“I will make a solemn pledge that once elected…” etc, etc, etc. Talk is cheap. Speak on.
Why do politicians continue to make promises and could not, would not, or never intended to fulfil them? And this is democracy at its finest.
A two-party system primarily, it is the bastion of individual freedom and right of rule. This freedom of choice hailed by our society is relatively new. “The era of the Divine Rights of Kings” and dictators for life have been overturned in favour of the right of the people to rule themselves.
Candidates for representatives or leaders are attractive characters, carrying an agenda or a list of ideas, plans, projects, and promises to chart a better future for their citizens. Much like offering products to a salesman, electors sell their voters, offering a better economy, security, welfare, etc, differentiating themselves from other candidates and their promises.
In both cases such promises are largely unfulfilled.
Yet our world does not weary of believing in their leaders. Repeatedly they tell us at great length how rosy the road lies ahead, only to be run over by deceptiveness and delusions.
Do they tire of pledges and promises? With no apologies or objections they soon forget, and their portals are but blind alleys leading nowhere.
The more eloquent candidate wins the seat of power, often resulting in chaos rather than harmony. Language is but an inestimable gift, swaying the listener with empty words without action. For politicians it can be a perilous path.
A glaring example is the 44th president of the US, Barack Obama, who talked the talk, not walked the walk, leaving us with wars and terror, yet awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, alas without peace.
The great principle of life is that we are apt to forget. Following a shameful scandal of adultery, immorality, falsehoods, slander and impeachment, Bill Clinton was elected for a second term — and the people did cry, “give me more.”
It is evident that democracy is far from being whole. It both errs and ails, so are all other systems of government, except for its constant aggrandising of its bravado exaggeration. As they say, democracy is nothing more than an exercise “in puffery and propaganda”.
If we generally point to the US, it is because we look upon it as the leading country of the Free World; their political campaigns are interminable, their candidates spectacular. Like other politicians, their leaders lie. Political scientists agree: “Broken promises are likely to be the rule, not the exception.”
What if electors break their promises? Errant politicians seem above the law. With power on their side, you cannot punish or sue them. In most cases, you accept, forget, or wait for re-election time.
A 2017 study in the American Journal of Political Science find that conventionally politicians do not keep their promises except for a mere dozen who fulfil a 20-25 per cent of pledges.
According to the International Social Survey Programme, 21 countries average 20 per cent fulfilled promises, with Israel having the lowest percentage of eight per cent.
Nowadays, the eyes of the world are focused on the war of US campaigns between the two parties. With just over two months, and with the economy in dire straits, which party will come on top?
All politicians lie to voters. Who will spend more money on advertisements, which one will have more charisma, who will be the better talker, the more convincing liar?
The irony is the fallen leader of one party was removed from office for inefficiency and yet is running for the same party, now defunct. How can the acting vice president try to become president of the defeated party? How could this be a promotion?
Political scientist Josiah Lippincott, “You are the VP now, why aren’t you working on these issues? Why are you going against the administration of the VP? Genius.” Do the people ask?
Lest censuring only the Democratic Party, let us remember that the most historic broken promise was uttered by Republican president George H Bush when he loudly proclaimed: “Read my lips. No new taxes,” then he raised taxes.
Words can at times come to haunt you.
The Trial of Broken Promises, a 2022 book by political analyst Fritz Bezel, describes the crushing broken promise of the Cold War, which supposedly came to a peaceful end. The competition between capitalism and communism “to expand their social contract continued as they raced to deliver their people a better life”. Rather than make promises, they break them. Between two ideologies the people suffer.
Whoever said “never again” made the tragedy of the century. Since the establishment of the UN organisation in 1945, nine genocides happened under its nose.
Violent wars are raging between Ukraine and Russia on the one hand and the daily massacre of the innocent citizens of Gaza continues without letup.
No check, no lull, no peace, and even the International Criminal Court lack any enforcement power.
The conundrum at the UN is one simple veto power at the Security Council. Only one of five men create havoc. Those are the impostors, who fraudulently cry peace and make war. Theirs are the same country men who once initiated the mighty UN to guarantee equality, justice and peace. Instead, they are wielding their power to allow hunger, war crimes, and genocide.
Fraudulent politicians live in luxury and splash their mud on hopes and dreams.
Broken promises by lying men all fall down.
“Indeed, indeed Repentance oft before/ I swore, but was I sober when I swore?”
Omar Khayyam (1048-1131)
* A version of this article appears in print in the 22 August, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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