Question

In this era in which the media remind you of every promise you ever made, how can a legislator respond to a changed economy or changed statewide needs?

Answer 1

A legislator can state his principles, and work to implement those principles. Circumstances change much more often than principles, and principles (well selected) can lead you to consistent stands that don’t change with the wind. It should be no problem for politicians to explain changes that have been taking place and how they plan to respond. I suspect that in most cases, the problems don’t stem from the list of general promises made. Rather they would be from the list of big donors to the campaign. And the groups buying ads on behalf of candidates whose identities are unknown because the Supreme Court ruled there could be no effective regulation of campaign financing. And the well-funded groups that promise to defeat pols who oppose their positions. And voters who don’t bother to find out what candidates have actually promised or how needs are changing.