Question

Is statesmanship possible in today’s political climate?

Answer 1

People think that a politician is someone who has one primary goal— to get elected. A statesman's general view, however, is of someone who is interested in the common good of citizens rather than his own ego. A politician's example is an office worker who changes on topics as polls shift. The politician makes promises but once elected, he may not deliver on them. A statesman is a person who stands by his values and does everything in his power for the people of his country to do what he believes is right.

The intentions of politicians may not be malicious, but their interest in power the contribute to the use of morally questionable tools, such as ads opposing the message of their critics, cynical PR strategies, and propaganda aimed at drawing people along. The abilities of a politician and statesman are identical, as the values of power and morality are what essentially divides the two. Both need to develop outstanding interpersonal skills throughout their careers to communicate with a variety of people. For both the politician and the statesman, persuasion is important, so each person must have effective communication skills to explain complex legislative processes to people who know little about politics.

Statesmanship is possible in today’s political climate if the vision mission and skills of a Politician are aligned to that of a Statesman