Imagine a world where politicians, like the rest of us, had to stick to what they said or face the consequences. It’s similar to how if we promise to bring food to the party and forget to, we can’t live it down for the next few months. What if a broken campaign promise came with something more impactful than public disappointment?
What if every promise a politician made had to be backed up by paperwork, fine print and maybe even a witness or two? A way to ensure advertising is truthful but for elected officials.
You’d have Political Compliance Officers (PCOs) who sit in the back of press conferences with clipboards. They’re the ones that would say something like, “Actually, Senator, that’s your third promise to lower gas prices this quarter. You’re going to need to file that paperwork under the “Deliverables” category.”
Voters would have rights too. Say you voted for someone who swore up and down they’d forgive your student loans. Three years go by and not a dime disappears. In this alternate America, you could take your case to small claims court. “Your Honor, he said full forgiveness in the debate. I brought the receipts. I’d like my money or a lifetime supply of ramen, whichever’s easier.”
Even campaign ads would have to change. Right now they’re just full of vague declarations like “I believe in America.” In this reality, every ad would end with a legal disclaimer: “The views expressed here may not reflect actual policy outcomes. Promises subject to change based on polling data, budget realities or sudden disinterest. Consult your local fact-checker before voting.”
It might sound silly, but part of me thinks it could help. It wouldn’t just hold people accountable. It would make candidates think before they speak and make us voters feel like our trust, our vote in them, is worthy.
We all break promises sometimes. Life happens. Still, when millions of people are counting on you, these false promises start to wear a little thin.
Would legally binding campaign promises fix everything? Of course not. It might move politics a little closer to a system where words mean something though.
