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usajumpedtheshark

(672 posts)
Tue Nov 10, 2020, 03:54 PM Nov 2020

Are personal virtues important in politics?

If someone can be elected president based on their vices, are personal virtues even important in politics? I've listed some personal virtues below. Do you think any of these are important in politics?

Compassion/Mercy
Selfless/Frugality/Charity
Truthful/Incorruptible
Just/Prudent
Honor/Discrete/Dignity/Humility
Discipline/Self-control/Faithful
Dutiful/Responsible/Industrious
Courtesy/Good faith
Perseverance/Tenacity
Educated/Humane

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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JI7

(89,182 posts)
15. yup, even now they went after Cunningham while they themselves supported an admitted Rapist
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 10:01 AM
Nov 2020

and someone that pays pornstars for sex.

Silent3

(15,020 posts)
2. Definitely, but there are times I could be torn myself...
Tue Nov 10, 2020, 03:59 PM
Nov 2020

...between a scoundrel who will nevertheless pursue policies that I prefer, and an honest person who is honestly in favor of terrible things.

I could never support anyone with as little character as Trump, however, no matter what I thought I might get out of them in terms of policy.

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
3. I'm a Machievellian. Personal virtues are good, but you have to be willing to be cruel
Tue Nov 10, 2020, 04:00 PM
Nov 2020

to preserve public virtue.

Zoonart

(11,750 posts)
4. Only if you don't want another couple of million people die because
Tue Nov 10, 2020, 04:03 PM
Nov 2020

the guy in the White House is a psychopath who does not give a shit.

Response to usajumpedtheshark (Original post)

Paladin

(28,204 posts)
8. trump lacks all those virtues. Are you happy about where this country is, right now?
Tue Nov 10, 2020, 04:15 PM
Nov 2020

Of course personal virtues are important in politics. I don't expect perfection in a president---but I do want a reasonable quantity of decency. Again, look where our country is, after four years under a completely indecent president.

usajumpedtheshark

(672 posts)
13. My wife and I tired to instill these virtues in our children
Wed Nov 11, 2020, 06:00 PM
Nov 2020

and I can't imagine how awful it would have been if we had to do so under the trump regime. The anti-role model.

Paladin

(28,204 posts)
14. My wife and I did so with our children, as well.
Thu Nov 12, 2020, 09:56 AM
Nov 2020

And thus my the base-line questions for trump supporters: How the hell are you able to raise decent children, and give your support to a piece of filth like trump? What characteristics of trump are you making sure your children pick up---his lying, his laziness, his bullying, his utter lack of morality, his scorn for learning, his undisguised hatred for anybody who doesn't share his coddled background?

Don't get me started.....

Redleg

(5,728 posts)
11. Reminds me of the patricide scene from Gladiator
Tue Nov 10, 2020, 04:39 PM
Nov 2020

where Marcus Aurelius is speaking with his son Commodus about the key virtues and Commodus, self-aware that he lacked those virtues, proposed an alternate list.

I think personal virtues are important in politics and leadership in general insofar that the leader is mindful of them and considers them when making decisions. Furthermore, leaders should be willing to discuss their own values and explain how their values inform their thoughts and decisions. This is what makes for integrity. This also leaves it up to the people to determine whether they agree with the values and judgment, and if not, choose to not support such a leader.

Trump supporters claim that they love Trump because he "tells it like it is." I think they believe this because they agree with his "truths" and see therefore see him as an authentic man of the people. "Liberals are socialists and are bad." "Immigrants weaken our social structure and dynamics." "The wealthy are the job-creators." "Only my loyal followers are true Americans." To give but a few examples. These aren't unique to Trump; elements of the GOP have been mouthing these "truths" for a long time.

I am a behavioral scientist teaching and researching leadership and management at a university. I have found it quite difficult these last four years to even discuss concepts like "integrity," "values," "principles," and "authenticity" in my courses. From my perspective Trump fails to live up to any of what we have learned from research about these ideas. Yet, he still commands a considerable following. How can I tell students that a leader's integrity matters when they have such poor exemplars like Trump to point to?

I am now convinced that social identity processes can explain a lot about Trump followers' perceptions, emotions, and judgment regarding Trump and the Democrats but I don't want to write another dissertation here at DU, especially since I need to get caught up with grading papers. In summary, I think that Trumpers identify with Trump and Trumpism so much while hating Democrats/liberals so much that they are mostly unaware of Trump's failings, or if aware, minimize them because Democrats/liberals are so much worse.

patricia92243

(12,590 posts)
12. Although he has none, the lack of virtues is not Trump's problem. That he
Tue Nov 10, 2020, 04:46 PM
Nov 2020

is batshit crazy is the problem. He is seriously mentally sick and now add senile to that.

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