When Election Day rolls around, we’re handed a decision that’s supposed to feel grand and historical, but more often feels like choosing between two flavors of bland. We’re told we’re electing the leader of the free world, the Commander-in-Chief, the protector of democracy. But what they don’t mention, what nobody seems to talk about, is that this “leader” doesn’t actually lead alone. They’re one face in a group of appointees—cabinet members—who hold real power over our healthcare, our environment, our education, our economy. And we don’t know who they are. We’re supposed to vote for a face on the poster, a catchphrase, maybe a promise or two. But do we ever really get to know who’s going to be calling the shots?
And here’s the kicker: not only don’t we know; they don’t want us to know. Because if they had to reveal the real team, the people behind the scenes who’ll craft policy, manage crises, and enforce (or ignore) laws, well… we might just find out what we’re really voting for. And we might not like it.
The Shadow Team That Actually Runs the Country
Let’s get real here. When we elect a president, we’re putting an entire administration into power. Yes, there’s a figurehead, but it’s the cabinet—the heads of each department—who shape what the government actually does. These are the people deciding whether and how our public schools get funded, whether new pipelines are built or solar energy gets a boost, whether your taxes get funneled toward social programs or defense contracts. They’re the engine behind the policy machine. The president may talk about a vision for the country, but it’s the cabinet that decides if we’re going left, right, or just going in circles.
But instead of transparency, we get a political con job. Candidates hide the lineup. They’d have us believe that the whole operation begins and ends with the one candidate on the campaign trail. But just think about it: if we knew the Secretary of Education was handpicked by private education lobbyists, or the Secretary of Energy used to head a major oil company, would we feel differently about what they’re promising on stage? Of course, we would. And that’s precisely the point.
If We Knew, We’d Demand Accountability
The idea of pre-selecting a cabinet is about more than just transparency; it’s about accountability. If you say you’re going to fix healthcare, then let’s see your pick for Health and Human Services right there next to you on the campaign trail. Show us who’s going to direct that ambitious climate policy. Otherwise, we’re voting in the dark, taking a leap of faith that too often lands us in disappointment and mistrust. We’re asked to choose one person, but we’re getting a whole team, sight unseen. And if it sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is.
Imagine if, just once, we got to see the whole operation before Election Day. If we knew the proposed cabinet in advance, we’d know if this is a real plan for progress or just a sleight of hand. Candidates couldn’t rely on the old bait-and-switch. They couldn’t talk up progressive change and then hire Wall Street alums, ex-military contractors, or industry insiders to run the show. It’s a level of honesty we should demand.
Why Don’t They Tell Us? Because They Don’t Want Us to Know
And it’s no accident. Campaigns are crafted illusions, designed to evoke emotion, allegiance, belief. The last thing they want is for us to examine the details because that’s where you find out if the promises are built to last or made to break. Take a good look at the people they’d appoint to the cabinet, and the candidate’s rhetoric starts to feel like a game. You might find an education reformer promising to “revolutionize our schools” and then choose an Education Secretary known for dismantling public education. A climate warrior advocating “clean energy for all” only to pick an Oil Exec for Energy Secretary. And we wonder why things don’t change. It’s political sleight of hand at its finest.
Imagine the pressure on candidates if they had to put forward a full cabinet slate. Voters would expect these appointees to have expertise, a track record, maybe even some integrity. We’d expect alignment with the values they preach. Imagine if we knew before the election who’d be calling the shots on the economy, on foreign policy, on civil rights. That transparency would be a safeguard against future disappointment, and a challenge to candidates who rely on ambiguity to keep their options open. Candidates would have to think twice before making empty promises.
More Cohesion, Less Chaos
Then there’s the argument for a more cohesive government. Pre-selecting a cabinet not only makes a candidate’s values transparent but creates a team that’s ready to go on day one. Right now, administration appointments are often a circus of rushed choices, last-minute nominations, and political quid-pro-quo. The result? A lot of officials with questionable priorities, zero experience, and a headstart on cozy post-office careers. Instead of scrambling to build a team after the election, pre-selecting a cabinet would allow for a deliberate, organized transition, where the administration can actually focus on governing from day one.
No More Blind Faith
We live in a time where trust in institutions, especially the government, is at an all-time low, and it’s no mystery why. When voters feel deceived, they lose trust. And when they lose trust, democracy suffers. Knowing the cabinet in advance would go a long way in restoring that trust. It’s a way of showing voters that they matter, that their vote is an informed choice, not a gamble on what the cabinet might end up looking like.
So why aren’t we demanding this? Why do we let candidates coast along, promising the moon but hiding the “how”? Let’s make it clear: if you want our vote, we want your team on the table. No more vague ideas, no more cryptic promises, no more “wait and see.” Show us the cabinet. Show us the policy architects. Show us the truth behind the campaign pitch. If we’re the ones who have to live with the outcome, we should know exactly who’s coming to work on our behalf.
Demand It: A Pre-Selected Cabinet for an Informed Electorate
Imagine a new standard in elections where a pre-selected cabinet is the norm. Where every candidate puts forward a team that represents their vision and values, so voters can make an informed choice. No more smoke and mirrors. No more blind faith in campaign slogans. Just accountability, transparency, and a government that actually respects the people it’s meant to serve. It’s time we made this a requirement, and it’s time we demanded better from the people who seek our trust. Because when it comes to who’s actually running the country, we deserve to know.