A Politician's Logic

"Must we submit, while they filch from us
Sacred rights to make a promise
   That we never can fulfil
   Tho' pretending that we will
When we won the herd's affections,
Tongue in cheek, at the elections?

"Never!  While the politician
Fights for pay and high position,
   Shall we yield up while we live
   That age old prerogative
To make pledges false and hollow
That the guileless crowds will swallow.

"Never!  While the candidate,
While the Party, sees its fate
   And the plans on which it dotes
   Hanging on the need for votes
Never shall it fail to utter
Pledges for its bread and butter."

         *     *     *

Here, at last, a gauge we find
For the politician's mind
   Here, in its worst phrase, we see
   Political morality,
If we'd even cause to doubt it
So, what shall we do about it?