Do you believe that in your country, all political leaders are scammers?

[Anonymous]

Yes!

No!

Not gonna lie, fews are

[lucasnabizada]

Questions like this are very surface deep-especially with designating every individual in every branch of Gov. using terms like scam-

Ultimately lobbying and other means of corruption can always exist; but besides that you have to take into account that things that appear to you as unjust, unfair etc. are a tailored way to benefit the country as a whole that maybe flies right past you and that don't benefit you or even detriment you in the short term, in order to provide greater relief. It is not always the case; but sometimes something can seem bad to you, when in the greater socio-political risk reward system it is good policy for the country from a government policy that a layman like you or I would simply not understand because we are not politicians; economists or experts in the field in question.

That is not to say there is no corruption however, or that lobbying can sometimes lead to detrimental results. I think personally (and am biased considered i'm studying law) that Judicial Branch at the state level tends to be less prone to those problems because although they interpret the law they are bound by precedent.

[RavVid]

I am in Australia.

I think most politicians do actually honestly think they have a way of improving society. Left wing generally think spending more money will solve all problems and Right wing thinks taxing less and spending less will solve all problems.

Then spin kicks in on both sides and that is a kind of scamming.

Where I am local government has State and Federal beat hands down in terms of scamming and corruption. They won't even act in the interests of voters and most often against our interests.

[Poppykate]

Are you really 30 and living in Australia? Or do you still live at home with M&D? Because if you were 30 and living and working in Australia, you would realise that young people are getting f@&k in the ass by our politicians and then asked to be grateful and smile about it!

[monorprise]

Is that because local voters have no idea what your local government is doing?

[RavVid]

@Poppykate There are a lot of things to be unhappy about. Depending on your politics and my politics we might agree or disagree. Today headlines: interest rates rise but the issue I am most concerned about is Albanese's plan to accept Indian degrees in Australia. That I think is very problematic.

What do you see as f@&k in the ass?

[RavVid]

@monorprise To some degree but they can see it on the streets if they care to look. More the problem is that local gov't is seen as of little relevance and therefore little attention is paid to them and their deficiencies.

[monorprise]

@RavVid It is rather enlightening that Austruaina has the same problem we do. I presume it because your central goverment has claimed supreme and broad power over everything.

Thus giving people the idea that whatever the local goverment does is inconsequential to the promises of federal politics and its elections just running over everything.

[RavVid]

@monorprise It is pretty much that exactly. The powers to tax have largely gone to our Federal gov't and the powers to rule follow the money. In the US it seems taxation seems more diffused but I may be wrong.

[monorprise]

@RavVid States are independently operating separate governments with their own Constitutions and systems of enforcement and collection.
It really isn't a power issue as States can impose any kind of tax they want in any amount they want for any reason they want within their state. Technically they can even tax imports in the form of customs although the feds would get the money so they don't.

The Feds by contrast are constitutionally more limited, although that constitution doesn't mean much to them anymore.

For States the main limiting factor is how much their citizens and industry are both willing and able to pay before they start fleeing. States are competitive and always trying to snip each-other's people and industry. As such the tolerance for high taxes among most states is very low.

Instead like Australia i suppose our big goverment left tends to push for higher taxes and other undesirable programs on the Federal side to avoid the competitive consequences of interstate competition.

In terms of enforcement States tend to dominate with 90% of the resources, in terms of Taxes and spending the feds tend to dominate, and use much of the money they take to redistribute among the States paying them to do their bidding.
Mostly in the form of medicare, and education grants, but also increasingly LEO grants, as the feds try to take control of the State's police force (90% of LEO).

This is the main way federal politicians hijack state power for their own ends rather than the people of the State by bribing them with the enormous amount of money taken from the same people.

This only became possible after we amended the constitution to give the Feds a broad taxing power, and did nothing to obstruct their claim to unlimited spending power.

[RavVid]

@monorprise Went a slightly different way in Australia. During WWII our states referred income tax powers to the Federal gov't to prosecute the war but forgot to give it back afterwards but dole it out in grants to States. Now States prefer this because it avoids competition likewise but the states get to spend without the odium of taxing and then get to blame the Federal level if they are inefficient in their spending.

