The Cycle of Broken Promises: Why We Need Transparency and Accountability in Democracy
Yesterday, people voted again, hoping to elect a leader who would actually make a difference. Supporters believed their chosen candidate would address the issues they care about.
My son asked me to look at why people chose the way they did, but I was more focused on the bigger picture—the process where politicians make promises to gain support but seldom follow through. Since 1980, election after election has come with high hopes. But despite these promises, governments have consistently failed to fix the issues that impact people’s lives the most:
- Costs are skyrocketing, wages are flat, and families are barely getting by.
- People don’t trust politicians; they seem self-serving and disconnected from regular people.
- Homeownership feels impossible, and rent is outrageously high.
- Healthcare costs too much, and access is limited.
- Jobs are unstable, with gig work and economic changes leaving people anxious.
- Climate action is weak, and fossil fuels still run the show.
- Inequality is worse, with discrimination and a lack of opportunities keeping people down.
- Big corporations own everything—banks, media, oil, tech, and even think tanks. They pour money into politics and lawyers, so the politicians work for them.
- Foreign ownership is rising, profits leave the country, and locals get less.
- Education costs too much; students graduate in debt with no guarantee of stable jobs.
- Terrorism and cyber threats are up, challenging safety and freedom.
- Human rights progress is uneven; issues like discrimination and privacy abuses are still around.
Every election, we hear the same promises, but for many, life stays the same—or even gets worse. Why does this cycle of broken promises continue?
The answer is simple: the system is rigged. It’s not about what’s best for the public; it’s about who can play within a system controlled by wealth and influence—a system that manipulates every lever of power to ensure that, no matter who “wins,” their interests stay protected.
The result? A democracy in name only.
In a real democracy, transparency is essential. People deserve truth and facts:
- Who’s funding campaigns, and what do they expect in return?
- How are media and tech platforms shaping public opinion?
- Are leaders truly serving the public, or just following the agenda of a powerful few?
- How did monopolies gain control over everything that makes our lives difficult?
If people had clear answers to these questions, they could finally end this cycle of failure and manipulation.
A Path Forward: Accountability for Leaders
We need more than minor reforms. We need a citizen-led group focused on holding leaders accountable—the Leadership Accountability Court (LAC). Here’s how it would work:
The LAC would be legislated because that’s what the majority demands. Once in place, it would allow citizens to bring cases of unethical, incompetent, negligent, or biased actions by government leaders, ending the hijacking of democracy by vested interests.
The LAC would operate online, streamlining the process and allowing cases to be filed, reviewed, and resolved within months. This digital approach would ensure that issues are addressed swiftly, keeping leaders accountable in real-time without the lengthy delays typically associated with traditional legal systems.
Citizen juries would review these cases to keep the process fair and transparent. Leaders who fail the public would face real consequences: they’d explain, correct, apologize—or be removed.
The LAC would make leaders accountable to the people they serve, not just during elections but every day. This isn’t just a new system—it’s a real way to end the cycle of broken promises and bring democracy back to the people.
Summary: Democracy Hijacked by Money and Influence
Democracy in the United States has been increasingly hijacked by wealthy interests, especially since the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. This ruling opened the door for unlimited corporate and union donations to political campaigns, citing free speech and ignoring the undue influence these donations create. Today, the largest lobbying groups dominate nearly every sector, pouring around $8 million a day into Congress and Senate campaigns. This massive financial backing ensures that politicians pass policies that benefit these donors, often at the nation’s expense.
As a result, harmful policies have flourished: national debt skyrockets, taxes for the wealthy decrease, regulatory oversight weakens, wages stagnate, and global asset ownership is secured by laws like the 1947 National Security Act. This act has been used to support Wall Street and mega-corporations, helping them consolidate control over key industries and resources. Without accountability, politicians continue to make decisions that serve Wall Street and corporate giants, neglecting the majority’s needs. This manipulation erodes real democracy, leaving the public without genuine representation.
No matter who you vote for, no matter how charismatic they seem or how inspiring their promises are, once they're in power, the calls will come—the ones from corporations pushing for higher profits, no matter the cost to the public. Politicians might enter with good intentions, but in a system built to serve corporate interests, those intentions are quickly buried.
That's why we need the Leadership Accountability Court (LAC). The LAC is a safeguard for the people, ensuring that leaders answer to us, not to big money or backroom deals. It’s time to hold politicians accountable, to draw a line in the sand, and to reclaim our power.
Politicians are public servants. With the LAC, we make sure they stay that way.
The Cycle of Broken Promises: Why We Need Transparency and Accountability in Democracy
Yesterday, people voted again, hoping to elect a leader who would actually make a difference. Supporters believed their chosen candidate would address the issues they care about.
