Political Ethics
Andrew K. Thompson
Mr. Perry R. Anderson
English 2010
July 17, 2001


Political Ethics

Political ethics in America aren't where they should be. To often our political officials aren't getting punished for their wrong doings. For example, Jim Jeffords, senator from Vermont, recently changed his political affiliation after being elected. Does he have the right to do this? Is it ethical? In political ethics there are three players: the candidates, the political leaders, and the common citizen. Each has a responsibility to maintain high ethics. One can cross the ethical boundary by deceiving any of the other two players. The average citizen gets deceived more often than not.
Through out the election process, candidates are trying to display themselves in a way that will appeal to the majority. How often does a candidate stick to his own views and not what's popular? Candidates have the obligation to stay true to their own beliefs. Parties are divided according to how the candidate swings, either conservative or liberal, typically. A major part of being elected is getting a marketing scheme to highlight the candidates'best features. Is it then appropriate for a candidate to attack negatively his opponent? For example, if a candidate knows that his opponent's wife is an alcoholic is it ethical to bring that up in the election process? I say, "no,"?the people aren't voting for his wife. Therefore a candidate has a responsibility to his own beliefs.
Sticking to his own beliefs, Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords, ran the past election as a Republican and later changed to the Independent Party. On Jeffords web page he states, "Increasingly, I find myself in disagreement with my party. I understand that many people are more conservative than I am, and they form the Republican Party. Given the changing nature of the national party, it has become a struggle for our leaders to deal with me, and for me to deal with them." CNN's web page says, "...because of his propensity to vote with Democrats as often as he votes with Republicans, Jeffords has been a target for defection his entire Senate career." There were no changes in Jeffords attitude, the people of Vermont know Jeffords and they know that he represents the ideals that they want represented. Jeffords web page also stated, "I have changed my party label, but I have not changed my beliefs. Indeed my decision is about affirming the principles that have shaped my career...I am confident that it is the right decision." The conversion to the Independent Party was almost natural since Vermont is naturally known as an Independent state. Jeffords ran an honest election except telling the people that he was turning Independent.
After being elected a candidate has a duty to the political leaders and on a broader spectrum to the party he/she stands for. The political party sticks together and holds to the same views. For many candidates the political party can be the added help that they need to become the victor over their opponent. Namely through financial help. Political leaders also anticipate party participants to naturally stick with the flow of the party.
Republican election funds were used in helping Senator Jeffords get re-elected. The impact of the funds was tremendous. The Independent Party can't come close to the financial stability of the Republican Party. Thus the funds available for his campaign might have been less thereby decreasing the persuasion of people to vote for him. The political leaders within the Republican Party disagreed with the decision Jeffords came up with. For 26 years in Washington, first in the House of Representatives and now in the Senate; he's served 12 years in one of the longest continuously held Republican seats in the U. S. Senate which gave rise to the political leaders beliefs that Jeffords would stay with them through thick and thin. However the party knew about Jeffords record. CBS News web page stated, "he was the sole Republican in the House to oppose President Reagan's 1981 tax cut; he was the first Republican in the Senate to oppose convicting President Clinton on House impeachment charges and he voted against the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas." Jeffords decision got worse when there was a split in the Senate. Jeffords stated, "Indeed, the party's electoral success has underscored the dilemma I face within my party." Control of the Senate has now been changed. Nicholas Thompson writer for MSN's web page wrote, "Jim Jeffords isn't the only Republican who should switch parties." He believes that all moderate Republicans should change parties and get it over with. Of course Jeffords' decision affects the party but what about the people?
In a Democracy there would be no political leaders without the people. The American system is set up to let everyone's voice be heard. People are the cornerstone of the government. The government is set up to establish order and balance with it's system of checks and balances which controls power of individuals and parties. People vote for a candidate that will represent their best interest. A candidate is allowed to have his/her own views. In fact almost all candidates have some view that a voter will disagree with. The voters must then strain out the candidates' views on the issues and choose the best candidate. The candidate has a responsibility to the people who voted him/her in. For without them he/she would not be in office and a candidate must realize this.
Jeffords might have deceived the people of Vermont when he ran as a Republican and then swapped over to the Independent party. However, the response from many Vermont people was that, "they thought that Jeffords was good for Vermont. Their opinion was that the Republican Party had left Jeffords, not that Jeffords had left the Republican Party." Many people nationally have been concerned with Jeffords decision to change political parties due to the change in control in the Senate. Jeffords has a responsibility only to his state, Vermont. Vermont seems to be in agreement thus eliminating any need for us to worry. Jeffords decision might be a good thing; no longer do the Republicans solely control the Presidency and the Senate.
A candidate is responsible to the other candidates, their political party and leaders, and to the voters. Many times the politics of now are reduced to the quest for and abuse of power. What can be done? Who can help? The people can do something. Citizens need to keep their officials in line. Know your leaders. Research what they believe. Tell them what you expect. Get involved in the democratic system and stay involved. We the people need a political excellence. We deserve it, we owe it to our children, and we owe it to democracy as a whole. Our government is one built by the people for the people. If people aren't active in the political arena the government crumbles. Political ethics must be a prevailing level of quality, value, and achievement. Demand it!

Links to Other Sites
Senator Jeffords' Website