Do politicians reflect our human nature?

Money, greed, power, sexual prowess, hate, manipulation, esteem, lust, selfishness, statesmanship, vision, hope, love, community.

Do they simply show us what we are as individuals and as a society?

I clicked on a thread about rape and ended up here wtf

Anyway, nah... Of course they think about human nature.
If they didn't understand it to some degree they would have a hard time finding people willing to vote for them, wouldn't they?

Do we vote for them because we unconsciously relate to them, such as why Gingrich was elected in the first place? Wasn't he a professor or something?

Do they directly serve our self intersts? Are we willing to overlook their imperfections because we ourselves are hypocrites?

yes, politicians reflect the general human nature. We are basically predators and we just want MORE and we are going to have it whatever it takes.

this is very conservative with a small c?

So they get us what we desire and therefore we overlook their means. Gingrich plays on the knowledge that being a hypocrite won't really matter to a hypocritic public. What seems to irritate the public's nature the most was Clinton's excellent image of righteousness. This is also Gore's problem--his decent and moral image is distasteful to a nation who does not walk their talk. Gingrich is proving just how far he can go and still retain simpathy for his misdeeds, because hypocrisy is nowhere as bad as a good example.

what is it that we desire?? I don't think politicians give us what we want, wich is basically money and power. They keep that to themselves.

They give us false hope, and the rich get richer and feel safer. The average person is satisified as long as their neighbor isn't better off than themselves. The politicians give those with money some access to power. They give the poor person opportunity to work. I'd much rather they develop opportunity than dole out duty.

and what happens to the person working at mcdonald's all his life?

i miss the post war concensus although obviously i didnt experience it

i love welfare mmmmm.

When we talk "human nature" we must accept the observations that the rich and the poor share traits. Those in the middle have much more freedom and opportunity. Finding a path of growth is the individual's mission. The rich cannot change easily, nor can the poor. The politician's job is to illiminate static conditions where we become locked into the prison of routine and duty.

I feel compassion for the rich, for they have little ability to know themselves. I feel compassion for the poor, for they may know themselves but have little ability.

You have the creative ability to create your own world based on your will to dream. Power and money are illusionary products, often of the inability to know one's deeper truth. Few people have power or money as a result of integrity or self-awareness. The poor must face the life-changing struggles, yet may not have the natural gifts to work with. You have it all--you just cannot yet see beyond the illusions of material wealth. Enjoy the growth however it comes. Death is not heavenly, nor is richness material. The more one wants the poorer one becomes. True wealth is being happy with yourself.

That was pretty much Thatcher's idea. Didn't work so well. Duty is important, developing opportunity only leads to survival of the most ruthless. Those who'd sell their friends down the river do better than those who just want to get on with their lives.

Probably not that great for the spirit.