My son asked me to look at why people chose the way they did, but I was more focused on the bigger picture—the process where politicians make promises to gain support but seldom follow through. Since 1980, election after election has come with high hopes. But despite these promises, governments have consistently failed to fix the issues that impact people’s lives the most:
- Costs are skyrocketing, wages are flat, and families are barely getting by.
- People don’t trust politicians; they seem self-serving and disconnected from regular people.
- Homeownership feels impossible, and rent is outrageously high.
- Healthcare costs too much, and access is limited.
- Jobs are unstable, with gig work and economic changes leaving people anxious.
- Climate action is weak, and fossil fuels still run the show.
- Inequality is worse, with discrimination and a lack of opportunities keeping people down.
- Big corporations own everything—banks, media, oil, tech, and even think tanks. They pour money into politics and lawyers, so the politicians work for them.
- Foreign ownership is rising, profits leave the country, and locals get less.
- Education costs too much; students graduate in debt with no guarantee of stable jobs.
- Terrorism and cyber threats are up, challenging safety and freedom.
- Human rights progress is uneven; issues like discrimination and privacy abuses are still around.
Every election, we hear the same promises, but for many, life stays the same—or even gets worse. Why does this cycle of broken promises continue?
The answer is simple: the system is rigged. It’s not about what’s best for the public; it’s about who can play within a system controlled by wealth and influence—a system that manipulates every lever of power to ensure that, no matter who “wins,” their interests stay protected.
The result? A democracy in name only.
In a real democracy, transparency is essential. People deserve truth and facts:
- Who’s funding campaigns, and what do they expect in return?
- How are media and tech platforms shaping public opinion?
- Are leaders truly serving the public, or just following the agenda of a powerful few?
- How did monopolies gain control over everything that makes our lives difficult?
If people had clear answers to these questions, they could finally end this cycle of failure and manipulation.
A Path Forward: Accountability for Leaders
We need more than minor reforms. We need a citizen-led group focused on holding leaders accountable—the Leadership Accountability Court (LAC). Here’s how it would work:
The LAC would be legislated because that’s what the majority demands. Once in place, it would allow citizens to bring cases of unethical, incompetent, negligent, or biased actions by government leaders, ending the hijacking of democracy by vested interests.
The LAC would operate online, streamlining the process and allowing cases to be filed, reviewed, and resolved within months. This digital approach would ensure that issues are addressed swiftly, keeping leaders accountable in real-time without the lengthy delays typically associated with traditional legal systems.
Citizen juries would review these cases to keep the process fair and transparent. Leaders who fail the public would face real consequences: they’d explain, correct, apologize—or be removed.
The LAC would make leaders accountable to the people they serve, not just during elections but every day. This isn’t just a new system—it’s a real way to end the cycle of broken promises and bring democracy back to the people.
Summary: Democracy Hijacked by Money and Influence
Democracy in the United States has been increasingly hijacked by wealthy interests, especially since the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. This ruling opened the door for unlimited corporate and union donations to political campaigns, citing free speech and ignoring the undue influence these donations create. Today, the largest lobbying groups dominate nearly every sector, pouring around $8 million a day into Congress and Senate campaigns. This massive financial backing ensures that politicians pass policies that benefit these donors, often at the nation’s expense.
As a result, harmful policies have flourished: national debt skyrockets, taxes for the wealthy decrease, regulatory oversight weakens, wages stagnate, and global asset ownership is secured by laws like the 1947 National Security Act. This act has been used to support Wall Street and mega-corporations, helping them consolidate control over key industries and resources. Without accountability, politicians continue to make decisions that serve Wall Street and corporate giants, neglecting the majority’s needs. This manipulation erodes real democracy, leaving the public without genuine representation.
No matter who you vote for, no matter how charismatic they seem or how inspiring their promises are, once they're in power, the calls will come—the ones from corporations pushing for higher profits, no matter the cost to the public. Politicians might enter with good intentions, but in a system built to serve corporate interests, those intentions are quickly buried.
That's why we need the Leadership Accountability Court (LAC). The LAC is a safeguard for the people, ensuring that leaders answer to us, not to big money or backroom deals. It’s time to hold politicians accountable, to draw a line in the sand, and to reclaim our power.
Politicians are public servants. With the LAC, we make sure they stay that way.
A spike in Google searches on moving to NZ during and following a US election is nothing new:
2016: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/move-new-zealand-google-search-skyrockets-us
2020: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/desperate-escape-americans-searching-how-to-move-to-nz-skyrockets-during-presidential-debate/F3PWX53JKPHCIJZPG4YZ3RO24U/