On Sun, 14 Jun 2009, Alex Smith wrote: >> I'll amend that; If elected, I pledge not to let material bribes made to >> myself (or persons I specify) while I hold office (e.g. assets, votes on >> proposals, props, or promises of same) affect whom I promote; I can >> terminate this pledge if I am not elected, or during the next election for >> this office. -G. >> > I call for judgement on the statement "G. made a pledge in the > above-quoted message." > > Arguments: Is "If elected, I pledge" the same as "I pledge that, if > elected" (adjusting for grammar)? Arguably, this attempted pledge wasn't > created because it was an attempt to create a pledge in the future, > rather than agree to one now.
Gratuitous: Good question. Nothing slippery here, I intended this to be a pledge now, but one that didn't have any effect on me if I was not elected. So I don't know if this is a pledge now (that just doesn't constrain me yet, except for not letting me cancel it until the next election) or not- yet-a-pledge at all (so I can somehow cancel it at the last minute for example). I intended the former. Or maybe it didn't work at all. I pledge (now) not to try to amend, cancel, or stop the above pledge from taking effect in the event that I am elected, if it has not taken effect already. This pledge ends 5 minutes after the current Grand Poobah election ends. -G.
