The arrogance. It is the unavoidable sin of the politician. He comes with power: it is the shadow of him. Pride makes the politician feel superior to others. That is why he thinks of them and treats them with contempt, even more so if they work for him. He does not accept recommendations, much less advice. Who are the others, to advise you? His hearing becomes a sieve for uncomfortable realities. He does not tolerate being contradicted. He likes to have his name repeated. The glory of him. The origin of him. He believes that he will be immortal and transcendent because of his works and his phrases. But pride always keeps a bitter awakening when the power is gone.
The frivolity. Many temptations lie in wait for power: Parties, fashions, convincing bows. A politician must not succumb to the remote acts of the government. Nor treat serious matters lightly. To take good care of the language and not make jokes that can hurt those he governs. He must not give the impression of frivolously enjoying power. To be seen in exclusive restaurants, at parties, with expensive bicycles, flaunting fine clothes and watches. You govern for many underdogs. Exercise the government with decorum. Take politics seriously. Don’t pretend to be an influencer. Keep your hobbies, if they are ostentatious, for your private life.
Excessive mistrust. Do not believe that you have to distrust everyone, because you will end up distrusting yourself and yours. Mistrust must have limits and balances, since in the extreme it tends to paranoia. It makes you insecure and then vulnerable. Mistrust is the favorite dish of intrigue, delicacy of enemies and passing friends.
The self-delusion. Power will not give you virtues that you never had. Remember that power is fleeting mirage. You are, what is without power. Power is a rental suit. Tomorrow, after the party, you’ll have to return it. Don’t believe what the sycophants tell you. Better believe your enemies. They will tell you their truths.
The wrath. Politics is for those who have thick skin. If you get angry at the first provocation, if you can’t control your temper, you are a fragile politician. Politics is for people with temper, with passion yes, but with arrests to control the character. Angry will always lose.
Impatience. She is the daughter of errors. Things happen when they have to happen and not because you decide. A politician must be calculating. Cold. He must know that everything has its time. The processes of him. He must know how to wait. Chase the moment. Impatience is a kind of pride. The powerful believe they can move the world at will and at will. But time is nobody’s property. Impatience makes politicians authoritarian. And capricious.
He doesn’t decide. The main responsibility of a politician is to decide. That is what he was chosen for. The decision is not a calm summer afternoon. Deciding always has costs. There will always be someone who loses and is affected. Not deciding is one of the great sins of politics. It is the hallmark of comfortable politicians. From herd politicians, who are the majority.
Culiacán, Sinaloa, February 23, 2022. Twitter @guadalupe2003
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