Which type politician displays more contemptible behavior: the honestly contemptible person who publicly expresses horrid, yet heartfelt, convictions OR the dishonest contemptible politician who pretends to care, yet schemes privately to screw over people? A recently leaked transcript of a 'private' phone conversation between two leaders illustrates the difference in real time.
One leader publicly stated his disdain for immigration and a desire to quit a "bad deal” made by a previous administration regarding foreign immigration people swaps – essentially, "...you take my 'junk' refugees and I’ll take yours..." - political accommodation. Fleeing people seeking refuge knew up front not to expect much compassion from this person and they acted accordingly. As much as I disagree with his policy ideas, at least he was honest and transparent. Although contemptible, he at least warrants a degree of respect for transparency.
The other politician professes to “care” for refugees by creating horrid policies to detain persecuted people offshore and outsourced – environments that have caused deaths, violence, and continue to cause long-term suffering to refugees. It is a cowardly 'Out of Sight - Out of Mind' scheme. It has also yielded a multi-billion dollar detention contract for his political base.
Why would a supposedly enlightened nation do this? The politician believes by showcasing living examples of ongoing human suffering, it will serve to persuade other refugees not to seek asylum in his country. Under a false banner of compassion, he publicly professes that he’s doing all possible to secure shelter in another country for the refugees under his responsibility.
However, in that leaked conversation with the other contemptible politician, he as much as admits he could really care less about the fates of the refugees. Pandering to political optics, he just wants it to 'appear' as if he cares about refugee resettlements. That person is dishonest and manipulative and does not deserve respect – he ranks lower on the contemptibility scale than the openly contemptible, but honest, politician.
Generally, people have higher regard for politicians that deliver even vile policies with honesty and conviction. People can at least evaluate the policies and act accordingly to change them – or the politician. I also think that people have little respect for politicians that pretend to care in public, yet express disdain for people in private. They offer seemingly ”progressive” policies and they act in an dishonest and underhanded manner. A majority of citizens are duped and those that are aware cannot reasonably protest until it is too late to affect an outcome.
We can only hope that citizens turn their backs to this deceitful “artful dodger” type of politician just as he has turned his back to many fellow human beings that sought refuge from harm – only to find more harm at the hands of a supposedly progressive society. It is shameful.
If the saying that what goes around, comes around is true… our country is in for some hard times!