Becoming a politician is easy, but becoming a politician with principles is difficult.
Why is politics getting worse?
Fascinated by politics, I once dreamed of becoming a politician.
Yes, you read it right.
My passion for politics once inspired me to dream of becoming a politician.
In those earlier days, politicians connected with people as relatable individuals. Today, however, many seem to operate as if they are above the rest of us, wielding powers that set them apart from ordinary citizens.
I wonder who said we should hate the crime, not the criminal.
It seems to me that those who commit crimes surely don’t do so blindfolded; they are well aware that what they are doing is wrong, and those who support them must also know they are siding with wrongdoing.
How, then, is it possible to ‘oppose the wrong, but not the wrongdoer’?
The same applies to those leaders who resort to unscrupulous means to build their political careers; not all leaders are like this, but many stray onto the wrong path after winning the trust of their supporters.
This is a bitter truth that we all know.
Politics: Understand the Game
We have all read the story of Mr Hyde and Dr Jekyll, right?
An 1886 Gothic horror novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, this storyline can now be aptly used to describe today’s politicians.
Modern-day politics is much the same.
Today’s politicians cast aside truth and honesty, constantly changing their colors solely to build their political careers—often transforming so drastically that even their supporters fail to recognize whether the person before them is the one they originally elected or someone else entirely.
Once in power, the authority of that position overwhelms their mental fortitude, and they drift away from their original principles.
This is unfortunate, yet it is an acrid reality in today’s world.
The ongoing political climate is creating widespread fear and anxiety among the public, which is significantly harming their mental health and overall outlook on life.
Political Accountability: Where Do We Stand as Citizens?
I don’t understand why politics is so sloppy; once a person enters it, they forget to remain human and behave as if above all laws and regulations of the particular nation they belong to.
In politics, people do not say what they think, do not do what they say, and what they actually do brings no benefit to the general public—yet it makes absolutely no difference to them.
Politics is a means to keep the government and the common man connected, yet why is it that once politicians rise to power, they become completely out of touch? They are the people elected to tend to the problems of the common people; instead, they themselves become problems in the lives of the common people.
Excessive and Unchecked Power
Give a person unchecked power, and the temptation to misuse it can become difficult to resist. History, institutions, and everyday life have repeatedly shown us why power needs limits.
This is a fact and applies everywhere around us, with just a countable number of exceptions.
However, when it comes to politics, this statement of mine proves entirely accurate in the current climate. Leaders who rise to fame by making attractive and alluring promises change the very next moment—as if they have been reborn the instant they gain power.
It not only dismantles common norms and assumptions but also destroys fundamental rules of conduct, triggering a chain reaction in which ordinary people become the worst victims.
Why Democracy
Of all forms of governance—monarchy, dictatorship, and democracy—only democracy truly upholds accountability alongside the distribution of power.
Democracy is the system in which the people themselves are the true masters.
It is democracy that sets limits for politicians and keeps them in check.
Democracy ensures that the reins of power remain in the hands of the people.
When political power becomes too powerful
It is hard to fathom this era, where power and corruption seem like two sides of the same coin.
An individual enters politics promising honesty, service, and accountability.
Then comes power.
And the intoxication of power is such that, under its influence, a person forgets their roots, their promises, and voters’ expectations; they feel no remorse whatsoever for straying from their principles.
Power devoid of accountability is having a profoundly negative impact on today’s world, and people have grown weary of politicians.
Many people like me—who once aspired to build a career in politics—have come to believe that politics today is having a more detrimental effect on our world than anything else.
When leaders begin to believe that criticism is an insult, asking questions is rebellion, and disagreement is tantamount to disloyalty, democracy begins to lose its precious value.
A healthy democracy needs-
- Diverse opinions.
- Facing questions.
- Open to criticism.
- A keen ear to its citizens.
Power is necessary.
Authority is necessary.
Political ambition is not necessarily wrong.
But excess without accountability becomes dangerous.
In a democratic society, it is important to recognize that politicians are members of the citizenry. Achieving a position of power should not detract from their commitment to fulfilling the promises made to the nation.
Acquiring power is an achievement, but becoming intoxicated by it—and consequently believing oneself to be supreme—proves fatal for democracy.
When the intoxication of power takes hold of the heart and mind, rational judgment ceases to function, and the distinction between right and wrong is lost; the result manifests as a decline for the citizens and, ultimately, for the nation.
Politics and Uncertain Conditions
Generally, politics is also driven by certain key principles.
To form a government dedicated to public welfare, elected representatives must rise above petty politics.
They should avoid discrimination based on caste, creed, religion, region, or gender, and work towards building an inclusive society and a strong nation.
