Politics a Rich Man's Game

[Da Skinna]

Now, either people will go "duh, stupid" or they'll staunchly defend it as whatever they liken it to, but is not politics still a rich man's game? Are we only seeing politicians that go places, like Senate, Congress, Parliament, Cabinet and such, they are like the rich kids, ones that come from entrepreneurial families, politician families, and just plain wealthy ones?

I only remember personally coming across a handful of politicians that had humble beginnings, yet they are ancient, in their sixites and such and the times when a farmer sees a problem, becomes politically involved and active, and actually makes it further than the local Wheat Board seems gone. I just don't see it anymore, as in I only see these people with the sponsorship of corporations and higher-up politicians actually being on the scene. Not to say the humble honest man doesn't exist anymore, but can they make it anymore?

Has the little man that could, been trampled under the heels of big business and daresay favoritism? Corruption?

Thoughts, anyone?

[the_mango55]

It's entirely possible for a politician to have humble beginnings, but he cant be a farmer who "sees a problem, becomes politically involved and active, and actually makes it further than the local Wheat Board." Someone has to actively pursue an education that will lead into politics. Usually political science and law school.

And BTW, I'm talking about national politics here. If you are talking local level, or even state level, the it's entirely possible to have farmers, salesmen, police officers and so on become involved in politics, and it happens often.

[RusskiSoldat]

99% of the population has ideas on how the country should be run.
Not everyone will make it into the local wheatboard, much less the senate.

[Da Skinna]

I agree with you Mango, and I meant that in a loose way, meaning some poor schmo that actually has the talent and the vision, and even the ways necessary to solve these problems he sees, yet can't play the game because he is not "one of them", someone lobbying for corporations or not of the same ilk so to speak.

I mean actually making the decisions that directly affect millions of peoples lives, are these people not usually the ones that were on the board of a rich company, a son of a powerful mover and shaker, or just plain used their money to propel their own careers?

My point is asking if this seems fair, if something can be done, and what it is we should be aware of.

[RusskiSoldat]

No. Nothing can be done. The thing about oligarchies is that self preservation is always the number one goal.

[Da Skinna]

At the cost of what though, is what I'd like people to know more about. Self-perservation, the preservation of their best interests and power, it all comes at a cost, but who's suffering the most? Because we all know who's gaining the most...

[the_mango55]

This guy wasn't born rich, and had some success.

William Jefferson Blythe III was born in Hope, Arkansas, and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was named after his father, William Jefferson Blythe, Jr., a traveling salesman who died in a car accident three months before he was born.[1] His mother, born Virginia Dell Cassidy (1923–1994), remarried in 1950 to Roger Clinton. Roger Clinton owned an automobile dealership business with his brother, Raymond. The young Billy, as he was called, was raised by his mother and stepfather, assuming his last name "Clinton" throughout elementary school but not formally changing it until he was 14. Clinton grew up in a traditional, albeit blended, family; however, according to Clinton, his stepfather was a gambler and an alcoholic who regularly abused Clinton's mother and sometimes Clinton's half-brother Roger, Jr.

Bill Clinton as a child went to St. John's Catholic School and Ramble Elementary School. While at Hot Springs High School, Clinton was an excellent student and a talented saxophonist. He considered dedicating his life to music, but a visit to the White House to meet then-President John F. Kennedy following his election as a Boys Nation Senator led him to pursue a career in politics.

[Da Skinna]

Yeah, some success...

Clinton's always the exception to the rule though lol.

[aorz]

It pretty much goes to the whole concept of elitism. A small population controls most of the wealth and generally they stay that way. In America there is the idea of the "American Dream," which is that someone from even the humblest beginnings can make it. This "Dream" basically is an illusion created by the Elites to keep the lower classes from rebelling or doing anything rash in general. The elites make sure to keep the Dream alive by every once and while letting the humble person "up" to there level, such as Bill Clinton. In this way people don't stop believing. The fact is that about 10% of the population controls approximately 70% of America's wealth. All of America's national politicians are in this 10%, and generally grew up in families within the 10%. Overall, I would have to agree with the idea of politics being a rich man's game.

[the_mango55]

Yeah, some success...

Clinton's always the exception to the rule though lol.

Lets look at some of the most recent presidents. I will give you GWB and GHWB as being from wealthy elite backgrounds.

All quotes from Wiki:

Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, in an apartment above a bank in Tampico, Illinois. He was the second of two sons born to John Edward Reagan (1883–1941), an Irish American Catholic, and Nelle Clyde Wilson

Jimmy Carter, the first President born in a hospital, was the oldest of four children of James Earl and Lillian Gordy Carter. He was born in the southwest Georgia town of Plains and grew up in nearby Archery, Georgia.

