DISTRUST OF POLITICIANS LEADS TO DISTRUST OF OTHERS
Blaming others for problems is a common rhetorical theme in American politics. Blaming others for problems is a sign of poor character and mental health immaturity.  President Trump is well-known for his readiness to blame others for all kinds of problems. In fact, avoiding personal accountability for problems he has created is one of Trump’s fears.

Low-level, pervasive, distrust makes it easy for Americans to blame other Americans — especially politicians, government, poor people of color and immigrants — for their problems. Politicians reinforce this thinking by blaming those “others” for problems politicians have created. Blaming others exacerbates social/political division and deflects personal responsibility for America’s problems. This is evidence of immature mental health. By blaming others for his problems, Trump has normalized distrust for many Americans.

Creating a “boogeyman” is a proven way to build party loyalty, attract voters and appeal for money. Hitler used this strategy effectively to make Jews the enemy of Germany. Christian Nationalists use the strategy to amp up the fears many Americans have about immigrants.

By blaming others for problems, politicians excuse themselves and voters from personal responsibility for problems. Politicians who present themselves as saviors from undesirable circumstances make it easy for voters to focus on self-serving policies and conspiracy theories. The electorate rewards that rhetoric with money and votes. These unhealthy, dysfunctional relationships exist because voters don’t know good character from bad and don’t discern lies from truth.

Once they are in office, politicians face the realities of governing in a hostile environment and realize that they are unable to fulfill promises made to voters. Politicians then work hard to deflect voters from their failed promises by blaming others. Failed promises and ineffective governing breeds distrust of politicians and government. Nevertheless, because most Americans sincerely want to use their voting power to effect change, they hold their noses and vote for politicians that they don’t really trust. They don’t know that there is a better way to practice democracy

And so the cycle continues. It’s the democratic way, but Americans must face the reality that the system doesn’t work because they don’t know enough to vote for character.

Although this is a highly simplified analysis, it makes three critical points:

• Voters look to politicians to solve America’s problems with legislation.
• Voters do not consider how they personally contribute to America’s problems.
• Voters tend to choose elected officials on the basis of campaign rhetoric that includes appealing legislative ideas and party affiliation — not on the basis of character.

It should be obvious to all Americans that politicians with poor character will not govern to achieve the aspirations of the Preamble to the Constitution:

The Preamble outlines six broad goals for government:

• Form a more perfect Union that is not divided along racial, social, economic, political, religious or educational lines
• Establish Justice for all Americans
• Insure domestic Tranquility for all Americans
• Provide for the common defense
• Promote the general Welfare for all Americans
• Secure the Blessings of Liberty for current and future generations

Whether they know the Preamble or not, these are the unspoken aspirations (i.e. dreams) of all Americans. Because these aspirations are not realized, Americans put the onus on politicians to fix the problems that obstruct their aspirations. But, because politicians with poor character can’t/won’t fix the problems, angry, disappointed voters don’t trust them. Worse yet, it is often true that people who don’t trust a particular leader will also not trust fellow Americans who do trust that leader. This means that distrust is toxic, contagious and breeds social/political division.

Here are the character qualities of poor leaders that cause distrust:

• What is leadership?
• What is bad leadership?
• Bad leaders lack empathy
• Bad leaders micromanage
• Bad leaders communicate poorly
• Bad leaders are egotistical
• Bad leaders resist change
• Bad leaders lack vision or direction
• Bad leaders have a negative mindset
• Bad leaders are inconsistent
• Bad leaders lack transparency
• Bad leaders are indecisive
• Avoid the pitfalls of bad leadership

Politicians with good character understand that the toxic, relational dynamics of poor leadership spread like a virus throughout the country and spoil the unity called for in the Preamble. Therefore, politicians with good character will, to the best of their ability, legislate to satisfy the aspirations of all — not just some — Americans. But, it must be said that politicians with good character wouldn’t legislate just appease Americans who do not live the American dream, or out of sympathy, morality, religious beliefs or social idealism. Of course politicians with good character will relate to the struggles of disaffected Americans, but their primary motivation will always be to legislate to achieve the goals and aspirations specified in the Preamble to the Constitution. They would be the ideal models of true patriots. This is another sense in which they are leaders with good character.

The dilemma for politicians is that once they are in office, their primary interest is to get reelected. The pressing realities of fundraising inhibit their ability to fulfill promises made to voters so they can focus on the business of governing for the common good of all Americans as outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution. In other words, trust in politicians begins to deteriorate as soon as they get elected. Voters would be able to predict this outcome if they qualified candidates for office on the basis of character — not campaign rhetoric and promises. Self-serving obsession on reelection is an indicator of bad character. Good character always focuses on the interests of others — not on self.