The politics of promises seldom yield political results

The politics of promises seldom yield political results

By Derek Joy

And so, the campaign season heads into the homestretch.

Just about a month away from that Aug. 26, date when municipal elections will be decided – barring the need for a runoff.  State and federal primaries on that date will determine the candidates for the Nov 4, General Elections.

Yes. The heat is on. Pressure is mounting, too.  And the promises are being made as usual.

The trick is to see that at least a respectable measure of those promises is fulfilled. People of color often find their communities are left wanting when it comes time to deliver on those political promises.

Consequently, I found a powerful essence in the words of Florida State Senator Dwight Bullard (Dem,, District 39), when he spoke at candidates forum at Mt. Calvary M.B. Church following a march on violence in Liberty City last Saturday morning.

“We are elected officials. What you see is the tip of the sword. We go to the policymakers to make change. But if they don’t see those people are com-mitted, they won’t do anything,” Bullard said.

That lack of commitment demonstrated by a physical and verbal presence at their meetings is what contributes to the absence of promises fulfilled. You know, the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Sorta makes Black elected officials appear without support among their constituents.

Guess that lends validity to very vehement concerns of government concerns of term limited Florida State Rep. Perry Thurston (Dem., Fort Lauderdale), the House Democratic Leader who is campaigning for Florida State Attorney General.

Thurston considered how easily four municipal mayors in Miami Dade County while no such oversight over the state budget exists.

“The local government budgets of all those cities combined doesn’t equal the $77 billion state budget. Nobody is overlooking that because she’s (Attorney Pam Biondi) a crony. We need to have oversight of how that money is being spent,” said Thurston, while appearing at a candidate’s forum at Second Baptist Church of Richmond Heights.

True. People of color can gossip, talk about sports and the like. Yet do absolutely nothing about the very issues that impact where they live. Idle gossip won’t get it. After all, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

It is time to get some answers beyond empty political promises. I wonder what are the most pressing issues to the various communities?  What will they do that isn’t being done? How will they counter elected officials who oppose their plans to resolve identified problems?

Sure beats the devil’s workshop in an idle mind. Trumps gossip, too.  Gives cause to wonder what each candidate would do to combat voter apathy and energize their participation in the political process.

Precisely what would be a response to Bullard’s factual understatement: “Too often we don’t do our due diligence.”

Imagine. Potential voters have to hounded and recruited to register to vote and to exercise that right to vote. Really seems silly to fight and die for the right to an education, the right to equality and more without enjoying the benefits of those rights.