Empty Promises

Every four years or so, voting fever builds up to a crescendo in most democratic countries. All the different political parties frantically brush the cobwebs and dust off their stock of usual campaign promises (still unused from previous elections) and recycle them to try, yet again, to charm (or con) the voters into voting for them this time around.
Two friends one an ardent socialist, the other a committed capitalist were arguing.

“So,” challenged the capitalist, “if you had two houses, as a true socialist you should give me one, right? Would you?”
“Of course!”
“And if you had two BMWs, would you give me one?”
“Absolutely! That is the beauty of socialism”
“How about if you had two luxury yachts?”
“I’d give you one without hesitation!”
“Ok – and if you had two shirts, would you give me one?”
Long pause, “ . . . No . . .”
“No?”
“No.”
“Let me see if I understand you. If you had two houses you would give me one. If you had two fancy motorcars, you’d give me one. Even if you had two luxury yachts, you’d give me one. But if you had two lousy shirts you wouldn’t give me one?”
“No.”
“How come?”
“ . . . Because I’ve got two shirts.”

It’s so glib to promise something you don’t have, or something you have no real intention of delivering. Comedian George Burns once referred to a politician’s promises as “sleight-of-tongue” – and how right he was.
After four years of being all but invisible, they suddenly reappear a few months before an election, with broad smiles, a ring at our doorbell, a firm handshake and an arm around our shoulder. Suddenly, they are our best friend. Yeah, right.
Imagine how different – how much more splendid – our world would be if everyone just did this one simple thing . . . if we all kept our promises! Imagine if “your word is your bond” still really meant something, the way our parents taught us when we were young. The way you’re hopefully now teaching your own children today.
Imagine what a paradise the world could be if we held our politicians truly accountable for their election promises to put an end to crime, homelessness, joblessness, hunger and poverty.
But we don’t.
People around the world have become so used to politicians’ empty promises, we don’t really believe them for a second, even as we vote them in for another term of office. So, if the leaders of nations aren’t expected to keep their word, why should anyone else have to?
Very simple.
Countries are not made up solely of politicians. They are made up of everyday people like you and me. It is up to us, the people, to do everything we can to bring back a culture of integrity, honesty and trustworthiness into our family, corporate and public life.
And it is up to us to make absolutely certain the generations that follow are so imbued with this culture of integrity they cannot think any other way. Maybe then . . . one day . . . we may have politicians who actually keep their promises.