The Honest Politician
There was a man, whose reputation in the land was strong;
In winter and in summer, honest as the day was long.
So all his friends advised him that before his time was spent
He'd have to run for office and go into Parliament.
On honesty and openness this fellow then campaigned;
From telling lies or twisting truths he without fail refrained.
He told the people what he thought they all wanted to hear;
He'd tell his honest policies to all who'd lend an ear.
He said were he in government, then things would have to change;
He'd made a careful study and the laws he'd rearrange;
He'd have to cut some salaries and trim the public spend;
And half the public servants to the dole queue he would send.
He said that we relied too much on borrowings from banks
And we would be in trouble when the housing market tanks.
We'd all have to work harder, for we reap but what we sow,
And all restrictive legislation, out the door he'd throw.
And lots of other policies he said he'd put in place;
The nation would be better off - we'd be back in the race;
Give help to honest industry - he wouldn't sell the farm;
He'd boost the military so we'd all be safe from harm.
The people listened to him and his honesty admired;
They said his goals were admirable and what they too desired,
But they had all grown used to scams, pork barreling and lies;
Some wondered if this honesty was really very wise.
Opponents, unfamiliar with this new found idea - truth,
Just winked and nodded - said they'd see him at the voting booth.
He's still around, he hasn't changed, by all he's still respected;
He got few votes, we needn't fear, he didn't get elected.
poem by Dennis N. O'Brien
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
In all honesty
In all honesty
today has been
something out of the ordinary.
In all honesty
I could do with some christmas carols
and a mug of hot chocolate.
In all honesty
walking on the road without a sidewalk
is more exhilerating than anything else.
In all honesty
watching fog settle over the road
can bring tears to anyones eyes.
In all honesty
you're the only person
I'm mostly honest to.
In all honesty
this poem
is entirely honest.
poem by Erica Francis
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Though it is tough
Though it is tough Few tell lies, honesty is found Majority are liars It is much more honorable to be honest Honesty is the best legacy The narrow path leads through narrow path of honesty and so trouble gets far away from our domain We see and acknowledge it is true
poem by Olayemi Ayo
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Whatever That Disconnect Is
There is 'something' about honesty,
People unfamiliar with it can not accept.
Maybe it is the unexpected directness of it.
Or...
The coming into contact with it.
And the mind is telling that person...
What is seen done and heard,
Is not for them meant.
'There has to be more to it?
It's too...
Revealing.
Too...
Real.
Too...
Mysterious.'
There is 'something' about honesty,
People unfamiliar with it can not accept.
Maybe it is the unexpected directness of it.
But...
Whatever that disconnect is,
People should prioritize in the doing of their best...
To get to know what being honest means.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Number One
Honesty is often admired.
And in privacy...
Those known to be that way,
Are more than welcomed.
But an honesty admired,
That becomes publicly outspoken...
Around others unfamiliar with it,
Can stun them and have them run.
Most people rather not be shown,
Associated with it.
Most people collectively,
Choose to be accepted.
And today no one wants to feel shunned.
Knowing until an approval of honesty,
Has yet to be done.
Since currently dishonesty for many is number one.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Honest Goodbyes
Sink with the tide
Rescue me if you like
I'll be leaving it all up to you
Think how we tried
It's o.k. to be lied to
As long as it's only by you
People say to me it's best that we've parted
'Cause you know I'm better alone
Don't explain to me how you're so broken hearted
I'm too busy mending my own
Ending each night with such honest goodbyes
Such honest goodbyes for the last time
Honest goodbyes only work once or twice
They work once or twice
Then the rest must be lies
Late ever night the colours fade from the sky
And the music is gone from the moon
Standing in line for what used to be mine
What use is the rhyme with no tune
People say to me it's best that we've parted
And nothing is carved out in stone
It's such a shame how we're back where we started
It's late now and time that we go
Ending each night with such honest goodbyes
Such honest goodbyes for the last time
Honest goodbyes only work once or twice
They work once or twice
Then the rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
song performed by by Bic Runga from Beautiful Collision
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Like Leaves On a Tree
There is so much honesty in truth.
