Personal interest should not despite reality in politics

[bestcandy]

Political interest has caused so many harm to our society in terms of good leadership, policy and economy because a lot of people especially politician see politics as a game of interest rather than looking forward to producing a good leader that will have the interest of their nation at heart. Many politicians have sold their conscience because of political interest and sometimes their interest may not be to leverage of their nations but for greediness and selfishness.
So many politician especially in Africa are only concern about their personal gain than improving the standard of living of their people. It's good to have personal interest in any political system but such interest should be in line to the interest of the masses otherwise it's wrong for a personal interest to be a disadvantage to the development and sustainability of the masses.

[Liliana1304]

I don't understand the topic of your discussion but from your body, you're trying to advise against putting personal interest first before the interest and well being of the masses who voted you into power as a politician, right?

You should know that most individuals strive to get into power not because they care about their constituents but to line their pockets that is why you hear them making or giving outrageous manifestos during the campaigning periods.
It will be a long while before we see someone who wants to go into power for the betterment of his/her nation, especially in Africa where corruption has a stronghold.

[Gozie51]

Human beings have the tendency of behaving in a greedy manner and that is why there is law. If a country doesn't uphold so much to their laws then people will violate it with impunity which is why those politicians are doing what they are doing in Africa because they compromise their law. A more focused country do respect their laws and any violation is strictly punished without compromise. Those are the difference and until African countries correct such anomalies then they will keep having politicians selling off their choice lands and properties to contest elections because they know if they win that they have all the "freedom " to syphon public money for their own gains.

[Hispo]

Personal interests of politicians should only reach the capacity of their own salary, they as human beings have their own plans and expectations and it is okey they pursue them as long as they do it with their own resources. Though, It is a completely different thing when they start to traffic their influence and their power, in order to get money, beyond their salary (paid by the tax payers of the country).
It is what we call a "kleptocracy", the accumulation of wealth from the state for the sake of it. I don't doubt there are many kleptocracies going on in Africa, and that is very unfortunate and I cal relate, since I have myself found in a position in which the government does not seem to care about people, only about keeping their position (their personal status quo) so they can continue to enrich themselves.

[Zlantann]

Political interest has caused so many harm to our society in terms of good leadership, policy and economy because a lot of people especially politician see politics as a game of interest rather than looking forward to producing a good leader that will have the interest of their nation at heart. Many politicians have sold their conscience because of political interest and sometimes their interest may not be to leverage of their nations but for greediness and selfishness.
So many politician especially in Africa are only concern about their personal gain than improving the standard of living of their people. It's good to have personal interest in any political system but such interest should be in line to the interest of the masses otherwise it's wrong for a personal interest to be a disadvantage to the development and sustainability of the masses.

The world is now materialistic and most people are only interested in making money by all means. Days are gone when people uphold selflessness even when they have the chance to steal or enrich themselves. The political class is part of the society so they are also driven by greed and materialism. Sometimes I don't blame the politicians for pursuing personal gains because society expects them to act that way. Some politicians don't really want to steal from the country's treasury but they are forced to do it because of societal pressure.

Let me give an example with my country. Immediately are elected or appointed into any political office your friends, relatives, and entire community expect you to get rich. They also expect you to attract development to your community by all means. Your friends and family members will put you under pressure to make them rich from dubious means. If you fail to do what they expect, you might be banished from the community or disowned by family members. Becoming an upright politician is becoming taboo because society expects you to be selfish and engage in criminal activities.

[Spaceman1000$]

Political interest has caused so many harm to our society in terms of good leadership, policy and economy because a lot of people especially politician see politics as a game of interest rather than looking forward to producing a good leader that will have the interest of their nation at heart. Many politicians have sold their conscience because of political interest and sometimes their interest may not be to leverage of their nations but for greediness and selfishness.
So many politician especially in Africa are only concern about their personal gain than improving the standard of living of their people. It's good to have personal interest in any political system but such interest should be in line to the interest of the masses otherwise it's wrong for a personal interest to be a disadvantage to the development and sustainability of the masses.

One of the reasons that usually fueled this sort of greediness in the African political space, is the manipulation of the electoral process by the political gladiators. They understand once they can do away with the will power the citizens have to vote and be voted for, then they become demi gods to the same people they are supposed to be serving. In a liberal society that still allows Democratic process to go on smoothly, you will notice that the personal interest of those in the position of leadership are not that glaring even if they have it, that is why Most people advocate for true constitutional democracy, so that the people's interest will come first, because democracy is all about the people.

