Signing pledges these days seems to be the thing to do. The thought is that signing a pledge is giving one’s word which, of course, one should never break. When I hear that someone has signed a pledge, I wonder, is it a one-time thing? If you sign a pledge you can never change your mind? Is “signing” a pledge more powerful than saying a pledge?
We say the “Pledge of Allegiance” to our flag for many occasions. Is that because just saying it once doesn’t “make it so?” Or, is it that the “Pledge” is just something we do from habit. It is certainly not something that came in with the Founders. The way people carry on about those who don’t recite the Pledge and the anger held by some regarding the phrase “under God,” you’d think it was a life or death issue.
Signing pledges seems to be in. We ask teen agers to sign abstinence pledges as well as non-violence pledges. We know that these pledges are not very effective, not because the intentions at the time of the signing weren’t honest, but because circumstances changed and the pledge wasn’t strong enough to stick. Or perhaps, it is not reasonable to ask this of teens, then expect them to submit to it for the rest of their lives. As young people grow older, abstaining until marriage might not be practical or desirable, and if someone is acting violently toward them, they might need to respond in kind to save themselves or their family.
The Republican Party and conservatives in general, are stuck with the notion that voters expect their politicians to to “always” vote the party line, never even turning slightly toward another position, no matter how much sense that other position might make in the situation. So now, it is not enough to SAY they support a particular position, they must sign pledges to declare for all time that they will always support a particular platform point.
The Temperance Movement of the 19th Century attempted the same thing. Signing the Pledge meant that one would never again drink and would support prohibition candidates and legislation. Well, we all know how well that turned out. The crime system that arose at that time is still in place in many parts of the country, although the focus shifted from drink to drugs and other vices.
Grover Norquist and his gang are currently trying to get all Republican candidates and legislators to sign a pledge to NEVER raise taxes. Those who have signed, essentially shut down concerning that issue. Even though we pay a lower percentage of taxes than Americans have for the past 60 years, we are told that we are suffering from taxes and because of the Pledge we NEED to keep lowering taxes. It is clear that in the past 30 years, the wealthiest Americans have received the most breaks, but they can’t be expected to pay more like their fair share because we can’t raise ANY taxes, not even close loopholes!
Who are these people that were elected last November? Were they elected to help govern a great, complex country or were they elected to protect those who need no protection. We don’t really need legislators to do that, pledge or no pledge.
When politicians sign pledges like those presented to the Republicans these days, they give up their ability to govern intelligently. They are allowing a special interest to determine their votes. They are unable to negotiate anything. I guess that makes things easier for them because they don’t have to think or consider. Their response can be “I signed the pledge.”
The pledgers’ explanations for why they cannot compromise even in small ways are generally ludicrous and sound childish and memorized. The even sadder part of this whole thing is that almost no one ever calls them on it nor points out the poor quality of their arguments.
Let’s ditch the pledges. If we need to have a pledge at all, let it be to our country and the betterment of ALL its citizens and guests.
Peace,
Ruth
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