Similarly the Federal level coerces states with tied grants.

Much the same. LEO = ? Law Enforcement from context I am guessing.

[monorprise]

@RavVid I've read wars are when liberty is usually lost. The Australian example is very interesting... It sounds like your federal goverment really screwed over Australian Constitution during the 2nd world war.

We may have been spared the same fate only because of the great difficulty in amending our Federal Constitution. As such during the Civil war when the Federal Goverment first imposed an income tax unconstitutionally, this was latter reversed as such.

A fact that made federal imperialist & leftist mad leading to their campaign for the 16th amendment, which they only got well into the progressive era (When leftist monopolized media) in 1913, almost 50 years after said war. Ironically justified on the cost of paying for the aforementioned war veterans pensions.

So clearly war is an evil that oppresses even the "Victor" long after it was allegedly won, doubly so it seems the people of Australia.

It also seems the power to tax and send money to local governments is very harmful to federal constitutional systems. It should be ideally banned.

That is correct LEO is indeed shorthand for Law enforcement Officers. The Left and 'federal' imperialist are still trying to take control of this central tool.
The recurring "police brutality" campaigns by the left are a part of this plot, as their solution is regularly to "bring in Washington", to deal with their incompetent democrat commanders.

This is the last remaining akliees heel of imperialism in Washington D. C the fact that they don't control an army practically able to control the people. As such Americans do not care nearly soo much about their domestic laws, as we are not nessarly following them.

[RavVid]

@monorprise You probably aren't aware but the Australian constitution borrowed significantly from the US constitution as a federation was clearly appropriate for us as well. Before WW2 income tax was a state tax but it is constitutional for the state gov'ts to refer powers to Federal gov't. There is advantage to this if it is advantageous for a power to be applied consistently across the country.

That is easier for us than you as their are only six states and there is a tendency for states to do complimentary legislation that is much the same between states. Of course if you don't like how things work in your current state you can move to one of the other 49 who does work as you'd like. Not for us.

Our states blabber on about state rights just as much but don't mean it mostly. They were happy to let go of income taxation because that let go of the odium of taxation increases and they could blame Federal gov't for deficiencies rather than their incompetence being held responsible. Federal get's it's way with what is called tied grants.

This has certainly lead to reduced responsibility by State gov't. And mammoth waste of tax payer dollars. At the same time Federal gov't will shout that's a state responsibility and there will be buck passing a'plenty.

As local gov't isn't recognized in our constitution, grants to local gov't was ruled unconstitutional but there are work arounds.

It is a very important principal that gov'ts spending the money should be raising the money otherwise there is no real accounting of it to voters. It becomes free money instead. I could wish we were more like the US in this.

At least so far our Federal is keeping it's hands off State Law Enforcement.

[Adaeva]

All large governments are corrupt and are ruled by evil sociopaths. And, although there are exceptions such as North Korea, typically the larger the government the more corrupt it is because the further the rulers are from the people the more corrupt they are. If in the USA we could eliminate the central government and turn all the power over to the individual states or at least give the central government only the authority that a large majority of the individual states assigned to the central government freedom and wealth of the citizens would greatly increase.

[Red-Blaze]

I dont think all are, but some are, at least the more sucssusful once
I mean "Abslote power abslotly corurapts"
Yes I typo that to hell sorry :( English is hard

I mean someone really not one is likely one you bearly if at all hear about

[bean2k21]

It is not accurate or fair to make a blanket statement that all political leaders in any country are scammers. While it is true that there have been instances of corruption and unethical behavior among some political leaders, there are also many leaders who have worked tirelessly to serve their constituents and improve their communities. It's important to recognize that politicians, like any other profession, come from diverse backgrounds and have varying motivations for entering public service.

[zagor]

It is also important to realize that many political leaders are stupid and/or incompetent and may THINK they are doing the right thing but aren't, even though not actually corrupt.

[mstbooblover]

Well, I have no legally valid proof, but according lot's of direct testimonies of people having been in contact with politicians, I'm forced to say that most (not all) politicians seem to be corrupted. I heard often the kind of name "mister 10%" for instance.

