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January 29, 2005
Campaign Promises Not Legally Binding
An Ontario judge has found that anyone who expect politicians to be accountable for their campaign promises is naive about the democratic system, after the Canadian Taxpayers Federation tried to sue the Ontario Liberal government for breaking their no new taxes campaign promise.
On the one hand, yes, you can't take a politician's word at face value, on the other, how are voters supposed to make informed decisions, if there is no accountability until the next election?
Comments
In defense of the politicians (and I hate to do this) campaign promises are based on false or incomplete information to begin with. Someone wanting to enter office can't possibly know the actual state of the "books". Upon entering power however, and doing some quick (not so quick) accounting, they discover that there's no way to come good on all their promises. So, is the answer to just say nothing at election time? A campaign slogan of "let's just wait and see" won't fly. So they'll continue to make promises and break promises because no one really knows what's going on until they're knee deep in it.
(oh, and as far as those already in office, who get re-elected and still break their promises...well, those guys are just liers.)
Posted by: ian at January 29, 2005 9:39 PM
True, politicians may not know the state of the books before coming into office, but should they make promises they don't know they can keep?
Posted by: Chris at January 30, 2005 2:16 AM
They don't know anything...only that they want to make a difference.
Posted by: ian at January 30, 2005 10:52 PM
I wonder what this judge would say about statements made by politicians who are already ensconced in office? Such as, say, the former Justice Minister:
http://trudeaupia.blogspot.com/2005_01_01_trudeaupia_archive.html#110700785193728428
Where I come from, Canada, a man's word is his bond.
Posted by: ryan at January 31, 2005 11:23 AM
Ryan, I think we both know the answer to that (after all, didn't Chretien promise to abolish the GST? http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSPolitics/chretien_bio.html)
Anyway, I think the judge wants to make us all aware that, unless we live in California, we're stuck with our elected officials for their full terms. Voter beware.
Posted by: Chris at January 31, 2005 10:36 PM