Can Politicians Act Selflessly for the Greater Good?

  • Context: News 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Alesak
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the concept of politicians acting selflessly for the greater good, even at the expense of their political careers. Key examples include Jimmy Carter, Nikita Kruschev, Mikhail Gorbachev, Lee Kwan Yew, and Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who made decisions that prioritized broader societal benefits over personal or political gain. The conversation highlights the tension between self-interest and altruism in political leadership, emphasizing that while some politicians may have noble intentions, they often lack the necessary competence to manage their countries effectively.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of political theory and ethics
  • Familiarity with historical political figures and their policies
  • Knowledge of the influence of special interest groups in politics
  • Awareness of the dynamics of constituency power
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the political strategies of Jimmy Carter and their long-term effects
  • Examine the policies implemented by Mikhail Gorbachev during Perestroika
  • Analyze the impact of Lee Kwan Yew's governance on Singapore's development
  • Study the role of special interest groups like AIPAC in shaping U.S. foreign policy
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for political scientists, policymakers, and anyone interested in the ethical implications of political leadership and the balance between self-interest and public service.

Alesak
Messages
111
Reaction score
0
By this I mean politician voluntarily acting in interest of wider group of people than current constituency, possibly for political self-harm. Constituency is group of people having say in who's going to be the next leader or how long is current leader going to last. Different members of constituency have obviously different power.

Example of such behaviour would be if current US president limited power of AIPAC or oil industry or any of bazzilion special interest group - even if it meant negative consequences for him. Or taxed rich people more, significantly reduced defense budget etc...

Another examples would be voluntarily abandoning dictatorship.


My examples would be:
Jimmy Carter
Nikita Kruschev
Mikchail Gorbachev
Lee Kwan Yew
Jigme Singye Wangchuck
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Jimmy Carter?

That's exactly the point. Those kinds of politicians may genuinely mean well but lack the ability to manage the country competently.
 
Re-opening of a closed thread.
 

Similar threads

News Should the US intervene in world problems?
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
10K
News Patriot Act 2: Summarized by Alex Jones
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
News Russia's Return to Totalitarianism
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
9K
ECONOMICS: It's stupid to be afraid (Lee Kuan Yew to Der Spiegel)
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
News Can Socialism Provide a Stable Political Framework?
  • · Replies 117 ·
4
Replies
117
Views
15K
News Obama Inaugural Address: Summary & Analysis
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
6K