Promises, Promises...Campaign reform.

mikepegg44

So after Bachman promised that if she was elected to the student council there would be no more homework...uhh...I mean promised 2.00 gas if she was elected, it got me thinking. Campaign promises are a joke. If there was ever a need for campaign reform it is this...baseless promises. Incumbents have a natural advantage over challengers in most elections, what do you think about the idea of adding a "promise grade" on the ballot? Have an independent, CBO type office measure and grade the incumbents on previous campaign promises. I realize it would be difficult, but I still think it could be doable. Something needs to be done. People who are supporters of a particular candidate never seem to remember the crazy ass things they say...but can remember to the date the promises of their challengers...i think anyone who holds a national office should have a letter grade or percentage of promises kept. This may finally make it so the expectations of the country become realistic over time. And might make politicians either work harder to remember the promises they made, or work harder to keep them. Anyway What do you think?

Anyone got any other campaign reform ideas besides simply who can fund them(which needs all sorts of reform)

Godfather.

I like your idea, Buchman will never be elected but...... I agree all these yahoo's running for office any office.. should be held accountable for their promises and if after the first year their promises are not at least in motion then there should be a special election to determin their position or at least as you said a score card of some sort to limit their activity in government if they do not deliver good on their promises...,damn it something should be done "READ MY LIPS" no more bullshit !!! and no more empty promises!!
cool thread I can't wait to hear so of the idea's from the train.

Godfather.

inlet13

mikepegg44 wrote:

So after Bachman promised that if she was elected to the student council there would be no more homework...uhh...I mean promised 2.00 gas if she was elected, it got me thinking. Campaign promises are a joke. If there was ever a need for campaign reform it is this...baseless promises. Incumbents have a natural advantage over challengers in most elections, what do you think about the idea of adding a "promise grade" on the ballot? Have an independent, CBO type office measure and grade the incumbents on previous campaign promises. I realize it would be difficult, but I still think it could be doable. Something needs to be done. People who are supporters of a particular candidate never seem to remember the crazy ass things they say...but can remember to the date the promises of their challengers...i think anyone who holds a national office should have a letter grade or percentage of promises kept. This may finally make it so the expectations of the country become realistic over time. And might make politicians either work harder to remember the promises they made, or work harder to keep them. Anyway What do you think?

Anyone got any other campaign reform ideas besides simply who can fund them(which needs all sorts of reform)

I think this is an awful idea, no offense. This "CBO type" office is not immune from bias. We don't need an office to tell us if a politician has made empty promises. Look at George Bush Sr with "no new taxes". Pretty much everyone knew about that.

I think there's absolutely nothing wrong with politicians making unrealistic promises. Why? Because that's what ALL OF THEM do. I think there's something wrong with people who 100% buy into politicians empty promises and I also think there's something wrong with people who think the general public (in large droves) is stupid enough to buy into empty promises.

As for Bachmann, I know why she said that. She's thinking increase supply, the price will fall (basic econ). Problem is, there's so many other factors (unrest in the middle east, a hurricane) that could arise that that may never happen. Regardless, she "could" be right and she "could" be wrong. I'd say it's unlikely, but a hell of a lot more likely than no homework.

mikepegg44

inlet13 wrote:

mikepegg44 wrote:

So after Bachman promised that if she was elected to the student council there would be no more homework...uhh...I mean promised 2.00 gas if she was elected, it got me thinking. Campaign promises are a joke. If there was ever a need for campaign reform it is this...baseless promises. Incumbents have a natural advantage over challengers in most elections, what do you think about the idea of adding a "promise grade" on the ballot? Have an independent, CBO type office measure and grade the incumbents on previous campaign promises. I realize it would be difficult, but I still think it could be doable. Something needs to be done. People who are supporters of a particular candidate never seem to remember the crazy ass things they say...but can remember to the date the promises of their challengers...i think anyone who holds a national office should have a letter grade or percentage of promises kept. This may finally make it so the expectations of the country become realistic over time. And might make politicians either work harder to remember the promises they made, or work harder to keep them. Anyway What do you think?

Anyone got any other campaign reform ideas besides simply who can fund them(which needs all sorts of reform)

I think this is an awful idea, no offense. This "CBO type" office is not immune from bias. We don't need an office to tell us if a politician has made empty promises. Look at George Bush Sr with "no new taxes". Pretty much everyone knew about that.

I think there's absolutely nothing wrong with politicians making unrealistic promises. Why? Because that's what ALL OF THEM do. I think there's something wrong with people who 100% buy into politicians empty promises and I also think there's something wrong with people who think the general public (in large droves) is stupid enough to buy into empty promises.

As for Bachmann, I know why she said that. She's thinking increase supply, the price will fall (basic econ). Problem is, there's so many other factors (unrest in the middle east, a hurricane) that could arise that that may never happen. Regardless, she "could" be right and she "could" be wrong. I'd say it's unlikely, but a hell of a lot more likely than no homework.

No offense taken man, that is why I just I asked for opinions...when I make my first billion and have free reign on sending op-ed pieces to newspapers I want to have my idea honed to the criticism it will garner.

