Political Promises

I find it sad and funny that everyone has come to recognize a political promise from a politician as mostly worthless.  Far too often have our politicians broken the promises they have made to their constituents.  Far too often have the breaking of these promises been solely for their personal gain and not for the sake of compromise.  I am open to the need for compromise in the realm of politics.  I fully recognize that all people are entitled to their own opinions and views when it comes to politics and that the very nature of getting people together to work out differences necessitates compromise if any agreements are to be reached. When it comes to ones principles it is much harder to compromise.  Indeed, I believe that there are principles that cannot be compromised.  Unfortunately both side of the political spectrum in our country will feel the same way, that they cannot compromise on their core principles.

Given this understanding of the need for compromise and the existence of principles that both sides feel cannot be compromised we often rationalize the breaking of political promises on the basis of compromise. It has even come to the point where we accept compromise on the principles we feel cannot be compromised to accept the small victory of gaining some political ground to hopefully move closer to our goals.  The hope is that we can slowly shift the views of those who oppose our core principles until the come closer to the point where they will accept our core principles.  This happens on both sides of the political spectrum.

Unfortunately the sad truth is that most political promises are not broken because of compromise but because of a politicians burning desire to be re-elected.  They care more about what it politically safe and than what is right.  It is truly sickening to see that those who are elected to serve the people and given the sacred trust to represent us care much more about serving themselves and securing power, fame and money.  I shouldn't say that I am surprised because I feel that almost anyone who seeks political office is in someway tainted by those desires.  That isn't how it should be but I feel that for the most part that is how it is today.

How should this change?  Any politician should re-assess his or her role and his or her title.  They should realize that they are elected as public servants.  They are elected to SERVE.  Serve the public and not themselves. Imagine if our politicians actually started to shift toward the role of public servants instead of self servants. This, I think, would mean that they would be willing to do things that are absolutely necessary but seen as political suicide.  I pray that our politicians will become true public servants.