Op-Ed: Car Salesmen Outrank Politicians in Public Trust

The Perception of Honesty and Ethics in American Professions

A well-known quote by Charles de Gaulle states, "Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians." This sentiment resonates deeply in today's society, where public trust in political figures has reached an all-time low. A recent Gallup report highlights that Americans consider the clergy as the most honest and honorable profession. This annual survey also reveals the bottom three professions that voters tolerate the least: car salesmen, politicians, and lobbyists.

Interestingly, car salesmen are rated higher than politicians, which surprises many. The comparison between these two roles is stark, as political parties often market candidates like breakfast cereal, trading votes to the highest bidder, much like used car salesmen who try to sell high-mileage vehicles on late-night shows. This practice has become an ultimate indignity in the democratic process.

The poll further illustrates how Americans view honesty and ethics across 21 professions. Congress is rated very low due to its ethical standards, with only 9% of those surveyed saying Congress has "very high" standards. Senators ranked third lowest in the poll, earning a 49% ethical rating, which outperformed stockbrokers. Nurses, pharmacists, doctors, police officers, and engineers received mostly higher ratings, showcasing the public's respect for these professions.

Governors, on the other hand, were ranked much higher than lawmakers around the nation. However, only 15% of participants said they had a "very high" opinion of governors, with 48% giving them an "average" rating and 35% rating them as "very low." This reflects a broader trend of public distrust towards political figures.

The public’s distrust for car salesmen is universal. The stereotype of a cigar-smoking, slick-haired shyster trying to sell a car driven by a little old lady from Pasadena persists. While this may be exaggerated, there is some truth behind it. As the Greek philosopher Sophocles once said, "What people believe prevails over the truth."

Lobbyists, on the other hand, consistently rank last due to their questionable role in the political equation. They have always been seen as the most dubious ingredient in the political mix. As former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stated, "Too often government responds to the whispers of lobbyists before the cries of the people."

The dismal rating given to politicians is a cause for concern. Many attribute this to the extreme political divide, but this theory is not entirely clear. Even in the 1500s, Nicolo Machiavelli, in his work "The Prince," described the behavioral patterns of politicians, noting that they never spoke of morals. He famously said, "The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of today."

Forbes once remarked, "Let’s face it, life is a sales game." This applies to businesses, car salesmen, telemarketers, and politicians alike. Voters expect grandiose returns each election, similar to the claims made by car hawkers. They are willing to trade liberty for votes, convinced that public gifts are "easily financed." However, as James Madison reminded Americans, "Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."

When these promises are broken, voters react similarly to how they would denigrate a sales guy who sold them a "barbeque machine" that burnt up three days after the deal. Instead of a wake-up call, voters "bellyache" until the next election and vote for them again. Ben Franklin once said, "It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them."

According to Pew Research, Americans remain deeply distrustful of the political system and dissatisfied with their government. Only 20% say they trust the government in Washington to do the right thing most of the time. This sentiment has remained relatively unchanged since the early 2000s.

After witnessing the last election, it is clear that things have to get very bad before many Americans will consider crossing party lines. This illogical thinking of maintaining party loyalty despite lower living standards has been a failed liberal agenda since Huey Long took over the Democratic Party in 1893.

Since the election of Barack Obama, who reignited interest in the progressive party, there has been no sustainable economic growth cycle in America compared to the periods during and after the last two great wars. The country continues to address a declining birthrate through easy access to abortions, which is one of the most salient reasons why car salesmen are favored over politicians.

Next time you vote for an incumbent, remember the shady car sales guy: Did he honor his word or was he a blood-sucking coward? How many pledges did he make that were never filled? How long did it take for buyer's remorse to set in after you closed the deal?

Buyer’s remorse is hard to swallow. When a buyer loses faith in the product, he loses faith in the seller. When a buyer feels a seller got the best of him in a deal, voters have the power to bring more Mr. Smiths into our governments. When you vote for a candidate, you are investing in America. Do we need to elect seasoned pros or more patriotic Americans and be patient that this is on-the-job training for them? Did that last candidate deliver "change you could believe in?"

After visiting America for the first time, Alexis de Tocqueville proclaimed: "As I see it, only God can be all-powerful without danger, because his wisdom and justice are always equal to his power. Thus, there is no authority on earth so inherently worthy of respect, or invested with a right so sacred, that I would want to let it act without oversight or rule without impediment. The principle of equality has prepared men for things it has predisposed men to endure them and often to look on them as benefits. And I believe the greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults. That is the only way we can return pride to our political class."