Last week, the media discovered many of former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s secrets: a past affair, a love child, and an unwitting wife.
The world watched as what was once known to be a happy marriage quickly crumbled under the weight of betrayal and lies. Initial reactions ranged from shock to disappointment.
Schwarzenegger has been out of office since the beginning of January, yet the media has dedicated an absurd amount of time to telling his story. Why do Americans care so much? The answer is simple: politicians are celebrities.
Gone are the days when politicians are solely known for their political beliefs; our definition of politics has expanded to include what goes on in the bedroom.
Reading about their faults and weaknesses is as fulfilling as gushing over celebrities’ work out routines and romances. This has to do with more than our society’s obsession with the famous.
Personal lives often accurately reflect one’s character and even work ethic. Politicians that can regularly lie to their families with ease can do so to their constituents. They simply can’t be counted on to tell the truth.
Politicians shouldn’t necessarily be held to higher moral standards. They should, however, be held accountable for their actions. We trust them to fight for us and determine what is right.
The inability to keep a promise to a loved one, especially one as significant as staying faithful, raises questions about one’s integrity.
People who go into politics regularly test ethical boundaries. They believe their celebrity status gives them the right to abuse their power. They forget what it means to be humble and gracious, or worse, simply do not know. American politics needs fewer villains and more altar boys.