Roe v. Wade. A monumental case in American history that inaugurated the “right to privacy” as a fundamental human right alluded to within the Bill of Rights. However, political leaders seem to be on the outskirts of this “inalienable” right.
Elected officials who have salaries financed through taxpayers’ money, and make important decisions for the public good, should not possess a right to privacy. There are detrimental consequences when there is lack of transparency in public office. These consequences are noticeable through historically low level’s in the public’s trust in the United States government.
If you go onto google and begin to type “why are politicians…”, the first three most searched phrases that appear are “why are politicians so stupid”, “why are politicians so rich”, and “why are politicians allowed to lie”. It is absurd that policymakers in the United States are so notorious for such negative things.
The public’s awareness of political deceit is at an all time high. This year alone, politicians have lied consistently in order to appease the public or reduce the gravity of a situation. Furthermore, lying is common in both major political parties. While Donald Trump “exaggerates the truth” about “Arabs dancing in the street” after 9/11, Hilary Clinton “embellishes her actions” by stating that 90% of her work emails that were being used by her personal email address were already archived in the State Department system. As frightening as it is, politicians lie for personal gain.
Although most of these situations do not apply to a politician’s private life, it is important to understand that citizens detest the perceived corruption of the government due to its inability to successfully aide the American people. A politician’s energy needs to be dedicated to lawmaking and regulation, not self preservation. Things such as drug and alcohol addictions, illegal activity, and medical illnesses can severely impact a person’s ability to hold and maintain public office. In fact, it would be easier for a politician to maintain self preservation with sheer honesty and integrity.
In the United States, the word “politician” has been tainted by dishonesty and corruption. Politicians, or political leaders, are elected to represent the American people. This representation constitutes evaluating the allocation of resources and power while building relationships and making decisions that should positively impact the well-being of American citizens. In more recent years, American politicians have not been known for representing in this way. In fact, due to the social media frenzy within the past decade, politicians are stretching the truth now more than ever.
Overall, the focus on personal gain seems to be cancer that destroys the integrity of a political leader. Personal gain, whether it be fame or fortune, leads to deceit and lies. A strong political leader serves as an example of both integrity and honesty, and communication becomes an essential part of these two elements. If the influential aspects of a political leader’s personal life are not divulged in a sincere and upfront manner, then the public can ultimately use those follies as more reasons to despise our government.