The current political situation is raising concerns among the public and negatively impacting their mental state.
We need leaders who understand our struggles, not just those who perceive themselves as superhuman.
We need leaders who do not attempt to divide society on any grounds and do not impose restrictions on legitimate citizens simply because they are not among their core supporters.
In a healthy democracy, it is not wrong to disagree with certain political views.
A difference of opinion is neither an insult to democratic ideals nor to elected representatives.
Not voting for a particular political ideology is not equivalent to rebellion or anything of that sort.
Politicians are not superheroes; they are leaders.
Politicians can be idealised, but they cannot be worshipped; and their followers are supporters, not devotees.
Politicians may be regarded as role models, but they should not be worshipped.
There should also be certain eligibility criteria for choosing one’s representative.
Furthermore, voters should have the ‘right to recall’ if they feel their representative has betrayed them.
The unethical use of power must be strictly curbed, and the public should prevent such individuals from contesting the next election.
Conclusion: Me & Politics
In this changing landscape, the nature of politics has shifted unexpectedly.
There are times when legitimate criticism of the government is portrayed as being anti-national.
Vendetta politics has replaced constructive politics, and the elected representative—who ought to listen to the public’s grievances—now only reappears in the next election, armed with a fresh bag of promises.
Given the current political climate, I am quite skeptical about entering politics in the near future.
I am not the sort of person to disregard the public mandate or the people’s expectations of their political representative, nor do I fit into the ways of corrupt politics.
Therefore, I do not believe that pursuing a career in politics would be the right path for me.
Perhaps I haven’t stopped believing in politics.
Perhaps I have simply stopped believing that power should come at the cost of principles.
I once dreamed of becoming a politician.
Today, I dream of something simpler: leaders who never forget that before becoming politicians, they were citizens—and after leaving office, they will become citizens again.
A Political Perspective
Excess of Anything Is Always Bad: A Political Perspective
Becoming a politician is easy, but becoming a politician with principles is difficult.
Why Is Politics Getting Worse?
Fascinated by politics, I once dreamed of becoming a politician.
Yes, you read it right.
My passion for politics once inspired me to dream of becoming a politician. In those earlier days, politicians connected with people as relatable individuals. Today, however, many seem to operate as if they are above the rest of us, wielding powers that set them apart from ordinary citizens.
I wonder who said we should hate the crime, not the criminal. It seems to me that those who commit crimes surely don’t do so blindfolded; they are well aware that what they are doing is wrong, and those who support them must also know they are siding with wrongdoing.
How, then, is it possible to oppose the wrong, but not the wrongdoer?
The same applies to those leaders who resort to unscrupulous means to build their political careers. Not all leaders are like this, but many stray onto the wrong path after winning the trust of their supporters.
This is a bitter truth that we all know.
Politics: Understand the Game
We have all read the story of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, right?
An 1886 Gothic horror novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, this storyline can now be used as a metaphor for the transformation that political power can sometimes produce.
“Is this really the person we once trusted?”
Modern-day politics can sometimes appear much the same. Some politicians cast aside truth and honesty, constantly changing their colours solely to build their political careers—sometimes transforming so drastically that even their supporters may struggle to recognise whether the person before them is the one they originally elected or someone else entirely.
Once in power, the authority of that position can overwhelm their mental fortitude, and they may drift away from their original principles.
This is unfortunate, yet it is an uncomfortable reality of political life. The ongoing political climate can also create fear, frustration and anxiety among members of the public.
Of course, changing one’s opinion is not necessarily hypocrisy. Circumstances change. New information emerges. People learn and evolve.
But there is a difference between changing one’s mind and abandoning one’s principles whenever doing so becomes politically convenient.
Political flexibility is not the problem. Sacrificing principles merely for political convenience is.
Once political power becomes more important than public service, the very purpose of politics begins to get distorted.
The citizen gradually stops being the centre of governance and becomes merely a voter to be approached when elections arrive.
Political Guidelines: Too Difficult for the Electors
I don’t understand why politics is so sloppy; once a person enters it, they sometimes forget to remain human and behave as if they are above all laws and regulations of the particular nation they belong to.
In politics, people do not always say what they think, do not always do what they say, and what they actually do may bring little benefit to the general public—yet it sometimes seems to make absolutely no difference to them.
Politics is a means to keep the government and the common man connected. Yet why is it that once politicians rise to power, they can become completely out of touch?
They are elected to tend to the problems of the common people; instead, they can sometimes become problems in the lives of the very people they were elected to serve.
Excessive and Unchecked Power
Give a person unchecked power, and the temptation to misuse it can become difficult to resist. This is precisely why democratic institutions, laws and accountability mechanisms are so important.
