Posted on 11/25/2007 8:02:24 AM PST by Congressman Billybob
Like most Americans, I spent the last few days pounding the highways, visiting with family and friends, and eating my weight in turkey. What TV watching we did was either football games or vintage Christmas movies. I did not watch a single politician speak a single word for four days. Paradoxically, that was very revealing. I spent time thinking about lying.
I’m not going to accuse specific US politicians of specific lies. Instead, let’s talk about the nature of lying and politics, so you can make your own list.
The point of all morality tales in all ages and traditions is telling right from wrong. You can’t root for the good guy and decry his flaws, unless you can tell who the good guy is and what his flaws are. Take Pinocchio for instance. He was a toy with a chance to become a real boy, if he could learn to avoid his flaw, which was lying.
What would be some of the results if all politicians had noses that would grow whenever they lied? For starters, the Congressional elevators would have to be larger, like hospital ones for stretchers, to accommodate the larger noses – especially after floor debates.
But there isn’t any litmus test for politicians to know when they are lying. Furthermore, your average politician, unlike Pinocchio, gains in his career by lying effectively, rather than learning that lying is wrong and it’s best to tell the truth. That’s a quaint idea we were all taught as children, but lawyers, politicians and used car salesmen grew out of, at an early age.
We have it in our capacity to end the tradition of successful liars as successful politicians. As H.L. Mencken observed, “Democracy is the theory that the people get the government they deserve, and they deserve to get it good and hard.” As long as most of us have a high tolerance for dishonesty, best we should examine the types of lies, and choose the least worst examples.
Consider Hugo Chavez, President and would-be dictator of Venezuela. He said he was concerned about shortages in the stores. His solution was to order the stores to sell the desired products at the prices the government dictated. The shortages were promptly replaced by stores that had nothing on their shelves and closed their doors. In the meantime, an active black market sprang up in those products.
This is not about economics. Any adult who played the game of Monopoly as a child has a better understanding of the laws of supply and demand than Hugo Chavez. The focus is, instead, on whether Chavez is stupid enough to believe what he says, or is merely lying for political advantage.
Consider this: Which is more dangerous? A politician who lies to get into office or stay in office? Or, a politician who says patently absurd things because he, or she, doesn’t know any better? By a narrow margin, I suggest that the politician who doesn’t know that he/she is lying is slightly worse. That sort of politician will likely fail any critical challenge. There is always a chance that a generally dishonest politician who is fairly intelligent, may rise to the occasion and do the right thing in the worst circumstance.
Especially when matters of international security are on the line, Americans should expect their Presidents to lie. There would be serious repercussions if a President of the United States said in public, “Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, is a raving moonbat.” While it is true, objectively, that Chavez is barking mad, it is inappropriate for any President of the US to say that.
So, what are we left with? The best advice I can offer, which I follow myself, is reading verbal tea leaves. Look for signs of intelligence in the candidates. Does the candidate talk about serious subjects in a coherent manner? To my view, less than half of all the current candidates for President can do that.
Next, look for signs of honesty. Lacking the clear evidence of growing noses to prove the point, this is not easy. And, as certain prior Presidents have shown, the more intelligent a President is, the better he is able to lie to the people about what he is doing, and why.
Look at Harry Truman. He was considered a lesser President in his day. Now, we recognize him as one of our best. He wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. But he did have a basic understanding of who we are as a people and a nation, and was honest and straight-forward in serving the nation’s interests.
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About the Author: John Armor practiced in the US Supreme Court for 33 years. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu He lives in the 11th District of North Carolina.
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John / Billybob
Thanks for posting, John.
I get quite tired of the assumption that intelligence is the most important factor when choosing a leader.
I would content that, as you say, an ability to distinguish right from wrong and the character to care are a lot more critical.
So how do we separate reality from fiction? All we really have to do so is to look at their records. How have they voted? What fringe groups support them? What statements have they made in the past? And yes, intelligence is important, but I'll take a dumb, honest, patriot any day over a brilliant and scheming liar.
I'm just not in love with anyone that's running this time. I like Fred and Duncan and Mike and somewhat Mitt, I could probably live under Giuliani. But I'm not really taken with any of them. I'm sure I don't want Hillary or Barack.
Whatever I decide, I will definitely vote, and when I come to a decision, I'll work for my candidate. That's what really matters. If everyone, absolutely everyone, would just think about serious matters and then vote, this would be a much better process. Too many people aren't thinking about it at all. Too many people are thinking about it for the wrong reasons (I can get more free benefits if I vote for X). Too many people on the couch, in front of their new black-Friday HDTV while Rome burns.
Sender, I agree with you, but you better decide soon and help support your choice. Why, because the primary season has been moved up to January. Yes, that’s too early and most US voters haven’t got a clue as to what the candidates are about, but it’s reality and we can’t ignore it.
And far too many are ready to take their ball (vote) and go home.
< SNIP >
“Liberals become indignant when you question their patriotism, but simultaneously work overtime to give terrorists a cushion for the next attack and laugh at dumb Americans who love their country and hate the enemy.”
“The reason any conservative’s failing is always major news is that it allows liberals to engage in their very favorite taunt: Hypocrisy! Hypocrisy is the only sin that really inflames them. Inasmuch as liberals have no morals, they can sit back and criticize other people for failing to meet the standards that liberals simply renounce. It’s an intriguing strategy. By openly admitting to being philanderers, draft dodgers, liars, weasels and cowards, liberals avoid ever being hypocrites.”
— Ann Coulter
< / Snip>
While Ann’s nailed it there, I for one would still love it if more elected officials called out liars and hypocrites—the very ones who use projection and Alinsky’s tactics (the devil’s actually—Saul just wrote them down) seeking to ensnare and waylay the good guys.
The book of Proverbs is full of references to how righteous leaders are to fearlessly speak out against and remove evil from their midst.
And regards any lying whatsoever, best we look to the exhortation of Jesus, who said “Let your Yea be Yea and your Nay be Nay.”
If we use the Moral Absolute of Truth as our plumb line, we can most quickly identify counterfeited premises and renounce them—and put out of office those who rely on them.
Merry Christmas!
In fact, ignoring reality--and mendacity--are the foundation of the suicidal delusions that are the creed of the Left.
It's no coincidence that the jackass is the symbol of the Democrat Party.
It's also appropriate.
That’s Hillary!!!
Yes but fortunately, we KNOW she's lying. It's the GOPers that I'm trying to figure out how long their noses are. And most importantly, what will they do if elected?
Unless Jesus or Reagan appear in the next few months. Or Godzilla. Or Global Nuclear War. We live in interesting times. We live one day at a time.
Think Heavenly, work locally /8^p
mark
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