Day Twenty-Two. Don’t Be Bamboozled by Politicians

Politicians want us to believe they are deeply concerned about the welfare of the people and that their actions are determined by what best serves the people. In other words, politicians present themselves as statesmen, so don’t buy it. President Lyndon Johnson said, “Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” If you read between the lines, you will see quite easily that in politics, money, not concern for the public interest, is usually where the action is, with big money protecting big money. Consider this example from the news:¹¹

11. “The White House to Demand WHO Obesity Plan Changes,” Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, CA, January 16, 2004.

“To be a chemist you must study chemistry; to be a lawyer or physician you must study law or medicine; but to be a politician you need only to study your own interests.”

—Max O’Rell

“The Bush administration announced Thursday it will demand significant changes to a major World Health Organization initiative to battle obesity, saying the plan is based on faulty scientific evidence and exceeds the U.N. body’s mandate... The WHO plan, which outlines strategies nations can use to fight obesity, has been widely applauded by public health advocates but bitterly opposed by some food manufacturers and the sugar industry.”

Needless to say, food manufacturers and the sugar industry have a vested interest in avoiding the obesity issue, because they are primary contributors to it. In many cases such as this, big business rules politics even at the expense of public health. Of course, this is one of many examples of money driving political decisions. If politicians don’t do what those who bankroll them want, their money supply is cut off. Their primary concern is getting re-elected (so they can have power and prestige). In politics, sound bites, catchphrases, glitzy images, and mass delivery are the mechanisms for manipulating the people. Of course, there are a few needles in the haystack—those few people running for election not bought and paid for by big money. But they aren’t usually elected.

Critical thinkers are not manipulated by slick-talking politicians—they recognize how politics work. Examine your thinking about politicians. How gullible are you when it comes to believing what politicians say? How often do you compare what they say with what they do?

As you go through your day...

...think about distinguishing politicians from statesmen. Politicians are people who pursue power to advance their vested interests. Statesmen are people who genuinely seek what is in the public interest. They are willing to state unpopular views and stand up against powerful groups and vested interests.

Look out for questionable statements that politicians make. Look on the surface at what they say. Look beneath the surface at what they mean. Determine what is in their vested interest. Notice how often their behavior supports their own interest while appearing to serve the good of the people or country. Determine what they want you to believe and why. Notice how they oversimplify problems to manipulate people. Notice how they often assert “truths” that contradict reality (which they blatantly ignore). Notice how often people believe them nevertheless.

Strategies for seeing through politicians

• Listen closely to what politicians say and identify how they manipulate the electorate (for example, use language that reinforces stereotypes or provokes unnecessary fear). Always ask, “What is the interest of big money here?” And, conversely, “What is in the public interest?” Note the dearth of politicians acting in the public interest.

• Notice how politicians usually reflect dominant belief systems and reigning ideologies within the culture. That is, note how they lack intellectual autonomy.

• Keep in mind the vested interest of politicians. This enables you to predict their behavior.

• Become a student of political history, reading broadly in alternative sources to identify repeating patterns in political behavior throughout the years. Which of these patterns are prevalent today?

• Notice the extent to which politicians are entrenched in superficial and simplistic views. Nuances and depth cannot be expressed in sound bites.