Just how cynical are we about our politicians?

Is there anything politicians can do to decrease this mistrust, then?

Don't tell blatant lies. Politicians have always distorted the truth and been selective in their use of statistics, but this government routinely tells (and gets away with) blatant lies. Cameron is largely to blame. With his public school confidence / arrogance (delete as applicable) he could spout any old rubbish and people would believe him. His attitude was "If people expect politicians to lie, why should I disappoint them?".

 

Of course the Iraq war played a part. While I was fiercely opposed to it, I still think Blair genuinely believed everything he said. His failure was in not questioning the intelligence information sufficiently. If he used his barrister's training, the bit he used was the advice not to ask questions if you didn't already know the answer - just in case it wasn't the answer you wanted. That saw confidence in politicians plummet but Cameron and his ilk haven't even bothered trying to restore confidence.

Don't tell blatant lies. Politicians have always distorted the truth and been selective in their use of statistics, but this government routinely tells (and gets away with) blatant lies. Cameron is largely to blame. With his public school confidence / arrogance (delete as applicable) he could spout any old rubbish and people would believe him. His attitude was "If people expect politicians to lie, why should I disappoint them?".

 

Of course the Iraq war played a part. While I was fiercely opposed to it, I still think Blair genuinely believed everything he said. His failure was in not questioning the intelligence information sufficiently. If he used his barrister's training, the bit he used was the advice not to ask questions if you didn't already know the answer - just in case it wasn't the answer you wanted. That saw confidence in politicians plummet but Cameron and his ilk haven't even bothered trying to restore confidence.

 

ISTM it's reached a situation where even if they told the truth, it's unlikely they'd be believed. That effect might partly explain the Brexit result? :unsure:

 

[incidentally, your first sentence had me confused for a second, until I realised that 'Don't' could be read as 'Not'. :P ]

Edited March 11, 20187 yr by vidcapper