Developing Your Political Intuition

Or if you prefer how not to be conned by a politician. This advice is from my own thoughts and from a Portfolio.com article. Although their advice is for business situations it can be applied to politicians too.

1. Beware of any politician that pits one group of Americans against another group of Americans. For instance pitting the wealthy against everyone else. Or scapegoating banks, oil companies, etc. This is an old technique that only benefits the politician and ends up hurts everyone else. 
2. Beware of any politician that won't state what his/her beliefs are. Or won't state where he stands on the issues. The candidate wants you to project your beliefs on him. 
3. Beware of any politician that uses meaningless or ambiguous slogans or terms. For example, "Change we can believe in", "Vertical politics", "Economic justice", "Climate change" to name a few. Question what these terms mean.
4. Distrust any candidate that uses personal attacks instead of debating the issues. The candidate does not know the issues or cannot defend his position. So, they try to shut down the debate. The personal attack is the last refuge of a person who has lost the argument. Negative political ads are okay as long as they are true. No candidate will put up an ad that puts him in a bad light. It's just human nature.
5. Be leery of any politician that is arrogant or egotistical. They have a tendency not to listen to their constituency. They also have a tendency to be oppressive.
6. Distrust any candidate that says they will fulfill all your needs with no or little cost to you. If they do there will be a big cost. Or they won't fulfill it at all. They don't really care about your needs. They just want want your vote. 
7. Beware of any candidate that tells you what you want to hear whether or not the candidate believes what he/she is saying. Again, they are trying to get your vote. But if they believe what they are saying that is different. Ronald Reagan said America was a shining city on a hill. It made Americans feel good about their country, but President Reagan believed it.
8. Watch when what they say does not match their body language. Both should be in sync with one another. If both are not then they are being deceptive. 
9. Distrust any politician relies too much on emotional/psychological appeals rather than trying to use a logical argument to persuade you. They are attempting to manipulate you. Plus you cannot argue against an emotional appeal. How do you argue with someone who says I love rainy days?

10. Distrust any politician that does not have faith in an individual's judgment. Ask yourself why is this politician's judgment is any better than yours? He can make a mistake just as well as you can. He or she is not your parent. (This point kind of goes along with point 5.)

11. Distrust any politician that blatantly disregards the Constitution. These politicians think they are above the law of the land. They think the Constitution is a "living document" and can write any law irregardless if it Constitutional or not.