Candidates + Pledges = My promise to you

Hello dedicated readers.

Let me take a moment to address the issue of the candidate pledge.

Wait. Not that kind of pledge. I'm talking the kind of pledge candidates make to pander to various special interest and single interest groups. There's the no tax increase pledge, there's the no more tax cuts pledge, there's the save marriage pledge, there's the free sombrero's to the Dutch pledge, etc, etc, etc.

You may be thinking, 'What's the harm in an itty-bitty pledge?' - especially if it is something a given candidate is likely to support anyways? Let me tell you. Grown up, adult, rational politics involves making compromises, sometimes tough compromises, sometimes scorchingly painful compromises for not only the good of your district, but for the nation, and quite possibly the world. If you go around making pledges to any group that waves some votes or a campaign contribution check in front of you, you end up painting yourself into a corner before you are even elected.

So, I make this final pledge to you and anyone who might support any future runs for office that I attempt.

I will make one oath, and one pledge. I will take the oath of office with the utmost seriousness. I will also pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.*

*I use the version of the Pledge of Allegiance used by all the brave Americans who fought in WWII and defeated fascism. If it was good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

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Daryl Northrop