Op-Ed on Corruption

Origami crane turned clam shell: ‘bait-and-switch’ dismissed as political strategy

We are heavy-handed with public officials who embezzle public funds, hand out positions to friends or manipulate election outcomes. However, when it comes to ‘bait-and-switch’ tactics in political campaigns, rhetoric or delivery – we dismiss it as political strategy. Declaring one thing before an election, sponsorship or grant and later doing another is not simply a strategy – it is a meditated course of action with grave consequences.

We have empowered the ‘bait-and-switch concept by allowing it to exist outside the realm of corruption. No more. Bait and switch should not be regarded as a clever political maneuver – it is just as corrupt of an activity as any other dictionary definition of corruption. It’s as simple as origami.

Bait and switch is very similar to folding a crane – then ending up with an origami clam shell. If you have ever folded an origami crane, you know how important it is to choose the right size origami paper. If you want to fold a crane you need to commit to the size of your 4x4 inch square paper. Once you choose your paper and start folding, you cannot change the creature you are making. You are stuck with folding the shape the paper size dictates. Therefore – it is extremely important to be aware and commit to the size so you know what creature will unfold. Politicians misrepresent or change our paper size during origami folding – and we end up with anything but a crane. Let me show you how a crane can turn into a clam shell through the recent Brexit example.

Earlier this June, the UK held a referendum to understand if citizens wish to remain part of the European Union or wish to secede. This has been a long-standing domestic issue and finally materialized into a referendum. The Leave campaign won by a mere 3 per cent difference.^[1] While many supporters rejoiced in Britain finally being free, the promised crane slowly started to deform more and more until it was unrecognizable.

Brexit’s leave campaign promised to “give [UK’s] NHS [National Health Services] the £350 million the EU takes every week”^[2]. In other words, the Brexit campaign promised to re-channel EU maintenance funds into the UK’s healthcare system. The campaign promised immigration reform, jobs and newfound pride and independence from the EU cash cow institutions and bureaucracies. However, days after the vote – the leave campaign’s site was severely wiped clean of such false promises. Iain Duncin Smith (MP) rushed to quickly rectify the ‘misunderstood’ promises of the campaign.^[3] Despite the campaign’s continuous response that they had not committed bait and switch – it was very clear to the public there was little behind the rhetoric and the declared false statistics.