There was a time when the political manifesto was a foundational document of democratic choice. It used to be a sober, political contract outlining a political party’s socio-economic vision, which an informed electorate could discern through its philosophy of governance. That era seems long over now.

The electoral manifesto, now, has devolved into a transactional catalogue of giveaways, a reckless auction where financial viability is the first casualty.

It is no longer a document of vision, but a mere ledger of populist-promises, hollowed out to the point of parody. This is not welfare, but an allusion of welfare-promises safeguarded by false rhetorical beliefs.

It reflects a profound crisis of political morality, a systemic hollowing of a social contract, where the elected State may no

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