Lying Politicians -

Recently, Republican Representative Joe Wilson yelled out "You lie!" during President Barack Obama's televised speech to a joint session of Congress. Clearly this was an inappropriate statement in an inappropriate forum. But I’d like to talk about the larger issue. Do we have the right to confront our elected representatives when they lie to us the electorate? You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But it’s not necessarily the case.

During the 2003 provincial election here in Canada, Ontario Liberal party leader Dalton McGuinty promised as part of his election campaign “I will not raise taxes.” Mr. McGuinty even went so far as to sign a written pledge to that effect with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, in exchange for their support.

Mr. McGuinty was elected and became Premier of the Province of Ontario. He then went on to raise taxes. The Canadian Federation of Taxpayers took Mr. McGuinty and his government to court to enforce the written promise. The opinion of the Court is… elucidating. The judge ruled that although everyone hopes politicians and their parties keep their election promises, and even though this promise was in writing, [AND I QUOTE] "few people would consider that all of the promises made and pledges given [by politicians] constitute legally binding documents between the candidate and the electors to whom those promises or pledges were given."

He also pointed out that Mr. McGuinty was not the first politician to break a promise, and said it is up to voters, not the courts, to punish governments who do not keep their word. If citizens could take their politicians to court, the judge said "our system of government would be rendered dysfunctional. This would hinder, if not paralyze, the parliamentary system." So it looks to me, and apparently to the Judge, that politicians do lie to us. They’re apparently EXPECTED to lie, and, more importantly, they do so pretty much with impunity. Even if they put their promises in writing, they don’t have to be kept, and there’s no recourse until the next election. Nice. Is it any wonder that so many people think politicians are disingenuous?

I think politicians should be expected and REQUIRED to keep all written promises - and that includes campaign materials. There’s no such thing as an “informed electorate” when we don’t have the right to get the TRUTH about what candidates are really going to do if they’re elected,---- and hold them to it.

There’s a joke how can you tell when a politician is lying? His lips are moving.

Well, read MY lips: NO….MORE…..LIES.