What Do YOU Expect From YOUR Elected Officials?

I agree with you 100% - Honesty prevails in any walk oflife, especially when it comes to politics.

Obviously, we'd all LOVE to be able to take honesty for granted as a trait of our elected officials, but I don't see that happening anytime soon! However, even if they WERE all honest, that's not really what I meant. Sometimes a politician will campaign on one side of an issue but once elected he or she does the opposite. Sometimes I suppose this could be justified; situations change plus there are things a CANDIDATE doesn't know that an OFFICIAL (at any level) does. At times it seems that voters and constituents (who obviously aren't always "voters" at all, let alone voters for the winning candidate!) get angry at their officials for doing exactly what they said they'd do. Anyway, I see it argued a number of ways on TV and radio, in print media and right here on myLot. Some say they should follow the opinion polls and do only what their constituents want. Some say - and sometimes it the very same who said the above - they should do what's "right" regardless of what the public wants. Trust me, I'm NOT defending our politicians in general, but there are times when they seriously can't win for losing! Annie

You know, this is going to sound goofy but I think what you and I both would like is for our real-life politicians to be like many of them in the movies and on TV. Every time I see a show with a political story-line I find myself thinking, "Why can't he (or she) REALLY be running for President?"! It doesn't matter what party the fictional candidate belongs to or where they stand on the fictional issues, they're just honest and honest-to-goodness real human beings. They refuse to resort to mudslinging, they keep their word even if it goes against their party or could hurt them politically and they admit that they're not perfect! Oh, well...I guess that's why they call it fiction...lol! Annie

Came back with another thought, or rather an extension on a thought. The constitution. I want an elected servant who isn't afraid to stand up on the house or senate floor, or from behind the white house press room pdium and say "I am sorry, but the constitution wil simply not allow us to do that, by my oath of office, I will have to vote no, no matter how much money you offer me or my state and no matter how much you threaten me, if you do either of those, I will hold a press conference and expose you nationaly and lead the charge for your impeachment."

It is a bit fictional right now isn't it, a bit idealistic, lol, sorry. But, does it have to be? I would put to you that the reason this is only an ideal rather than a reality, is because we keep electing politicians instead of public servants. I can't imagine that out of 300 million amaericans, there aren't plenty of honest people, people of genuine character. But we keep sending professionals, lawyers, etc instead of average joes as was intended. Our congress was never intended to be an elite all knowing body of learned men who are there as a career. It was intended to be a citizen legislature.

I LOVE that line - " honest enough not to be blatantly dishonest"! Annie

I think the Kopechne thing saved his life. Because of it he couldn't become president and They left him alone. but the irony is that he made more of a difference than both Bobby and John combined.

I agree, Lil, but I don't see it as being quite that simple. I mean, what about when the wishes of the people who elected them are tied or close to it? What if they were elected because of certain things they said they stood for (or against) and now some of their constituents don't want them to do what they promised? What if they sincerely, deep in their hearts, KNOW that the people are against something based on misrepresentations of the facts? Annie

Well I personally think no matter what they promised on the campaign trail....if the poeple now don't want it after they are elected....then don't do it. Plus no one always agrees with poltiicans. They run on some stuff you like and some you don't. That does not mean that sence they got elected that the poeple HAVE to take the good with the bad. They have every right as the boss to say...hey I liked this so yes you can do this or hey i voted for you but I did not like this one thing you ran on and so I don't want you to do this. Voting for someone is not always because you liked who the person was or what the ran on. SOme vote because he or she was the lessor of the two evils or to vote "against" the other guy. A vote is not a ringing endorsement of everything they say or do.The will of the poeple must be the most important factor....there should never be the whole " I know better than you do what you want" or " you don't understand so I am going to vote how I want". Or this lobbyist paid me a few million so forget you guys I am voting with them. IF they feel the poeple don't understand or misunderstand...then hold a press conference, town hall meeting etc and talk to them.....but at the end of it if they still dont want it...then you vote how they want...not how you want. The will of the people MUST be done. If the will of the people is close to an equal split....try to work them on a compromise...find out what will make the majority of them agree. Find out what the objections are and if you can fix them. But as I have said...the will of the people must always be done. Even if they the elected official don't personally agree with it. They are there to represent the will of the people who elected them...not to present what they personally want.

Dear Mr. Parliment, It has come to my attention that one of your citizens is complaining a bit about you to Americans. Sincerely, A bald concerned non Scottish citizen.

dear baldy everybody is always complaining about us. we would get very worried if they stopped. yours mr parliament

You're correct, we can feel proud that there have been more voters turn out in the last few elections. However, we still could do much better. Not too long ago I'd heard that only about half or less of those who are eligible to vote were even registered and then on election day only about half of those who are registered turned out. There were many new registrations in 2004 and even more in 2008 and the turnout was considerably better but I think it should be up in the 80-90 percentile in a country like ours. Especially now when there are so many groups willing to give rides to the polls to those who need them and people who make phone calls in advance to let people know of the availability of absentee ballots for those who are away or can't get to the polls. After helping people get to the polls last year I realize the older people are much more willing to make a REAL effort than some of the younger ones. There were many people confined to walkers and wheelchairs who were there despite the inconvenience and discomfort. The young people are really starting to come around and I hope that trend continues and grows! Annie

I just can't believe how Lieberman has changed! To think there was time when I actually LIKED him! Now I think he's just turned into a bitter old man. Annie

Megamatt, welcome to myLot and I hope you enjoy it here and post to my discussions often! Thank you for a great response. I couldn't agree more about how "those with the most money can run the best campaigns" and that's something I've been wishing would be changed for as long as I can remember but it's only gotten much worse. Annie

I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and ask you this: What if they DO keep their promises but something has made YOU decide you don't want them to do what they promised? What if they discover after taking office that what they promised isn't in the best interest of their constituents? (I'm assuming they're being honest and true to themselves in this one...I know, it can be a stretch sometimes...) What if whichever they do - keep or break their promises - they're doing what most of their constituents want, whether YOU agree with the majority or not? Annie