Why “All Politicians Are Corrupt” Is How You Get Played

When I was in grade school, a teacher once told us that “All politicians do it — Nixon got caught is all.” Even at that tender age, I knew that was specious and lazy thinking. The idea that “all politicians are crooks” or “all the same” is a defeatist and lazy perspective. Worse, it creates a permission structure for actual corrupt politicians to “crime away” without fear of accountability. Thinking this way gets you played because it discourages meaningful civic engagement and allows corruption to thrive unchecked.

It Excuses Corruption Instead of Fighting It

When people believe all politicians are corrupt, they stop distinguishing between honest leaders and those who are truly unethical. This indifference creates an environment where corrupt politicians can operate with impunity, knowing the public won’t hold them accountable because “everyone’s doing it.”

Consider the contrast between politicians like Senator Paul Wellstone, who maintained consistent ethical standards throughout his career, and those who have faced multiple corruption charges. When we fail to acknowledge these differences, we lose our ability to reward integrity and punish misconduct.

By assuming corruption is inevitable, citizens fail to challenge or expose wrongdoing, effectively enabling it. History shows that corruption flourishes most in environments where it goes unchallenged — whether in ancient Rome or modern democracies.

It Discourages Civic Engagement

This mindset fosters apathy and disengagement from politics. If all politicians are perceived as equally bad, why bother voting, advocating for reform, or participating in democratic processes?

Voter turnout statistics tell a compelling story: regions with high political cynicism consistently show lower participation rates. This creates a dangerous vacuum where only the most partisan or self-interested voices remain in the conversation.

In reality, democracy relies on active participation to hold leaders accountable and push for better governance. The civil rights movement, women’s suffrage, and other transformative changes didn’t happen because people threw up their hands in…