April 15, 2025

Politicians [are] a set of men who have interests aside from the interests of the people, and who, to say the most of them, are, taken as a mass, at least one long step removed from honest men. I say this with the greater freedom because, being a politician myself, none can regard it as personal.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), American Republican politician and president, speech in the Illinois legislature, 11 January 1837, Jay p.224

Could you ever be as honest as Abe?

The one-step removal is a natural necessity. The fact is you cannot put together a majority of any set of politicians—sufficient to win a critical vote—without trimming the truth a bit here and tucking it in somewhat there.