Ford was born in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday, July 14, 1913 at 12:43 AM CST to Leslie Lynch King and Dorothy Ayer Gardner, and was originally named Leslie Lynch King, Jr. His parents separated before he was born and divorced five months after his birth; he is the only President whose parents have been divorced. Two years later, his mother married Gerald Ford, after whom he was renamed despite never being formally adopted.

Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California to Francis A. Nixon and Hannah Milhous Nixon. He was raised by his mother as an evangelical Quaker.

Johnson was born in Stonewall, on August 27, 1908, in a small farmhouse in a poor area on the Pedernales River.

[Farnan]

Let's look at Giuliani

Giuliani was born in Brooklyn, New York, raised in Garden City South on Long Island, to Harold Angelo Giuliani and Helen C. D'Avanzo, the children of Italian immigrants. He attended Manhattan College before graduating from the prestigious New York University School of Law cum laude in 1968.

McCain

McCain was born in Coco Solo in the American-controlled Panama Canal Zone. Despite being born in a foreign country, his parents were both U.S. citizens and he acquired U.S. citizenship at birth, making him eligible for the Presidency.[1] Both his father and grandfather were famous U.S. Navy admirals. His father John S. "Junior" McCain commanded American forces in Vietnam while McCain was a prisoner of war. His grandfather John S. McCain, Sr. commanded naval aviation at the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. His mother is Roberta Wright (b. 1912). He attended Episcopal High School and graduated in 1954. That fall, McCain, like his father and grandfather, entered the United States Naval Academy

Admiral's do make a good deal of money, but they are not part of the "rich elite"

Obama

Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama Sr. of Nyangoma-Kogelo, Siaya District, Kenya, and Ann Dunham of Wichita, Kansas. His parents met while both were attending the East-West Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his father was enrolled as a foreign student. In his 1995 memoir, Dreams from My Father, Obama describes a nearly race-blind early childhood. He writes: "That my father looked nothing like the people around me –- that he was black as pitch, my mother white as milk –- barely registered in my mind."[3][4]

So there, the three most likely people to be president in 2010...

[AMERICARULES]

For all that money does for political campaigns, the individual running for office has to be a good candidate. By this, I mean that money alone doesn't really mean anything when it comes to winning elections. Just look at Steve Forbes. The guy spent millions upon millions of his own wealth and it got him nowhere in his quest for the presidency. A politician may need financial backing to win, but a lot of money does not guarantee anyone anything.

[Erik]

Money plays a huge role in American politics.
But it doesn't play such a big role in other countries.

This is because of the way campaigns are funded and how much of a role advertisements (as opposed to debates and policy) plays in politics.

[Da Skinna]

I was really talking about those wanting to enter politics today, would the vast majority have to be of some kind of advantage, like being from a wealthy family, financial backing and such?

But thank you for putting up those fine examples, I'm not looking to get proved wrong or anything, so don't I'm backing out on my opinion of this matter. Guiliani is a likable guy, McCain served in the armed forces, so of course that doesn't put him up in some elite section, he was doing his job, and Obama, I think, though not for certain, that he may have had a more fortunate life than others.

I feel like I have to make explanations for everything I say, so the Clinton thing was a joke. But am I wrong to say that, when all is said and done, politics is still a rich man's game?

[aorz]

It definitely takes a large amount of money, but I suppose my elite theory was altogether incorrect in general. You don't have to grow up in a wealthy family so much as you have to have the right benefactors and make something of whatever situation you're in. Most senators have to have a great deal of money since they have to appeal to whole state, but that necessarily mean their parents funded them, generally they are successful lawyers. This election was mostly swung by the anti-republican vibe going through the country. Probably how the 2008 presidential election is going to go, unless the democrats completely screw things up.

[Dromikaites]

In Eastern Europe many people get into politics in order to get rich

[Bwaho]

wasn't ronald reagan from a humble background? he used to work as a beach lifeguard...that's not a rich mans job is it?

but yeah for the most part you got silverspoon canditates

[Tom Paine]

He also made large amounts as a Hollywood actor that allowed him to run as a Presidential candidate.

[Bwaho]

He also made large amounts as a Hollywood actor that allowed him to run as a Presidential candidate.

ya, but my point was that he didn't start with all that money...he had to work for it.

[Erik]

ya, but my point was that he didn't start with all that money...he had to work for it.

Does it matter?
It still means you need to be rich (be it from birth or self made) before you can become a successful politician in America.
Won't it be better to elect the person with the best ideas and skills regardless of his/her health?

I'm glad many of our politicians are still regular people who only had average paying jobs until they went into politics.
One of the most successful political leaders in the Netherlands today used to work at a sausage factory until he got into politics, for example. (something he made a joke about by bringing a gift of 3 sausages to our Queen the first time he met her)