The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

What makes a good politician bad is his lack of awareness of what it takes to make a good politician and what makes a politician ugly is his dismissal of what it takes to be a good politician.

Determination of what makes a politician good, bad or ugly, is to many a matter of opinion. Nonetheless, a politician should have an extensive awareness of history. Not only its own countries history, but others as well. He/She should not only have a basic awareness of past historical events but also discern many details and be very well at it, much more than the average person, be informed about where the countries come from, what their older and latest developments are. A politician should know the strength and much more the weaknesses of democracy, socialism and communism.

A good politician should be well travelled to foreign countries, not for relaxation, but attending expert circles, having interactions with other politicians and talk to the people on the streets.

A politician should be aware of laws, especially the nation’s constitution. He/She should know who is an expert in which field and whom to trust. A politician should know when it’s better to trust an expert in a field and when it’s necessary to do own investigation.

A politician should be able to make unpopular decisions if necessary e.g. to protect a minority from the majority. A politician serves in first instance the people, not himself. Even though politics are competitive and dirty, he should never forget to align his doing with what is best for the country.

Here are the qualities every politician should observe:

Decency. Being decent can sometimes be difficult because it makes individuals vulnerable. It reveals who we really are and discloses our mistakes, which gives others the opportunity to criticize or reject openly. Decency develops character and builds credibility and trust, which are the foundation to evoke confidence and respect from those around you, and in the case of political leaders, teammates and constituents.

Empathy. Empathy is the humane quality of understanding and feeling the joy and suffering of others, and wanting to do something to alleviate that suffering. While many see empathy as a weakness, true empathy is a characteristic that converts knowledge to wisdom. Good political leaders use empathy to see the needs of those he/she leads and to determine the course of action that would be of greatest benefit to all those involved.

Reliability. The word reliability is defined as ‘the adherence to moral and ethical principles; the soundness of moral character.’ It is a synonym for honesty and uprightness, and is a vital characteristic for those in political leadership. Political leaders who are reliable can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might benefit them to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers.

Confidence. Having confidence in a political leader is about having faith or belief that he or she will act in a right, proper, or effective way. A good political leader needs to be both confident in himself or herself as well in their ability to lead. Leaders who possess this quality inspire others, drawing on a level of trust which sparks the motivation to get others on board and get the job done.

Flexibility. Flexibility for a political leader is about understanding the give-and-take aspects of politics, and the ability to find the common ground. Good politicians listen carefully to all sides, to not only hear their arguments but to especially learn what it will take on behalf of all parties involved to reach a consensus. This characteristic allows political leaders to recognize setbacks and criticism, to learn from them and move forward.

Acumen. Political science is a social science which deals with systems of governance, and the analysis of political activities, political thoughts, and political behavior. Occasionally called politicology comprises numerous sub-fields, including comparative politics, political economy, international relations, political theory, public administration, public policy, and political methodology. Furthermore, political science is related to, and draws upon, the fields of economics, law, sociology, history, philosophy, geography, psychology/psychiatry, anthropology and neurosciences. In other words, Political science is a social study concerning the allocation and transfer of power in decision making, the roles and systems of governance including governments and international organizations, political behavior and public policies.

Knowledge. Social science is a category of academic disciplines concerned with society and the relationships among individuals within a society. The disciplines include, but are not limited to: anthropology, archaeology, communication studies, economics, folkloristics, history, musicology, human geography, jurisprudence, linguistics, political science, psychology, public health, and sociology. The term is also sometimes used to refer specifically to the field of sociology, the original "science of society", established in the 19th century. For a more detailed list of sub-disciplines within the social sciences see: Outline of social science.

Vision. A visionary is someone with a strong vision of the future. Since such visions aren't always accurate, a visionary's ideas may either work brilliantly or fail miserably. Even so, visionary is usually a positive word. Martin Luther King, Jr., for instance, was a visionary in his hopes and ideas for a just society.

Leadership. Leadership is both a research area and a practical skill encompassing the ability of an individual or organization to "lead" or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. Specialist literature debates various viewpoints, contrasting Eastern and Western approaches to leadership, and also (within the West) United States versus European approaches. U.S. academic environments define leadership as "a process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task"

Character. When a person possesses good character it can be observed through their actions. It's not limited to a single value but the traits are demonstrated in the “good” choices they make and the “bad” choices they avoid.

The following are among the fundamentals of good character. Miss one of these, and you'll find a weak link in one’s character: 1. Integrity; 2. Honesty; 3. Loyalty; 4. Respectfulness; 5. Responsibility; 6. Humility; 7. Compassion; 8. Fairness; 9. Forgiveness; 10. Authenticity; 11. Courageousness; 12. Generosity; 13. Perseverance; 14. Politeness; 15. Kindness; 16. Lovingness; 17. Optimism; 18. Steadfastness; 19. Conscientiousness; and last but not least 20. Self-discipline.

Great political leaders have all of these qualities and more. Each aspires to respect different views, analyze problems, and identify the best solutions, not based on loyalty to political party, but rather based on what is good and right and in the best interest of the people and nation as a whole.

The only universal agreement you are apt to get about judging the greatness of rulers is that great leaders are not supposed to plunder, oppress, or murder their own people, but it is all right for them to plunder, oppress, or murder the people of other nations, or those he/she consider not of their own if they have suitable reason or cause.

Political accountability is when a politician makes choices on behalf of their people and the people have the ability to reward or sanction the politician. Electoral accountability also refers to citizens using the vote to sanction or reward politicians, however, such forms of political accountability are increasingly proving obvious the lax of such and that as such accountability is a mere make belief.

Unfortunately, the mainstream of contemporary history and political science does not adequately take account of the nature and sources of political greatness…

Food for thought!