On the other hand let's face the plain fact that most humans are susceptible to be easyly corrupted. Disgusting and an obstacle for a society to develop properly, but there it is. Time for humanity to grow up.

[Being_a_good_Indian]

The following is a list of proven scandals in India since independence, including political, financial and corporate scandals.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scandals_in_India

[OfMiceandMen]

I've seen it all the way down to the local municipalities, it's like they dredge these people up from some sewage lagoon and they milk the system for all they worth. Hold other people back and get their buddies contracts, approvals, etc.

It's easy to get elected when all your crooked friends vouch for the person and its all about who ya know.

[findacure4wokeness]

Yes here Australian politicians are here to inflate their investment properties making sure that demand out strips supply. It's a choice between huge return on their personal investments or affordable living expenses for average Australians so can you guess which one most of them have chosen?

[OddBeMe]

Strangely in the US you have to be. Our system requires you to raise as much money as possible and that means bowing to big donors. All to get air time in front of voters.

Is it the people’s fault for allowing and involving themselves in this? Only voting for dynasties of politics? Yes.

[BeMuse]

That all depends on who you follow. If you follow the self proclaimed elites blindly because they tell you they are your leaders, then yeah their a lot of corruption to be found... The invisible enemy is filthy. Be careful who you follow.

[BeMuse]

*there's

[Anonymous]

Not gonna complain. How people live in Germany and how people battle for survival in third world countries in severe poverty made me shut my mouth about the leaders of countries, where the standards of living we are used to in the first world countries are among the highest in the world.

Yeah, sure, ultimately they may be in it for themselves and they buy themselves Lamborghinis and Private jets with our tax money but who wouldn't do it? Saladin if he was alive today.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I don't know about “scammers” specifically but there are definitely corrupted politicians that are more happy to take money to make laws that benefit companies rather than citizens or consumers.

[Adam1978]

I would say scammers but certainly liers and corrupt people who only care about themselves and getting ahead.

[lightbulb27]

no, but it's a cesspool that easily corrupts. As well, such roles draw certain types.

Rarely... are the people I support... elected.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Yes, also that is the case in every country, save possibly a few of the smaller ones, but I find it very unlikely.

[megabamse]

Not all, but some are. Corruption follows money and money is power. It's no secret that "blue" parties are often the most corrupted ones.

[Potteplante]

No I do not.

Though I must admit I'm not happy with the government at the moment. 🇩🇰

[alice55]

Yes, all are or at least more than 90 % of them are and actually don't care about real people

[Dargil]

I believe the US Government lies at all levels.

[Anonymous]

Scammers is a stretch. I will say this. Over half of congress are millionaires. I don't know you legislate for the middle class if you stopped being middle class long ago.

[najekim]

Now days, in the United States, big time! Power hungry morons that don't give a damn about doing the job they were elected for.

[legalboxers]

*sits and waits*

[Luopio27]

I dont trust faces in the news. I trust those faces I see every week at work.

[CaptainSmartass]

Near enough. They all belong in jail.

Simples...

[zagor]

Not all, but almost all are ignorant and selfish.

[AngryCarl2]

In the UK? To a greater or lesser degree, yes.

[thorboy]

they are all actor slaves.

Country leaders are all selected through secret societies.

[MuskratLove]

No, just 99%.

[Tenebrae_mentis]

Not all of them, maybe. But most. Far too many.

[XXblack88]

Most are yes.

[CoolCatMar1]

A big fat ✨YES✨

[exitseven]

Yes, they are all in it for personal gain

[NostalgiaSenpi]

Yep, from the top all the way down.

[LiamJHayden]

All, no. Most, probably.

[Sasahara]

No, I do not belive all of them are.

[Iron_Man]

Not all but why are they rich?

[Fuentes]

Yeah a lot are especially Biden

[Snakeyes7]

Option 4, most of them are.

[Subtle_this_time]

Yeah, no one's a saint.

[Agape93]

Absolutely

[lottiebannotie]

Yeah I absolutely do

[Sabretooth]

Most.