Campaign Promises
"Vote for the man who promises least, he'll be the least disappointing."
Bernard Baruch
Baruch nailed it, but it's a pessimistic view and government already suffers from an excess of pessimism. We've accepted the view that campaign promises are merely part of the drill, something not to be taken seriously and certainly not anything to be actually expected. But if not that, then what? If a man is not measurable by what he says, then what guidelines are there during his term of office, other than the blind hope that he'll struggle through somehow and not sell us into war or depression or be indicted for yet another crime of omission.
It sometimes seems we've given reality over completely to theatre, as you and I nod and cheer and vote for a candidate who promises to cut our taxes and reduce the deficit. With what? Keep our lifestyle, pay less down on the credit cards and end up owing less? It can't be done. Yet we never question the rhetoric, just stand by and blink our trusting eyes as th…