Don't you think?
Once that is known...
It doesn't have to be shown.
One can see it.
Like leaves on a tree.
There is so much truth in honesty too!
Don't you think?
Some people don't believe this.
They percieve truth,
As something they can create.
Something they can change,
When they feel it is out of date.
Some people even lie.
This is true.
Some tell different colored ones...
Just to prove the 'real' ones,
Aren't what they tell to undo!
Some people embellish,
And exaggerate themselves.
Knowing with a consciousness,
Truth and honest...
Does not within them dwell.
They are the ones,
Who love to dance and sing around the bush.
Beat it a few times with assisted innocent looks.
Then expect to be forgiven...
To escape a punishment.
Like children told over and over,
Not to do something done.
But do...
And yet expect not to get caught,
When in clear view.
There is so much honesty in truth.
Don't you think?
Once that is known...
It doesn't have to be shown.
One can see it.
Like leaves on a tree.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Height Of Honesty
'Three friends once, in the course of conversation,
Touch'd upon honesty: 'No virtue better,'
Says Dick, quite lost in sweet self-admiration,
'I'm sure I'm honest;--ay--beyond the letter:
You know the field I rent; beneath the ground
My plough stuck in the middle of a furrow
And there a pot of golden coins I found!
My landlord has it, without fail, to-morrow.'
Thus modestly his good intents he told:
'But stay,' says Bob,' we soon shall see who's best,
A _stranger_ left with me uncounted gold!
But I'll not touch it; which is honestest?'
'Your honest acts I've heard,' says Jack, 'but I
Have done much better, would that all folks learn'd it,
Mine is the highest pitch of honesty--
I borrow'd an umbrella and--_return'd it!!
poem by Martin Farquhar Tupper
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I Owe It First To Myself To Be Honest
I owe it first to myself to be honest.
I use to believe it did not matter,
If I kept the depth of my feelings hidden.
But then I realized I had a wish,
To have at least one person unafraid...
To escape and leave behind their pretentions.
And today after doing it to strip myself free,
My ability to recognize honesty in others...
Is a feeling I get that is non-verbally expressed.
And I could care less,
Who accepts expressed pretentions!
I owe it first to myself to be honest.
I had been the last to know I'd been tricked,
By the foolishness of believing others had arrived.
To find myself deluded in the midst,
Of those too comfortable with the telling of lies.
I can now detect with my ears and eyes.
To leave my honesty disguised if I must.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My Expertise Is In Politics
There was a promise you made.
With the giving to the people,
Of your word you would keep...
Our interests kept as your priority.
Everything you said would be concised and clear.
Free of frivolity...
And you'd make your policies precise and sincere.
Letting people who elected you,
First to have your ear.
However...
As soon as you were sworn into office,
You quickly disappeared.
Do you have an explanation for this.
Please,
By all means.
Your response is what we wish to hear.
'Sure!
And...
You are most deserving.
My fellow countrymen...
Men, women and children alike.
Well...
It is like this,
You asked if I had an explanation?
Explanations I do not make.
My expertise is in politics.
What more did you expect?
That I would be as honest as those...
You helped me in my campaign to eliminate,
Are you kidding?
I have a reputation to protect.
Clear the way for my entourage, please.
Thank you.
And...
Good luck! '
But...
We elected you.
'See my press secretary.
We'll ensure each and everyone of you,
Receives a signed 8 by 10 glossy.'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Opening Joke
If I wanted to please everyone...
I'd tell them how fantastic and beautiful they are.
You know...
That stuff folks expect to hear.
Especially out in public.
But geeeesssshhh...
Glancing at this crowd...
I know I have to be honest.
Since I expect most of them,
Would be hearing it for the first time.
And I can see there are lots of folks been lied to...
Sittin' up in here!
You got another pair of sunshades?
And even more would think my honesty,
To be controversial, direct and humorless.
Delivered from the embittered lips,
Of a black man fighting back his anger.
How did truth and honesty,
Become associated with bitterness in the first place?
They get enough amusement anyway.
Some of that stuff that goes on today is so hysterical...
It goes on unacknowledged.
