)

TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
> That’s not true at all. The people are the ones who elect the politicians, remember? Don’t be so naive. In most democracies that I’m aware of, to win a politician only needs to win 51% of the vote. I’m in Australia and we have a preferential instant-runoff system[1] so it rapidly gets way more complicated than 51% majority, whereby most of our recent federal elections have been “won” by minority (less than 51%) parties forming a coalition. What you’re saying, then, is Bangladesh is full of savages and not to come there as a tourist, whereas it’s well know that Iran has a problematic government that frustrates it’s well educated, fairly ordinary, citizens. Edit to add: Trump didn’t win the popular vote neither; he won due to a quirk of the US electoral system. So I stand by my argument that we shouldn’t judge people by the politicians who claim to represent them. Edit to add: I just realised who I’m replying to. So now I have another question: why would you even write that? How do you get to being an appellate lawyer and think the political system wholly represents people’s beliefs? This is a genuine question. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system_of_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system_of_Australia