November 3, 2023 —  From gang wars to ethnic violence, and from civil conflicts to world wars, the same five reasons underlie conflict at every level

Politicians can be perceived as lacking in a number of things, including:

• Honesty and integrity: Politicians are often seen as being untrustworthy and self-serving. They may be seen as making promises that they don’t intend to keep, or as being more interested in their own careers than in the needs of their constituents.
• Empathy and compassion: Politicians may be seen as being out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people. They may be seen as being more interested in serving the interests of the wealthy and powerful than the needs of the poor and marginalized.
• Competence and knowledge: Politicians may be seen as lacking in the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively do their jobs. They may be seen as being out of their depth on complex issues, or as being more interested in scoring political points than in solving problems.
• Transparency and accountability: Politicians may be seen as being secretive and unaccountable to the public. They may be seen as being reluctant to disclose information about their activities, or as being immune to consequences for their actions.
• A commitment to the public good: Politicians may be seen as being more interested in their own personal gain than in the good of the country. They may be seen as being willing to put their own interests ahead of the interests of their constituents, or as being more interested in winning elections than in governing effectively.

It is important to note that these are just generalizations, and that there are many politicians who do not fit these stereotypes. However, these are some of the common criticisms that are leveled at politicians.

In addition to the above, politicians may also be perceived as lacking in:

• Vision: Politicians may be seen as being more interested in short-term gains than in long-term planning. They may be seen as being unwilling to make difficult decisions, or as being more interested in popular policies than in good policies.
• Creativity: Politicians may be seen as being stuck in the past and unwilling to embrace new ideas. They may be seen as being more interested in following the status quo than in finding new and innovative solutions to problems.
• Courage: Politicians may be seen as being afraid to take risks or to stand up for what they believe in. They may be seen as being more interested in playing it safe than in making a difference.

It is important to note that not all politicians lack these qualities. There are many politicians who are honest, competent, courageous, visionary, accountable, transparent, and respectful of the people they represent. However, the qualities listed above are often lacking in many politicians, and this can have a negative impact on their ability to govern effectively.