Don't worry!
I've come prepared with an opening joke about economics.
That should rivet them to their seats!
Especially the ones sitting in the front taking notes...
Accustomed to being in seminars.
'Folks...
The topic this evening will be,
'How to Barter and Ghettomize My Pretensions'
Some of you taking notes,
Will find the subject matter rewarding.
IF you already know how to boogey and 'git' down! '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Do You Think You're Honest?
Many times honesty becomes a
question of affordability. It is far
easier to be honest if you have
all that you need. Try being honest
when homeless, disenfranchised or
badly in need of food. You see...given the
time and circumstances...honesty
becomes a question affordability.
My Life...needs A Change...
Amidst the modern wrath,
honesty is a long forgotten path,
lies are floating in the air,
people just dont seem to care,
i seem to have lost our way,
i wonder if things will ever be okay.
Hearts are empty,
feelings are bitty,
minds are narrow,
thougts are shallow,
i am running on an endless road,
constantly to myself i goad.
In the midst of this scheol,
i wonder if i'll ever be cool,
i wonder if i'll ever shack,
will i be able to cover up what i lack,
there is a constant sense of pain,
and yet i go through it all again.
But there is still hope,
that perhaps i may be able to elope,
this place, this world, this feeling, these lies,
as still honesty within me tries,
yet somehow within it lives on,
trying to show how to hold on.
Soon there will be a day,
when yet again i'll be allay,
i'll have found that inner peace,
and shall be at ease,
the lies shall then galumph,
as honesty within us shall triumph....
poem by Ritika Abigail Masih
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Honesty verses loyalty
Loyalty is being honest to a person;
Honesty is being loyal to a cause.
Loyalty is being faithful
And honesty, being virtuous.
Kumbakarna was loyal;
Vibhishna was honest.
The world is run by loyalty
Rather than by honesty.
07.09.2009
[Kumbakarna and Vibhishna are yonger brothers of King Ravana in the Hindu epic Ramayana.]
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Whether Or Not You Are Honest With Me Now
You have allowed me to question your honesty,
For too long.
And for too long,
You have chosen to deceive.
Whether or not you are honest with me now,
Is not of an importance.
Not to me.
Nor will erase my apathy.
Or a priority that has increased,
To please my own needs.
With a total unconcerned,
About what it is you do.
Or caring less,
About what it is that is in the best of 'your' interest.
This is a fact.
Not an attitude.
For too long you have ignored my wellbeing.
With activities done by you to prove to me,
Your main objective,
Has been yourself.
And...
As times do change,
I have welcomed them.
You have allowed me to question your honesty,
For too long.
And for too long,
You have chosen to deceive.
Whether or not you are honest with me now,
Is not of an importance.
Not to me.
Nor will erase my apathy.
Or a priority that has increased,
To please my own needs.
I simply can not be stirred to excitement,
Over something that could have been shared...
By the both of us.
If you cared.
But you didn't.
And that...
You have made known as shown.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A child, from the time he can think, should think about all he sees, should suffer for all who cannot live with honesty, should work so that all men can be honest, and should be honest himself.
quote by Jose Marti
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ideal candidate
The face of politics we see
is not the truth. That lies below,
corruption and chicanery
exist but are not meant to show.
If you can fake sincerity
then you are just the man we want.
Improve our popularity
with your own brand of pious cant.
You portray honesty so well
the general public may accept.
The half truths and the lies you tell.
Your presentation is perfect.
It comes to me as no surprise
that politicians all tell lies.
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Leaves On The Line
Britain's debt hits a trillion pounds,
What we owe is rising fast,
The response from Cameron really astounds,
Everything's the fault of the past.
Youth unemployment hits a record high,
To the chancellors eternal shame,
His excuses would make a grown man cry
He claims their policies are not to blame.
Billions of pounds of new spyplanes are binned,
Aircraft carriers without one plane,
Our armed forces are being skinned,
Having no defence is utterly insane.
Utility bills are out of control,
As people are dying from the cold,
Culling the weak is this government's goal,
Be worried if you're disabled or old.
