I keep telling folks, it ain't about which politicians are more moral. It's about where you have power.
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It's not about which politician loves you more. It's about where you have power.
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50% of politicians show up immoral. The other 50% learn to disregard the morality of the moment in pursuit of power and/or policy.
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Either way you can't rely on their morality or their love for you to get them to do the right thing.
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You depend on: who needs my vote? Who needs favorable quotes in the press from ppl who share my interests? Who listens to people from my community?
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If an organization I trust demands a meeting, who will take that meeting? If an organization I trust threatens to write a damning op-ed, which politician does that scare?
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Which politician will help me build more power, either by protecting me from harm (so my resources can go to future planning) or by increasing my access to resources or with favorable legislation, etc.?
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Politicians first and foremost have to be concerned with reelection. There are only one or two history-making moments in a politician's career where they will openly use their power in a way that harms their chance at reelection.
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Which, like... duh. And for those one or two history making votes, e.g., Civil Rights Act of 64, Voting Rights Act of 65, for some lawmakers ACA vote in 2010, you want people who are moral and who love you.
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But for everything else? You want people who, when push comes to shove, depend on folks you trust to get out the vote for them. Because that gives you power.
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And that's why you vote for corrupt, evil politicians who you can't trust: because it's not about their morality, it's about your power, and the power we build collectively by participating in electoral politics.
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End of conversation
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