"Politics, as the word is commonly understood, are nothing but corruptions"

This quote by Jonathan Swift recommends that politics, as it is frequently understood, is nothing more than corruption. He suggests that national politics is not concerning offering the public great, yet rather regarding offering the rate of interests of those in power. This is a negative view of politics, as it indicates that those in power are only thinking about their own gain, as opposed to the wellness of individuals they are expected to offer. Swift's quote indicates that politics is a game of power as well as influence, rather than a way of offering the public. It suggests that those in power are more worried about their very own passions than with the interests of the people they are meant to serve. This quote is a reminder that national politics must be about serving the public great, instead of the interests of those in power.