Aint that the truth, page-13

morning,


Has the quality of politician really changed over the past 50 years?

I believe it has - the quality appears to have dropped markedly - one reason I believe is because industry leaders now reap enormous financial benefits in the last couple of decades -- 50 years back - CEO's and level 2's were earning nowhere near what modern teams are earning -- why would anyone give up such huge financial gains to go into public office? There would only be 2 reasons - a. someone would have a 'calling' do do true public service and good or b. failures in commerce/business would find a home in politics - and gain some remuneration and some status - or veneered status

Have the circumstances in which politicians work changed over the past 50 years?

They most certainly have ---- far more intrusive media - and media now that includes social interactive media. Even just plain old computers and data allow for pretty much on the spot polling - which means that politicians and political parties can take the temperature of the mob instantly and can react (policy on the run) ----------- which may well be fine for gaining and maintaining power - but, following mob idiosyncrasies on a short term basis is about as useful at teats on a bull for running a Nation or a State - the 'mob' has a government because it is no good at governing itself.
IMO - we are closer than ever to a purer from of democracy than ever - meaning that we have the will of the people -------- unfortunately - if one looks at the bellcurve - the people are rather thick.

Has it simply become harder to hide poor political performance and sins over the past 50 years?

IMO - in some ways it has become harder to hide some things - but, also - many things are easier to hide because of very efficient mass communications -

sure - there are a lot of eyes and ears out there now - but, deception works really well in those instances -

ask any magician ------------- you can be playing merry hell with the left hand is the mob is concentrating on the right hand.

Also - I think our 'acceptance' standards have slipped - as have our many other standards in life - we put up with very poor behavior these days that we would consider very bad manners 50 years back.

One could list a list a mile long -------------- so to, we accept behaviors in our politicians that would not have been proper decades back.

Time changes all.