Politicians and Their Promises: Time for a Reality Check

Politicians often make big promises to win votes, but many of these promises never come true. This is a problem because voters are left disappointed, and politicians face no consequences. Some people think that limiting campaign donations could make elections fairer, but others argue that this limits free speech. However, with no limits on spending, politicians can say whatever they want to get elected, even if they have no plan to follow through. Take Donald Trump, for example. He promised that Mexico would pay for a border wall, but it never happened. He also said he could end the war in Ukraine quickly and cut energy prices in half, but neither of these things came true. In Alaska, Governor Mike Dunleavy promised to give the biggest Permanent Fund dividend ever, but he never even had a plan to do it. And the North Slope natural gas pipeline project has been promised for years, but it's still not happening. Politicians also often say they support education but then vote against funding for schools. This is confusing and frustrating for voters. So, what can be done about this? One idea is to fine politicians for breaking their promises. This would not limit free speech but would make politicians think twice before making false promises. The fines could be based on how much the lie cost the public, with smaller fines for the first offense and bigger fines for repeated lies. Of course, politicians could use campaign donations to pay these fines, but at least there would be some accountability. Voters can always vote politicians out of office in the next election, but that can take years. Fines for broken promises would provide a quicker way to hold politicians accountable.