Perhaps I am naive, but I believe that trust is a most important aspect of human relations and society. In my view, my ability to rely on others and to have expectations about how others will consistently conduct themselves is foundational to our relationships and our well-being.
If someone lies to me, trust has been broken. If someone drives on the wrong side of the road, or runs a red light, trust has been broken. If I buy something guaranteed to perform in a certain way and it doesn’t, trust has been broken. If someone says they will do something, then doesn’t, trust has been broken.
It’s not that trust can’t be restored, if a sound and plausible reason is given for failing to be trustworthy in a particular instance. Perhaps I’m lied to because they couldn’t share the truth in the presence of someone else. Perhaps it was an honest mistake in operating that car. Or perhaps there was a defect in the particular instance of a product. Or something more important interfered with someone’s ability to do the thing they said they’d do. But without a sound and plausible reason for whatever the shortcoming, and given promptly, trust is easily diminished.
I expect, quite reasonably I think, that people will generally obey our laws. I am not naive enough to believe that people will not exceed driving speeds, or that some laws may not apply evenly in all instances, or that some laws need to be revisited. But I can’t operate comfortably in this world without a level of trust in all others that they will generally comply with our laws and the norms we have, collectively, created.
There are many words I associate with trust – integrity, honesty, truth, reliability, consistency, compassion. I have integrity if I do what I say that I’ll do, or not do what I say I will not do. I am honest if I accurately describe things like my experiences or my desires. I am truthful when I do not lie, embellish, or diminish what I describe. I am reliable when I have integrity, but also when I continue to be there despite a changing situation. I am consistent when my behaviour and responses fall within an expected range. I show compassion when I try to help others, but also when I help to prevent harm from coming to others.
I worked in the government for most of my career. I was taught by various more senior people that we, as civil servants, had a duty to be truthful, helpful, and fair to those with whom we interacted. I recall an instance where a staff member had failed in some manner in this regard. Another staff member had told me that it was “Just business!” in response to my concern. Both aspects were absolutely opposed to everything I had learned and believed about how civil servants should act. I always did, and still do, believe that civil servants should display the highest level of trustworthiness and that anything short of that should be grounds for dismissal. After all, government employees are employed by the public and are there to provide services to and for the public. There should be no reason to doubt that all government officials and staff can be trusted by the public.
Which brings me to politicians. I would not knowingly vote for someone who tells blatant lies. Unfortunately, politicians often seem to push the edges of truth and some even lie outright in order to get people to vote for them. They sometimes promise things that are impossible to deliver. Part of me believes that politicians cannot be trusted and I think that’s my starting point. I am always skeptical of what I hear from them. Here they are in office or trying to take office to oversee and direct the myriad government roles, and I’m stuck with a fundamental question about whether or not I can trust them.
When I think about trust and politicians, I question several things. Is what they say the truth? Have they displayed any integrity – by doing what they said they would, or not doing what they said they wouldn’t? Will they work in my and our best interests? Does their vision of how the many aspects of society should operate align with my own? Is there any sense that this politician is withholding details of a secret agenda? Has this politician got any experience in government? Has this politician got a proven track record? Has this politician developed a complete platform or are they focused on just one or two hot-button issues? Do they recognize the fundamental purpose of government being to improve our collective quality of life?
Of course, I have reasons for wanting to be able to trust the government and politicians. If I were entirely free, perhaps I would have no reliance on government, but the world without government would be a scary place. I am not entirely free and there are many government services on which I can and do, fortunately, constantly rely – water supply, sewerage, roads, parks, health services, social services, police services, the courts, emergency services, and so forth. There are laws, rules, and norms that our society requires to operate well and which are established and enforced by our governments. I not sure that everyone realizes just how intertwined our lives are with our government and its myriad roles at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. So, to me, trust in government is hugely important here.
This is really just a start on the matter of trust, but more later….
Thanks, Jim.