[Reatim]

You should know that most individuals strive to get into power not because they care about their constituents but to line their pockets that is why you hear them making or giving outrageous manifestos during the campaigning periods.
It will be a long while before we see someone who wants to go into power for the betterment of his/her nation, especially in Africa where corruption has a stronghold.

It’s not just about who wants to run for the position because they genuinely want to lead the country for the better.

It’s also the citizens who vote. If you all keep voting for the wrong candidates then more politicians will be confident to run no matter what their intentions are. Nowadays election is just a popularity contest. No one cares what your credibilities are as long as you are popular enough you can get voted.

[uneng]

Many thinkers, philosophers, writters and people in general have already pointed out this issue in politics since many centuries ago, but it has always been a present issue without any solutions at all. We can talk about it as much as we wish, and no conclusions, neither solutions will be found, anyway.

So I guess the collective causes are doomed to failure. Everything which demands effort from a large group of people will inevitably end into frustration and corruption, as some people will take charge of the situation, and will use it to benefit themselves, instead of working to benefit the whole society.

And since these things are out of your control as individuals, the best you can do is to not put so much energy and effort in such matters. Instead of that, focus in yourself, in improving your own personal life and the lives of the people who are around who you think really matter after all. This way, you won't need to rely too much on the collective, so all the frustration, suffering and nonconformity you feel for having leaders who don't behave exemplary will fade out.

Individuals have to learn to give importance to what is important in life, what means to give importance to what is on their range of interaction and fulfillment, while keeping secondary things they can't really decide, while avoiding things they have to go against their principles and values to accomplish.

[HajiBagi]

Political interest has caused so many harm to our society in terms of good leadership, policy and economy because a lot of people especially politician see politics as a game of interest rather than looking forward to producing a good leader that will have the interest of their nation at heart. Many politicians have sold their conscience because of political interest and sometimes their interest may not be to leverage of their nations but for greediness and selfishness.
So many politician especially in Africa are only concern about their personal gain than improving the standard of living of their people. It's good to have personal interest in any political system but such interest should be in line to the interest of the masses otherwise it's wrong for a personal interest to be a disadvantage to the development and sustainability of the masses.

Yes, I also believe currently that politics is a game because not what the citizens expect to come out and many politicians in Africa today are into politics because of their interests, out of 100% of the politicians 90% are into politics for their interests, I don’t see any politician that will come out and say that he doesn’t go into politics because of money, and that is why even those we believe are not supposed to be believed because ones they get into power they become something else and don’t remember the promise they made before becoming what they are today.

Politics is like a game play it with your senses and win it and do whatever you want, some leaders don’t even consider the poor people who believe in them and waste their time to vote for them, as it stands like this whether it’s me or you no matter how good heart you have you must want to make money before you start doing something good for the public and the people of the country, there is nothing left in politics than just become the leader and squander the public funds.

[Zoomic]

Political interest has caused so many harm to our society in terms of good leadership, policy and economy because a lot of people especially politician see politics as a game of interest rather than looking forward to producing a good leader that will have the interest of their nation at heart. Many politicians have sold their conscience because of political interest and sometimes their interest may not be to leverage of their nations but for greediness and selfishness.
So many politician especially in Africa are only concern about their personal gain than improving the standard of living of their people. It's good to have personal interest in any political system but such interest should be in line to the interest of the masses otherwise it's wrong for a personal interest to be a disadvantage to the development and sustainability of the masses.

There are lots of horrible stories like this coming from Africa and I keep wondering what motivates these political leaders to act the way they do? To some extent, the masses who keep complaining of the bad attitude of the leaders towards their people are also responsible for their own misfortune. Every election people, these same masses collect bribes from these leaders for votes, they aid in electoral malpractices and many would even choose not to be directly involved in politics. Who then is going to stand up to these leaders?

Until Africans learn to seek the truth and fight in unity for good governance, then this maltreatment will never stop. The political leaders and even those to come are already used to such type of lifestyle and will continue to exploit the people until there is a force to stop them.

[Richbased]

In the old days, politics was a game that brings people together to chose a capable and impeccable person who will pioneer the affairs of a country or any geographic area of a country and it was free and fair as the people that are voted in are the masses choice and they deliver the dividends of democracy to the people but in this current age now politics have now become a game of personal interest, a  game of bitterness and witch hunting towards the opposition party and people now make politics become so difficult as it is more of a ''do or die'' affairs unlike the liberty of every one to chose a leader that they like and there have been so many irregularities in politics now because most elections are no longer fair and credible but total manipulation of the system hence it has made a lot of people to lose interest in politics.

