PROMISES | 2005-05-27
The one thing everybody agrees on is that politicians don't keep their promises.
They couldn't be wronger.
Big-league politics consists ENTIRELY of promises and in the big leagues, a politician's word to another politicians is solid gold. They don't keep their promises to YOU.
Why should they? Politics is NOT a friendly game. It is a deadly serious battle for something much more important than money.
Power.
Money is like water. If you are dying of thirst, nothing but water matters. But if you have the money you need in power politics, it becomes a lesser consideration. Many a billionaire wishes he had power and can't get it.
In the House or Senate, once you commit to vote for something in return for promises and you don't come through, you're dead meat. A Senator would far rather break his word to a billionaire than to another senator.
So why do you think he cares about keeping his word to YOU? His promises are his stock in the biggest trade there is on earth.
You, the public, have no MEMORY. You are fascinated by the latest Big Story. A pro has a memory a mile long. You break a promise in the Big Leagues and you're on your way out.
If a man's only capital is his promises, he doesn't waste them on people who don't have a knack for a memory and a grudge.