A nose for politics?

Good morning candidates. This is your wake-up call. You have only three months remaining to convince us your promises are more than a bunch of words strung together like a string of pearls, each bead a promise that more often than not goes unfulfilled.

You see, we don’t believe you anymore. For decades we have been promised an energy policy that reduces dependence on foreign oil, a border that can stop illegal immigrants and drugs, solutions to unaffordable health care, balanced budgets, and reduced trade deficits. Want more? How about promises to reduce government waste and remove corruption? How about peace in the Middle East, strengthening our military and eliminating federal pork? How about those “Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!” you promise us right before you sign onto trade deals that cost us thousands and thousands of “Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!”

I promise to give a million dollars to every person who subscribes to the York News-Times. (It’s an election year so I can say that, knowing nobody will actually expect me to keep my promise.) If I did make that offer, I guarantee you the first two questions our readers would ask are, “How are you going to do that? And, when will I get the money?” I may even be able to do that for a couple of years before they get wise then get rid of me.

Promises aren’t enough anymore. We demand to know “How?” and “When?” For far too long we have been satisfied with “What?” The cycle is like this. You tell us what you are going to do. It doesn’t get done. You give us excuses. You make new promises. We re-elect you. Well, no longer.

Congressman Adrian Smith, you entice us with words about developing more nuclear power. Great! A lot of folks, including me, agree with you. Now tell us how you are going to make that happen. When will you introduce your legislation? When will the plant go online and generate its first kilowatt?

You tell us we need to develop ANWR and tap into one of our largest oil deposits. Once again, great! Now tell us how you are going to make that happen. When will you introduce legislation? When will the first drill bit go down and when will the first barrel of ANWR oil be delivered to the refinery?

Secretary Johanns, you want to make tax cuts for families and small businesses permanent. With a Democratic controlled Congress, how are you going to do that? When will you introduce your legislation? When will it pass?

You tell us you will make our health care insurance premiums tax deductible. When, exactly, will you introduce that legislation? How will you get it passed? When can I expect to take my first deduction?

Scott Kleeb, you want new federal spending commitments or tax changes to be offset with cuts to other programs or new revenues. When would you introduce that legislation, how will you get it passed? Or will you add an amendment to every bill that has increased spending calling for an equal cut in existing program? How will you make this happen?

Mr. Kleeb, you want to close tax shelters for offshore companies to help close the $350 billion tax gap between taxes owed and taxes paid. Great, most Nebraskans would like you to get that done. How are you going to do that when you will be up against the most powerful lobbies in the world? When will you introduce your legislation? How will you get it passed? When will the U.S. Treasury begin collecting this $350 billion?

Candidates, your list of promises has grown larger than Pinocchio’s nose. You remember the story. The old carpenter Geppetto so wanted a boy of his own, he carved one from wood. His love gave the puppet life. Every time Pinocchio told a lie his nose grew longer and longer. Well, I for one, am tired of politicians, who like Pinocchio, disregard the truth. You see, promises still mean something to me.

In the closing paragraphs of Pinocchio, Geppetto looks at his son, whose hard learned lessons had transformed the wooden puppet into a real live boy, and said, “When boys who have behaved badly turn over a new leaf and become good, they have the power to bring content and happiness to their families.”