Inflation is over four per cent,
Another government pledge is broken,
But still the chancellor won't repent,
That statistic will remain unspoken.
The previous government caused it all,
They're responsible for all this fuss,
If you've got a problem give them a call,
It's got nothing to do with us.
It was all down to the winter snow,
Because it was so severe,
To the shops the nation couldn't go,
The weather had them living in fear.
Unemployment levels hit their highest for years,
Government policies didn't cause this mess,
It was the royal wedding that brought us to tears,
It's that which caused all our stress.
Our economy is now falling apart,
We've now entered another recession,
From their disastrous policies they will not depart,
They're giving us all depression.
Now it's the fault of the Eurozone,
Our austerity was caused by them,
If in doubt give them a phone,
As an excuse it's another gem.
All politicians are so alike,
They love to take but never give,
An honest one's similar to a lightning strike,
You'll never see one as long as you live.
We've heard their excuses every one,
Like their policies they're all in decline,
Our worry is that they have only begun,
What next,
‘' Leaves On The Line ‘'
Honest Men
Were just a stones throw
From burning hellfire
Does anybody know,
Where did all the heroes go?
Weve had our fill of
This gallery of scoundrels,
The leaders of the world,
Those power hungry liars
Rise up and sound the sirens,
Send out the searching powers,
All we need is a few good men
Send the s.o.s. and red alerts
All across the universe
Calling your honest men?
S.o.s. emergency,
Sinking fast and getting worse.
Wheres your honest men?
In some village, far away,
Or in a little town pub.
High on a mountain top
There must be an honest man
Calling all honest men
Throw out the tyrants,
The aged fat cats
Outlived their usefulness
They have led us to this mess
Make them answer,
Hold them to their promises,
And throw them in the street
If they wont tell the truth
S.o.s. and red alert
All across the universe,
Calling all honest men
S.o.s. emergency,
Sinking fast and getting worse,
Wheres your honest men?
To your stations,
Man the ramparts,
The barricades
We need new heroes urgently
We need a few good honest men
Calling all honest men
Calling all honest men
Call to him
He lives next door,
Across the street
On the upper floor.
Its our only hope we need him now
Send the s.o.s. and red alert,
All across the universe,
Calling all honest men
S.o.s. emergency,
Sinking fast and getting worse,
Wheres your honest men
Strike a blow,
Save the ship,
We need a few good honest men
Calling all honest men
Calling all honest men
Calling all honest men
S.o.s. across the universe
Wheres your honest
We need your honest
Calling all honest men
Calling out all over the world,
Wheres your honest men
Looking out all over the world,
We need your honest men
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Asked For This
You asked for this.
And every bit of what I have,
Is yours from me to be given.
You asked for this!
Oh yes,
You did.
We agreed to always between us,
Have honesty.
And my being honest,
You now wish...
I wouldn't easily be as free,
To share this honesty we agreed.
You asked for this!
Oh yes,
You did.
And now you murmur,
Between clinched teeth and twisted lips...
Your hips belong in a thong bathing suit.
And I say the wearing of that thong is wrong.
You just don't look good at all in it.
And if I suggested,
Your hips and chest block out the Sunset...
You declare me insensitive.
When it is only honesty from me to you I give.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Destiny!
Life is game of destiny and luck,
Itz not like spirint
Dat u will run hard and win,
Itz like carrom
Dsnt matter how hard working and expert u are,
When u hit striker on exact point, even den it can cm back from pocket until u time of destiny comes,
Sometime beginners hit blindly, but it goes on pocket.
Likewise beginners gets win...
Sameway people who steal n cheat till any heights,
are more respected y people n higher in society...
But a man who is doing truth n honesty are avoided by people.
One knows d reachest person of world
But not d most honest or poor ones.
So itz lyk a stage, watevr u act showoff is judged bt not by ur honesty...
People who cant act n showoff fake words are counted.
This is also true dat at last everything is going to balance,
For everythng v hav to pay
Who fly on others wings r thrown down.
Who comforts on others pain, r thrown to hell...
But when the time comes. Every dog has its own day.diffrence of times decide d end.
poem by Neha Poemlover
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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