2.00 gas just feels like one of those type of promises. She has no control over the price of gas...increasing the supply will not directly lower the price...as the price of oil seems to have a very small affect on the price going down. But there can really be no bias in whether or not someone did not fulfill their campaign promises. No new taxes comes to mind...clearly false...unfortunately because our media fails the people, and our people fail the democracy the politicians get away with it... the newest one that seems to be forgotten is the Obama promised to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term.
The problem is, inlet, that the stupid people who buy in 100% to what a politician is saying are deciding elections. There are millions of them...if they need to be reminded on a ballot of who is in office, they should also be reminded on the day of voting what that person has done in terms of fulfilling their promises. if they want a good score they better be realistic. It may just keep them a little more realistic...and more realistic promises would have a positive affect on the peoples' perception of politicians. how's that for alliteration...

Godfather.

inlet13 wrote:

mikepegg44 wrote:

So after Bachman promised that if she was elected to the student council there would be no more homework...uhh...I mean promised 2.00 gas if she was elected, it got me thinking. Campaign promises are a joke. If there was ever a need for campaign reform it is this...baseless promises. Incumbents have a natural advantage over challengers in most elections, what do you think about the idea of adding a "promise grade" on the ballot? Have an independent, CBO type office measure and grade the incumbents on previous campaign promises. I realize it would be difficult, but I still think it could be doable. Something needs to be done. People who are supporters of a particular candidate never seem to remember the crazy ass things they say...but can remember to the date the promises of their challengers...i think anyone who holds a national office should have a letter grade or percentage of promises kept. This may finally make it so the expectations of the country become realistic over time. And might make politicians either work harder to remember the promises they made, or work harder to keep them. Anyway What do you think?

Anyone got any other campaign reform ideas besides simply who can fund them(which needs all sorts of reform)

I think this is an awful idea, no offense. This "CBO type" office is not immune from bias. We don't need an office to tell us if a politician has made empty promises. Look at George Bush Sr with "no new taxes". Pretty much everyone knew about that.

I think there's absolutely nothing wrong with politicians making unrealistic promises. Why? Because that's what ALL OF THEM do. I think there's something wrong with people who 100% buy into politicians empty promises and I also think there's something wrong with people who think the general public (in large droves) is stupid enough to buy into empty promises.

As for Bachmann, I know why she said that. She's thinking increase supply, the price will fall (basic econ). Problem is, there's so many other factors (unrest in the middle east, a hurricane) that could arise that that may never happen. Regardless, she "could" be right and she "could" be wrong. I'd say it's unlikely, but a hell of a lot more likely than no homework.

wow man..I think that there's something wrong with politicion that straight lie to the voters to get a vote and in my humble ipinion that need's to be stoped,most voters take a politicions promises to heart proof of that is obama's Promise to make change we can believe in and every other president before him ,just because that has been the way is's done for years don't mean it's right, but like I said that's just my humble opinion.

Godfather.

BinauralJam

The ONLY reason i voted for Obama was because he said he would bring the troops home....should be any day now.

inlet13

Godfather. wrote:

inlet13 wrote:

mikepegg44 wrote:

So after Bachman promised that if she was elected to the student council there would be no more homework...uhh...I mean promised 2.00 gas if she was elected, it got me thinking. Campaign promises are a joke. If there was ever a need for campaign reform it is this...baseless promises. Incumbents have a natural advantage over challengers in most elections, what do you think about the idea of adding a "promise grade" on the ballot? Have an independent, CBO type office measure and grade the incumbents on previous campaign promises. I realize it would be difficult, but I still think it could be doable. Something needs to be done. People who are supporters of a particular candidate never seem to remember the crazy ass things they say...but can remember to the date the promises of their challengers...i think anyone who holds a national office should have a letter grade or percentage of promises kept. This may finally make it so the expectations of the country become realistic over time. And might make politicians either work harder to remember the promises they made, or work harder to keep them. Anyway What do you think?

Anyone got any other campaign reform ideas besides simply who can fund them(which needs all sorts of reform)

I don't think any politician is really straight-up lying. That's why I think concept is kinda a non-starter. They probably do desire and would work to do what they pledged on the campaign trail. It's just they did not know that something's can't be done once in power.

I think this is an awful idea, no offense. This "CBO type" office is not immune from bias. We don't need an office to tell us if a politician has made empty promises. Look at George Bush Sr with "no new taxes". Pretty much everyone knew about that.

I think there's absolutely nothing wrong with politicians making unrealistic promises. Why? Because that's what ALL OF THEM do. I think there's something wrong with people who 100% buy into politicians empty promises and I also think there's something wrong with people who think the general public (in large droves) is stupid enough to buy into empty promises.

As for Bachmann, I know why she said that. She's thinking increase supply, the price will fall (basic econ). Problem is, there's so many other factors (unrest in the middle east, a hurricane) that could arise that that may never happen. Regardless, she "could" be right and she "could" be wrong. I'd say it's unlikely, but a hell of a lot more likely than no homework.

wow man..I think that there's something wrong with politicion that straight lie to the voters to get a vote and in my humble ipinion that need's to be stoped,most voters take a politicions promises to heart proof of that is obama's Promise to make change we can believe in and every other president before him ,just because that has been the way is's done for years don't mean it's right, but like I said that's just my humble opinion.

Godfather.