At first glance, democracy appears to be about civil liberty, freedom and equality. It’s the granted promise of individual rights and opinion. To many, America is a haven that protects many people from cruel, harsh realities. From this, one could easily say that democracy and politics goes hand in hand. Yet what we all know about this great thing called democracy may simply be an illusion.
In recent years, too many of us Americans have been imprisoned by the false hope that they receive from many political candidates. When politicians run for office, they tend to over-exaggerate their campaign promises—and quite frankly, tell blatant lies. People have to look past the false hope and the equanimity to make the best out of our democracy. In other words, it is important to look past superficial appearances because they might just end up being illusions. Superficial appearances cloak the malicious intentions that many politicians retain during their campaigns for office. Then, when they gain the power and office, they utilize their power and take advantage of their opportunities and ignore the needs of the society they control or govern. The former Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak during his career as a politician, demonstrates this. He promised political reforms, free elections and economic stability. After being elected, he disregarded his former commitments, and instead, ruled Egypt with an authoritarian ontology. Instead, what he had created was pure chaos—rampant corruption, lack of representation, and vigorous rebellion. This is a one of many examples that reliance on superficial qualities has had a truly devastating impact on societies.
These days, it seems as if politicians are the most talked about people on the news. It seems as if everyday there is a new “breaking news story” involving a politician or important figure. From the sex scandals of former President Bill Clinton and former New York Counilman Anthony Weiner to the extortion of representative Rod Blagovich, it remains indisputable that politicians have ulterior motives to which they present to public. Politicians tend to hide a metaphorical mask of warmth and perfection hiding the true interior of cold heartlessness bent only on the ends, never evaluating the means.