Politics though is in a very bad state in Africa but I can't really tag Africa as the worst part where politics is being practiced because it looks more of a general thing now, even some western country's political systems have also been corrupted therefore almost every country is involved in this political manipulations. Politics which is supposed to  bring the dividends of democracy close to the people is now a place where politicians go to enrich their pockets without caring about the interest of the masses anymore, it's really very sad and it has gotten to an uncontrollable state because those that are in power always want to continue and not give others the chance to participate in leadership.

[AYOBA]

Political interest has caused so many harm to our society in terms of good leadership, policy and economy because a lot of people especially politician see politics as a game of interest rather than looking forward to producing a good leader that will have the interest of their nation at heart. Many politicians have sold their conscience because of political interest and sometimes their interest may not be to leverage of their nations but for greediness and selfishness.

Honestly the political interest has caused so many people's to be doing what is not proper to our society, and that's why if we look at some of the communities they didn't have single interest in politics, because one thing about the politicians is that the time that they're looking for position is that time they will know people's, but they get the position they will definitely forget those that lead them to that position. We are lack of good leadership in society that's the reason why the society is not moving as well.

So many politician especially in Africa are only concern about their personal gain than improving the standard of living of their people. It's good to have personal interest in any political system but such interest should be in line to the interest of the masses otherwise it's wrong for a personal interest to be a disadvantage to the development and sustainability of the masses.

The only thing that Africa politicians knows is that what will make their own personal money develop not for those that be with them in the actual time that hustle for the position, is just that they don't want the standard living of their people's because of selfish interest.

[Jegileman]

So many politician especially in Africa are only concern about their personal gain than improving the standard of living of their people. It's good to have personal interest in any political system but such interest should be in line to the interest of the masses otherwise it's wrong for a personal interest to be a disadvantage to the development and sustainability of the masses.

Africa again? Is it only Africans that political interest is happening in, maybe you should do more research and see more countries in other continents that are also experiencing the same thing. I don’t know to which extent it is prevalent over there but I know it is in Africa, so I can’t have a comparison of them.

Political interest cannot be taken away from politicians, that’s their main aim of aspiring to be on that seat. The interest of the people always come second after their own personal interest and this is not just common in politicians only, but to most beings that value themself more than any other person.

[passwordnow]

So many politician especially in Africa are only concern about their personal gain than improving the standard of living of their people.

It's not only happening there, even in countries that are known to be first world and rich, there are politicians that have their own personal interest being seen but not that noticeable because of how wealthy they are and they see them working on for their constituents. The matter is that they have their own personal interest and works on their favorable businesses and power while doing the bare minimum that are to be seen by their people to make it look like they're being loved and a real working government employee.

It's good to have personal interest in any political system but such interest should be in line to the interest of the masses otherwise it's wrong for a personal interest to be a disadvantage to the development and sustainability of the masses.

I don't think that it's nice to have that for every politicians but it's always there when they are elected in office. What's best for these politicians to have is their political willingness to help their constituents and do something good for them and that's the legacy that they will leave upon getting out of the post in due time. Being a politician is about serving people but you see that this job post is being replaced into being served by the people, so it becomes the opposite and that's quite sad in several parts of the world and governments that we're living with. 

[Hispo]

So many politician especially in Africa are only concern about their personal gain than improving the standard of living of their people. It's good to have personal interest in any political system but such interest should be in line to the interest of the masses otherwise it's wrong for a personal interest to be a disadvantage to the development and sustainability of the masses.

Africa again? Is it only Africans that political interest is happening in, maybe you should do more research and see more countries in other continents that are also experiencing the same thing. I don’t know to which extent it is prevalent over there but I know it is in Africa, so I can’t have a comparison of them.

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it sounds those kind of problems are more common in the African republics and the African continent. So it should not be a surprise for any of us if people around the world takes those african cases when those problems come to mind. Perhaps your commentary comes because you somehow believe there is a racist undertone in this topic.
I don't quite think so, though.

I believe the political struggles and the military coups we have seen in Africa in the lastest years are a consequence of their history of colonialism and tribalism. The system of values and the quality of their society also plays a role in what happens, in the end, it is said people have the rulers they deserve (because they choose them).
I am from Latin America, so I am very aware Africa is not alone in this topic of corruption and the misuse of political influence/power.