Why Integrity is Needed in Government and Institutions? Highest Values or Highest Bidder?

It's hard to squint your eyes and see a world where people consistently do the right thing and they stand by their most basic American principles. Politics can push us forward or hold us back. While we may have barely made it through the most recent capital sacking event (We can say if we are pre or post extremism yet or what the consequences are if we don't come together.) we are unlikely to be completely done with these false beliefs and somewhat jaded view points from both parties. 

Le Serment des Horaces
Jacques-Louis David
What is an oath worth today? 
(Americans and "Americans")
We should be "One nation under God"

I kind of find it interesting that people say they are representing their districts when parties almost slice society blindly in half by party and then in half again by those willing to vote and about half again by those most political involved and get the votes out.  If the politician has not veered in thinking to include the needs of the other half of society, half of the voters, and half of the opposing politically motivated in their decision making they are only representing about 15% of society (Of that 15% we can take the people who just want to be part of something and those who are following blindly to the about 5% that are the vocal members of society that push the decisions. What would be interesting is if we could actually get down to that number by pulling various studies. I'm not sure what the exact number is, not that there is an exact number with many different studies with different methodologies, but that it could very well be a plausible supported ballpark number. It passes the thumb test. It should not come to shock that only a small percentage of society are highly interested and highly engaged in a way that they make the mountain of choices for those not involved.)

What you will often hear are words like, "I'm representing my people" or "people voted for me and I'm their voice". That is partly true and partly not true. Its' sort of an embellishment of self-righteousness (Kind of like what I'm doing here. 😏  More to it than that, but its probably partly true. The difference is that I know it while many people around me have low insight into their own decision making processes. Sorry the last part is a truthful pun.) Based on the options available, people vote on what resonates with them. Sometimes there are people doing the right thing, but often we find people just saying things that others want to hear (The ones with integrity are often removed for those who follow the line....and that has already led to problems. It concentrates power and it allows that power to manipulate others. Democracies should be bottom up and have free thoughts and free ideas without bullying, pushing, lying, or taking advantage of others to get our way in adherence to 5% of those highly active. ) 

Leadership is more than that! I can pull study after study but what does it matter at the end of the day? We must change our hearts about the quality of our leadership and the need to ensure that they are governing for all of the American people and not just the sliver that was mobilized to vote for them. Our politicians are chosen to make wise decisions for us all; sometimes they do great and sometimes not. 

If our politicians focus on governing for all the people and the nation versus their followers or party I think we could move through the next challenges with relative ease. If not, well we will bounce back to the same old behaviors that almost lost our nation the first time. An "American" is one who serves their people beyond their parties, beyond themselves, and beyond herd group adherence; at least in my limited mind (We are often more worried about the superficiality of those oaths and not their meaning.)

Consider Who are Wise? (I'm obviously not wise because I say things people don't want to hear.)

What is your Archetype? (Go judge for yourself and then go judge yourself)

Integrity and Leadership (We all have room for improvement. Some of us see where we can improve but many of the people who push to be in politics don't see the need for self improvement as accurately as they should. That leads to all types of erroneous choices.)

America is an experiment and lets not taint, pull the plug on it, or warp it with self interested politics (Applies equally to both parties). 

 The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. 'Apostle of Liberty' - Thomas Jefferson

(Will we get there? Yaaa...but when and how are the questions.)