Introduction

We’ve all experienced it: you’re watching a well-dressed member of Congress on TV, and they’re lying through their teeth about something important. Or they’re deflecting blame for a problem onto someone else—usually the opposition party. Or they’re just not answering the question posed, opting instead for some bullshit excuse for why they can’t comment. And you think: a third grader knows better than that. And somehow, for the millionth time, you avoid throwing your TV out the window.

It’s surprising, depressing, and honestly a little embarrassing to watch a group of grown-ass adults in positions of power—our nation’s most influential leaders—acting no better than a bunch of disobedient toddlers. No exaggeration: anyone who’s ever worked with kids (I have) or raised them (I’ve done that too) knows bad behavior when they see it. Just take a minute and think about some of the most basic rules we teach our kids:

·         Tell the truth

·         Take responsibility for your actions

·         Apologize if you mess up

·         Don’t call people names

·         Share

·         Compromise

·         Be kind and inclusive toward others

·         Think about the good of the group, not just yourself

·         Use your words, don’t lash out

·         Don’t steal

·         Be open to learning new things 

If these rules sound fundamental, that’s because they are. Not only do we expect our kids to learn and follow these core principles, but we—functioning adults in a functioning society—generally adhere to them as well. But members of Congress? They consistently lie, steal, blame, shame, and gaslight. They denigrate, prevaricate, and manipulate. Any teacher worth their salt would never tolerate such behavior. So why should we?

America now finds itself stuck in a cycle of polarization, bad incentives, and growing public disgust. Trust in Congress—and in our political system as a whole[FN1]—has sunk to record lows. Voters feel unheard. Necessary legislation gets murdered in political knife fights. Every year the temperature goes up, while tangible results for We the People melt away like popsicles on a hot sidewalk. It’s no wonder we’re all frustrated and furious.

But there’s hope, there’s always hope: the political dysfunction we’re living through is neither inevitable, nor irreversible. It has been created by skewed incentives, bad habits, and unhealthy political structures—and those can all be changed. Not by magic. Not by wishing them away. But by setting higher expectations for the people who represent us and thereby changing the culture of representation in Washington.

That’s where The Integrity Pledge comes in. The Pledge is not partisan. Not politically ideological, either. It doesn’t dictate what representatives should believe or how they should vote. It simply asks them to commit to a standard of conduct that most Americans already expect from their children, themselves, and their leaders. In essence, it asks candidates and existing members of Congress to lead and represent us with integrity, humility, and courage. If we begin to elect leaders who consistently adhere to these simple standards, we will start to see a rebirth of honest, effective, and civil governance in our nation’s capital. Wouldn’t that be nice?