I think the idea is that you can NEVER rely on the honesty of politicians. Complaining about politicians lying is like complaining about hookers being floosies. Duh. The trick is to limit government’s scope, size, and power, and to preserve the rights and defenses of the people at large. Government attracts schemers, job-seekers, ambitious men. It has ALWAYS been this way.
My rep's lucrative and self-serving "land deal" was well-known before her first election; she was elected in a landslide. She voted for TARP even though calls were running near 100% against; she was reelected in a landslide a few weeks later. Now she has voted for this medical monstrosity; do her constituents give a damn? They've already proven twice that they don't.