Should Politicians Be More Honest And Accountable? - Page 2

Jae Swift · 12-11-2007, 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

And what was that called?

See if you can find it on an official government website, there has to be more to the bill than that. I have public law at 9am, so I'll ask my lecturer what it is, I'm sure she'll be able to give me the proper citation so i can look it up and post the whole thing up.

Not sure of the name but it was on 11th October 2007 BBC2

WillowTheWhisp · 12-11-2007, 07:50

Adam Price? Is that the Welsh MP?

Eric · 14-11-2007, 20:03

No ... politicians are fine the way they are. Life would be a lot more bland without the odd political scandal now and again to take our minds off Paris Hilton. One of our ex Prime Ministers will soon be the subject of a Public Inquirey. Evidently, he received massive kickbacks in what is known as the Airbus Scandal. Honest is no fun ... notoriety comes only with a little scandal. Tommy Douglas will be remembered as Kiefer Sutherland's grandfather, not as the only honest politician Ottawa has ever seen.

Gayle · 14-11-2007, 20:34

I don't think your average Politician lies, I do think they withhold information sometimes though. Politics, even being on the fringe of it like I am, means that you find information out that sometimes isn't in everyone's best interest to say or sometimes saying it without actual proof can be very difficult because it can get you in huge trouble.

cashman · 14-11-2007, 21:40

theres many a politition tells you what they think you want to hear,which is usually complete claptrap, that much i have discovered in my lifes journey, its quite amusing reminding them what they said on such a date, and listening to em saying they didn,t or they didn't mean that, on that basis i would say YES they do lie,but it dont bother me much, i expect it.

Eric · 14-11-2007, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

I don't think your average Politician lies, I do think they withhold information sometimes though. Politics, even being on the fringe of it like I am, means that you find information out that sometimes isn't in everyone's best interest to say or sometimes saying it without actual proof can be very difficult because it can get you in huge trouble.

In other words, when you are up to your bottom lip in liquid s**t, don't make waves

Eric · 14-11-2007, 23:16

To accuse someone of telling a lie is to assume that there is something called the truth, something independent of what a group of people accept as true. Also one should also consider the context. Politicians inhabit a world in which the manipulation of language in order to make a point, or gain an advantage over other politicians is viewed as the norm. And a little prevaricating in order to get elected is also ok. Accountability is a problem only for politicians in a democracy, and is seen by some as one of the drawbacks of the system. It is difficult to ensure that the trains run on time, or that one goes to fight a war for the wrong reasons if one has to be accountable to the voters. A little distortion here and there (weapons of mass destruction) goes a long way towards improving govt. efficiency.

Eric · 14-11-2007, 23:52

I think Churchil put it best whenl he suggested that political lies were "terminological inexactitudes." Was John Profumo the last English politician to confess to mangling the truth? Or have there been some others since.

cashman · 14-11-2007, 23:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric

I think Churchil put it best whenl he suggested that political lies were "terminological inexactitudes." Was John Profumo the last English politician to confess to mangling the truth? Or have there been some others since.

well archer didn't exactly tell the truth, but got bird for his troubles.

unless of coarse perjury is telling it pmsl