I was thinking recently about how South Korea's prime minister resigned over the slow response to the tragic ferry sinking.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/26/world/asi … p-sinking/

I was also thinking how, I don't remember the last time a US politician, let alone US president, has taken responsibility for much of anything! It seems to me that Korean politicians have much more integrity than the politicians here in the US. Of course, I don't know much about Korean politics, and as bad as things are here in the US I would still argue it's much better than many parts of the world (such as Russia for example). Still, photos like this

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-vi … hake-shack

make me believe that our president has no integrity. Yeah, he's trying to be "cool" or whatever, but it doesn't vibe well with me. Anyway, I'm not trying to start a political debate (although those can be fun), but thought I'd like to get other people's perspectives.

Politics is sans integrity. Lately, I've certainly seen more honor demonstrated by Asians than other races when they cause great harm to their country (i.e. paycheck cuts, suicide, etc.). In America you get bonuses for destroying your company. Remember those banker assholes (quite politically connected) like that JP Morgan CEO destroying his home with tennis balls with his family after doing massive damage to the US economy? These guys get away all the time. And we let them.

Help me understand - How does sliding on a counter make the president seem to have no integrity? Presidents can't have small moments of fun now (captured in a picture it can make that fun look like it lasted forever)? Is that it?

The president, just like the pope and the queen & princes and everyone else in power, is trying to be seen as "one of the people". The diminished social distance heavily contrasts with the increasing income distance. In the people of power reside the most despicable people. (The disappointment of thinking the establishment actually cares for you instead of screwing you over is always disheartening. The president is an actor; morals are not the question anymore. But all that grey hair from the pressure of the job is certainly not an act.) I think this has scary implications for future president behavior. US presidents will never resign. The American people have resigned though.

some quote:

I've had the misfortune of becoming more interested in politics over the past couple years and I've come to the following conclusions:

1. They're all sleazeballs.
2. They're all morons.
3. They're all talk (but ironically, they all lack the ability to answer basic questions)
4. Their egos never allow them to admit they're wrong.
5. They would probably have their own mothers killed if it meant one extra vote for them, come election time.
6. It's all a bunch of partisan nonsense, which makes it so no one can get anything useful done, even if it means holding the country hostage.
7. The US is screwed.

I've kind of etched out a stance of being right-center, but it's because I think one side is simply worse than the other. They're both garbage, but considering where I am job-wise (secure, but looking to move up), I feel the GOP in power is better for jobs and business overall. The Democrats take from the rich and give to the poor, but they don't have anything to offer the middle class (and I feel Ben Bernanke saved them from experiencing hell in the financial markets with quantitative easing, as Obama and company had no answers for it). That said, whoever coined the phrase "legitimate rape" in the GOP deserves to be shot.

I think Congress' approval rating is around 10-12% right now. That tells you everything you need to know.

Man, don't even get me started on politics... especially small town politics.

My father basically got back-stabbed by everyone else on the town council two years ago because he actually had a mind of his own.

Of course, I'm not going to act like my father was guilt free because he had a very erroneous "no one will mess with me" attitude and guess what, people messed with him and they still look for any reason to screw him over... including that (expletive) $500 fine I got for littering last year when some trash blew out my car window one night. (Note to self: DO NOT pay for food with a debit card and give a-holes evidence in the form of a receipt).

My father made some very bad decisions. He didn't do everything by the book. He literally gave the people he pissed off all the ammo they needed. He is a very flawed man and I actually kind of hate him because of it.

However, I hate the town and the people who live in it more. I don't think I'll ever understand why he ever wanted to help such a hellhole of a town when he barely knows anything about his own (expletive) family. That probably describes A LOT of politicians. My dad may have been a little more genuine but he was still vain.

I've never said this to anyone in my family, but from a personal point of view I think my father kind of deserved the dishonor that was placed upon him. However, in the end it doesn't mean anything. He didn't learn a damn thing and he's still an idiot who's main concern anymore is getting revenge on certain people.

Edit:

Anyways, sorry for getting so personal with this one... but when it comes to politics it's just a bunch of trash I want nothing to do with. Also, as cut throat as I was about my father I still love him... I just have no illusions about who he is anymore. I kind of wish I could go back to childhood when I thought my parents were infallible.