Do political figures ever keep the promises they make during debates and throughout their campaigns?

Question

The democratic candidates made a lot of promises to bring about great change, but will they really? Or will they just make subtle change

Answer 1

Campaign promises overlook the bureaucracy that really runs government.

Answer 2

Sometimes it's a case of the politician not meaning it, but more often it's the fact that the President doesn't (and shouldn't) have total control over the government -- so just because the candidate made promises doesn't mean Congress will allow those promises to be kept. Subtle change is easier.

That doesn't mean NO promises are ever kept. Kennedy took us to the moon. Even Clinton passed a balanced budget. I imagine all presidents have kept SOME of their campaign promises. Just... never all of them.

Answer 3

Yes, but when they do it's just a coincidence. The tendency is to make whatever claims and promises play to the current audience (though, with today's pervasive media, that's getting dangerous), so, since you promise, in effect, /everything/ anyone could want, you can't help but deliver something you promised once in a while - except, of course, when you deliver nothing at all.

Answer 4

probably not.

i think what you get from politicians is a sort of general idea of where they'd like to see things go and in the direction they will try to move things.

that said, i have never heard of a politician anywhere from any party actually keeping the promises they made.

Answer 5

Bush - "I will cut taxes"

Bush cut taxes

so yes

Answer 6

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/