The most appropriate response for the people in the book, Politics in the Trenches, roots in the perceptions of the people. As the saying goes, the spoken word happens, and if it does not happen, it is bound to happen. Indeed the perception of the citizens about politicians is corrupted by the stereotyping of all politicians (Kirkptrick & Lawrence, 81).
The stereotypical behaviour happens when a person changes in behaviour and recognition of people, who vote. The stereotyping of politicians ranges from different reasons that the voters validate to justify the reason for running for a political office. The reason for their justification is money. The voters feel that politicians are hypocritical as the saying goes if a wolf can wear goat skin so can a politician.
It so happens that these politicians did not want to run, but there are people behind the scenes pulling the strings and convincing them to run for the office. The voters based on experiences of voting bad people in the office. The typecasting of politicians affects every politician within a period in the office. However, this falls squarely on the politician to change the image pushed on the office by doing delving on the expectations of the voter (Kirkptrick & Lawrence, 46).
Falling short of the expectations automatically puts the politician on the bad side, however, a voter, who follows closely on the performance of a politician, can note the change. The success of a politician, and especially, what the politician advocates in his political view. The response, therefore, is that the politician has the capability to change what the voter thinks about the political view of the voter.
The politician, however, has two options that affect the choices made in the political term. The first option is how the politician intends to improve his performance image or rot in the stereotypical image. Politicians had in the past, and currently served the nation faithfully and achieved it successfully. However, there is a way for the politicians to improve the image; the means involved how to avoid scandals that can destroy a built image in one blow. The saying goes; it takes a lifespan to build an image and a moment to destroy it.
The politicians play a vast role in the distrust of the civilians, the distrust of the government and the public offices. Critical views of the voters and civilians towards politicians affect the government adversely. The politicians portray the image of being inefficient and wasteful on their spending. It is quite conceivable that most politicians have their agendas when voted into office (Hetherson, 56).
Wastefulness is a theme that most politicians have spent the money of the taxpayer without a second thought. Most politicians lose touch with their voters very quickly. The trend stands out and as said in the book political trenches very few politicians have a positive intention towards serving the voters to their satisfaction.
The politicians are considered responsible for the controlling of the daily life and other factors like prices for daily products alike. How they regulate business in a harming way contributes a lot on the alienation of politics, politicians, government and other political oriented issues. These factors are the reasons that affect the politicians overall perspective by the civilians (Saenz 40).
It is indeed true that the civilians consider politicians to be crooks. The issue depends on how a politician behaves, how concerned the politician is toward those that vote for them, how they maintain ties, and how active they are to fight for those that vote for them. The politicians mostly are for personal gains, too involved in the pull and push between the parties and have many scandals that come to the office.
They advocate policies that the ordinary civilian sees have no important values of the nation. They like spending money and time outside the country on the taxpayer`s money. The argument bases on the fact that some politicians do have ill intentions for spending the taxpayer`s money, and some do not. Consequently, it is up to the voters to make the best choice for a politician. A person they believe in, the policy he or she stands for, someone who is responsive and caring (Hetherson, 68).
Therefore, the image that politicians must create is one that is true and oriented to serving those, who vote the politician into office. The basis for good relations between the political and the civilian is in truth and sincerity. The basis of democracy, according to the book politics of the trenches is having standards that are high, with economic policies that approve the middle class and a favorable culture.
The American democracy foundation on the constitution`s past experiences. The constitution works pragmatically to find a balance in the political laboratory to develop democracy through systems of checks and balances. Moreover, as far as the personnel are involved the politicians make use of the convincing tool to abuse the opportunity presented to them. The fate of democracy is deemed based on the abuses it incurs because those that are trusted to serve the purpose do not do so intentionally. The view is that a democracy is failing because it exists corruptly by the people serving in it, and thus, eroding the belief and trust; the public ought to accord them (Hetherson, 56). It comes about that almost half of the citizens do not know the politicians serving their states and general matters in politics. However, the fate of democracy has to be set on a path that is firm on those that serve within it to prevent any negative rationalization.
It requires the participation of both the civilians, as well as the politicians in straightening the crooked ways of those that serve in the government and are out for their benefit. The changes have to be on the leadership, and the leadership systems, the government and the policies of the government. Also, the changes ought to be on the amenities provided by those that serve in the government (Saenz 10).
Therefore, there has to be a balance between the issues involved like the personal ethics, work ethics trust and honesty in the service of the people for democracy to work. The democracy is set to work on such values that have a positive orientation of the government service. Scandals are the trust breaking issues that cause political failure and politics alienation of those that offer trust in exchange for lies and manipulation for personal gain of the politicians. It is important for the people to identify a candidate, who has no other interest, but service for the people. It is because if these people serve the nation distrust reduces significantly and democracy works.
Works Cited
Hetherington, Marc J. Why Trust Matters: Declining Political Trust and the Demise of American
Liberalism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press, 2005. Print.
Kirkpatrick, Samuel A, and Lawrence K. Pettit. The Social Psychology of Political Life.
Belmont, Calif, 1972. Print.
Sáenz, Mario. Latin American Perspectives on Globalization: Ethics, Politics, and Alternative
Visions. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2002. Print.