However, when it comes to politics, the dangers of excessive power become particularly serious.
Leaders who rise to fame by making attractive and alluring promises may sometimes change dramatically after gaining power—as if they have been reborn the very moment they achieve authority.
Excessive political power can dismantle common norms and assumptions and weaken fundamental standards of public conduct, triggering a chain reaction in which ordinary people become the worst victims.
POWER NEEDS LIMITS.
ACCOUNTABILITY KEEPS DEMOCRACY ALIVE.Why Democracy?
Of the various forms of governance, democracy is built around the principle that political power ultimately derives from the people.
Democracy provides mechanisms through which citizens can choose their representatives, question authority, participate in public life and hold governments accountable.
- Diverse opinions.
- The courage to face questions.
- Openness to criticism.
- A keen ear for its citizens.
In a democratic society, it is important to recognise that politicians are members of the citizenry. Achieving a position of power should not detract from their commitment to fulfilling the promises made to the nation.
Acquiring power is an achievement, but becoming intoxicated by it—and consequently believing oneself to be supreme—can prove fatal for democracy.
When the intoxication of power takes hold of the heart and mind, rational judgment can cease to function, and the distinction between right and wrong can become blurred. The result is ultimately borne by citizens and, consequently, by the nation.
When Political Power Becomes Too Powerful
It is hard to fathom an era where power and corruption can sometimes appear like two sides of the same coin.
An individual enters politics promising honesty, service and accountability.
Then comes power.
And the intoxication of power can be overwhelming.
Under its influence, a person may forget their roots, their promises and voters’ expectations. This is why power must never exist without meaningful checks and accountability.
Power devoid of accountability can have a profoundly negative impact on society, and people can understandably grow weary of politicians.
Many people like me—who once aspired to build a career in politics—may eventually begin to question whether politics is still the right path for someone who refuses to compromise on principles.
“Criticism is not an insult. Asking questions is not rebellion. Disagreement is not disloyalty.”
When leaders begin to believe otherwise, democracy begins to lose something precious.
Politics and Uncertain Conditions
Generally, politics is also driven by certain key principles. To form a government dedicated to public welfare, elected representatives must rise above petty politics.
They should avoid discrimination based on caste, creed, religion, region or gender, and work towards building an inclusive society and a strong nation.
The current political environment can raise concerns among the public and affect their sense of security, trust and wellbeing.
We need leaders who understand our struggles, not those who perceive themselves as superhuman.
We need leaders who do not attempt to divide society on any grounds and who respect citizens regardless of whether they belong to their core political support base.
Disagreement Is Not Rebellion
In a healthy democracy, it is not wrong to disagree with certain political views.
A difference of opinion is neither an insult to democratic ideals nor an insult to elected representatives.
Not voting for a particular political ideology is not equivalent to rebellion.
Politicians Are Not Superheroes; They Are Leaders
Politicians can be idealised, but they should not be worshipped. Their followers are supporters, not devotees.
Politicians may be regarded as role models, but they should not be placed beyond criticism.
Voters should carefully consider the integrity, competence, conduct and public record of those they choose to represent them.
Mechanisms of accountability should be strengthened wherever appropriate, and the unethical use of political power should never be normalised.
A politician is elected to represent the people—not to become superior to them.
Conclusion: Me & Politics
In this changing landscape, the nature of politics has shifted unexpectedly, and there are times when legitimate criticism of the government is portrayed as being anti-national.
Vendetta politics can replace constructive politics, while the elected representative—who ought to listen to the public’s grievances—may only reappear when the next election arrives, carrying a fresh bag of promises.
Given the current political climate, I am quite skeptical about entering politics in the near future.
I am not the sort of person to disregard the public mandate or the people’s expectations of their political representative, nor do I fit comfortably into the ways of corrupt politics.
Therefore, I do not believe that pursuing a career in politics would be the right path for me.
Perhaps I haven’t stopped believing in politics.
Perhaps I have simply stopped believing that political power should come at the cost of principles.
Politics should not be about becoming powerful enough to rule over people. It should be about becoming responsible enough to serve them.
A Message to My Readers
I have always believed that politics should be about people, principles and public service—not power, privilege or personal glory.
I once dreamed of becoming a politician. Today, I find myself questioning what politics has become and whether someone who refuses to compromise on principles can truly find a place in it.
This article is not written to attack a particular political party, ideology or individual. It is simply my reflection as a citizen who believes that we should be able to question those in power, disagree without hatred and expect accountability from those entrusted with our future.
Agree with me or disagree with me—but never stop asking questions.