Why is it so hard for politicians to say "I don't know, but I'll find out" and "I made a mistake"?

Maj John Bell — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 22:29:10 -0500

Does anybody really think any President is always going to get it perfect? When they try to "spin" we are either smart enough to figure it out, or so busy drinking the cyanide laced Kool-Aid that we don't care. It would improve my opinion of the candidate I didn't like if they would just own up.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 2 at 2016 10:31 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 22:31:14 -0500

Seek and accept responsibility is not in a politician's lexicon.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 2 at 2016 10:31 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 22:31:46 -0500

That is a great question Maj John Bell. I suspect it is very hard for politicians to say "I don't know, but I'll find out" and "I made a mistake". For statesmen and women which are few and far between those questions are not all difficult foe them,

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 2 at 2016 10:35 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 22:35:38 -0500

Why? I don't know. (I'm not a politician)

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 11:38 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:38:06 -0500

Because most have never worked in the public sector. If you lie to a customer and they find out...it won't be long before you don't have any customers. They make Used Car salesmen look like Priest.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Mar 2 at 2016 11:54 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:54:50 -0500

I don't understand that one either. I used those words many times both in the military and over 30 years as a manager in the civilian world. I believe that a leader owes his subordinates an answer if they have a legitimate question and no one expects you to know everything. There is no such thing as a stupid question if you need to know the answer and I much preferred my people asking questions instead of just going ahead and screwing something up.

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Mar 2 at 2016 11:56 PM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:56:38 -0500

Probably because every question a politician is asled is loaded and every answer can be twisted by political opponents

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 11:57 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:57:04 -0500

Because if they were actually honest and up front the clouds would part and lightening would strike them where they stood.

Response by Deborah Gregson made Mar 3 at 2016 3:01 AM

Deborah Gregson — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 03:01:58 -0500

Because they're afraid. They've been made afraid by the people behind them that tell them what to do, they buy into the myth, they hype, and the media instead of thinking and being themselves. They no longer are themselves, they become their image instead of the real person they were when they started.

It's a struggle. When you first start in whatever good deed thing you are doing, you can be bold, brash, opinionated and honestly voice your beliefs. As people agree with you and "join" your side, support you and encourage you, you gain credibility and you are able to expand your opinions and audience, reach more people and expound on your message. You begin to get critics who push back on what you say, criticize your points, bring doubts to your goals. You double down, counter their negative points and become more entrenched and outspoken. Then the other side begins to "gently attack" or brings on a full frontal assault and you're caught off guard. That's when you're faced with the camera in your face, the microphone and the sudden rush of do I say something, truthful, made up, intelligent, stupid, off the cuff, or bail and get out of here? And what comes out is "Blah, bla, da, bl, blah, blalh, duah." Dumb. When saying, "You know, I'm not sure and I'll have to check that and get back with you tomorrow about that. Thanks for asking me so I could find out. Anything else?" We'd all be better for that, especially if we did that our whole lives, and then were never afraid.

Yesterday I was faced with voicing my opinion about an issue that seriously bothered me concerning an organization I belong to and after consideration, stated my opinion and reason, then submitted the info they wanted with my objection. They accepted my info and acknowledged my objection and didn't throw me out, which they could have. I feel better, they know how I feel and we are all moving forward. I was ready for the consequences and maybe they'll think about how the rest of the people in my situation feel and think when they make the requests they do. Whatever, they know that some people do think in opposition to their random requests and I know that I haven't pushed the envelope too far. Yet.

Response by SrA Marlin Taylor made Mar 3 at 2016 8:59 AM

SrA Marlin Taylor — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 08:59:40 -0500

Most politicians have 3 to 5 people behind them writing their speeches for them. Because of this they have to confirm with people before they could give a straight answer. Makes things hard for them to actually answer a question honestly that way. And God forbid they loose Face.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Mar 3 at 2016 9:30 AM

SSG Gerhard S. — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:30:04 -0500

That's a great question. I have to assume it has to do with politics and ego because in any other realm, those words often garner respect from others. Being able to recognize, and admit one's mistakes is the first step toward reconciling those mistakes. I guess the political inability to make such admissions is consistent with government's inability to recognize it's mistakes and to then take steps to correct them. Instead the solution often seems to be doubling down on mistakes so nobody has to either admit, or take responsibility for a mistake. I still don't understand it, but the results are, at least consistent, though destructive.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 9:32 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:32:18 -0500

How about..."Yep, I lied. I made the whole thing up just to get votes and donations." That'll be a cold, blizzard day in Hell.

Response by Alan K. made Mar 3 at 2016 9:38 AM

Alan K. — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:38:13 -0500

One word......EGO. Whether or not it is because they don't want to look dumb, uninformed, wrong at the end of the day it boils down to Ego.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 9:49 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:49:05 -0500

They are running to be in charge, and admitting they don't know about an issue broadcasts that they don't think the issue is important enough to know about. When asked what to do, if they say they don't know what they will do it broadcasts that they are a follower. Both are anathema to a politician.

Politician-speak for "I don't know" is "we are studying the issue, and will release the details of our plan when it is appropriate". In the meantime, they will be very vague, and disassemble any plan that another candidate unveils as bad and unworkable and ineffective.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Mar 3 at 2016 11:01 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 11:01:49 -0500

The same reason why anyone in a position of power says it: it makes them unprepared and fallible.

Response by SGT James Hastings made Mar 3 at 2016 2:35 PM

SGT James Hastings — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:35:35 -0500

Great comment. When an ego gets in the way of the truth, we all suffer.