"There is a certain satisfaction in coming down to the lowest ground of politics, for we get rid of cant and hypocrisy."What are your views on this...

This quotation is taken from one of Ralph Waldo Emerson's
much lesser known works -- an essay that he wrote about Napoleon.  Here is some more of
the passage -- it can help us understand and discuss what is being said
here:

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Bonaparte was the idol of common men because he
had in transcendent degree the qualities and powers of common men. There is a certain
satisfaction in coming down to the lowest ground of politics, for we get rid of cant and
hypocrisy. Bonaparte wrought, in common with that great class he represented, for power
and wealth,- but Bonaparte, specially, without any scruple as to the
means.

So what Emerson is
claiming here is that a politician like Napoleon is refreshing because he does not
pretend to be high-minded.  He is like a common person in that he does not try to
disguise what he wants -- he is openly trying to get power and
wealth.

I suppose that in our own day, we could compare
this to people's feelings about someone like Sarah Palin.  The idea here is that she,
unlike so many politicians, is not really trying to hide what she wants.  She is coming
out and saying what she wants in a straightforward way.

I
would argue that this is something that we should want in our politicians.  It would be
satisfying if they came out and said what they meant rather than trying to sound like
they agreed with everyone.  I do not know if anyone could get elected that way, but it
might get us started towards having more respect for politicians if they seemed
honest.

Please note that the word "cant" here does not mean
"cannot."  Instead, cant is something like a cliche or a canned saying that people use
without really meaning it.  That is why cant and hypocrisy go
together.