Politicians are an intriguing species. They straddle the line between public and private lives with ease, their private lives often being put under public scrutiny. How can you assess whether a candidate is trustworthy? A good way of doing this is looking at their past; people who run for office must meet certain requirements — the most essential being their ability to put the public good ahead of their personal interests.
Not every politician passes this test with flying colors; many fail miserably. While it takes some digging to spot someone who should likely not hold office, here are the top warning signs:
Biggest Red Flags in a Political Campaign
1) Dishonesty
Politicians who violate public trust undermine democracy itself, thereby damaging its functioning. Lie specifics are less significant than their willingness to lie at all, so the best way to detect dishonesty in politicians is to study their track records: If they have a long track record of lying, chances are high they’re going to continue doing it; or if an issue seems unclear to you, look up past statements; any that have changed multiple times should raise red flags.
2) Greed
Greed Politicians aren’t immune from greed, which can lead to all manner of misconduct from corruption to neglect of duty. Greed can also manifest as the need for attention and adulation that borders on narcissism. One sure way of detecting greed in political candidates is observing their financial standing: candidates with vast amounts of wealth accumulated unjustifiably tend to be driven by it rather than altruism.
Candidates who have been paid to lobby on behalf of special interests are legally obliged to disclose this fact, so their failure to disclose that they’ve been paid to advocate for certain causes indicates a desire not to inform the public of it.
3) Lack of transparency
Politicians who refuse to divulge details about their past are likely trying to hide something, and candidates should welcome offering as much information about themselves as possible in exchange for the privilege of running for public office. When candidates don’t release tax returns, college transcripts, or any relevant documents this should raise red flags; whether it be something personal, past convictions, or something that compromises dignity of office this could all indicate trouble for an election campaign candidate who may otherwise serve their constituents well. Having something hidden is no excuse; simply won’t work as an election campaign candidate either!
4) Authoritarian tendencies
Politicians with authoritarian leanings might promise to “make America great again” or restore law and order; such promises are often coded messages about totalitarianism. Authoritarian candidates also often exhibit aggressive or bullying behavior during campaigns – so if there’s too much demagoguery or hatredful rhetoric coming from any candidate’s campaign, chances are high they have authoritarian tendencies.
These can take various forms, from intimidating critics and the media, to attempts to overwrite the First Amendment with new censorship measures. Any candidate exhibiting authoritarian tendencies should not be trusted with power.
5) Shifting positions
Politicians who switch their position on major issues (like abortion, the economy or foreign policy ) for political expediency likely do so out of desperation for electability; candidates who do this are usually pandering and may even say or do whatever it takes to win elections – this should serve as a warning sign to voters that these politicians don’t hold strong beliefs that matter to them and democracy as a whole.
Also Refer :- How to Choose Politicians
Conclusion
Conclusion By considering all these factors together, one can gain a great insight into a candidate’s character and whether or not they would make a good fit for office. A prudent voter will consider these signs when casting their ballot; voting not only represents you; it shapes the future of our nation.