The Time of Universal Deceit

Original Material | 7/31/2017 | By Laz A. Mataz

[Lazamataz]

In the opening pages of the book "Foundation", written by Isaac Azimov, he describes the beginning of the fall of the Empire. The Empire was a multi-star-system civilization of trillions of people, but it was beginning to rot. One of the key characters observes that a researcher, a pompous Lord of a planet, considered it 'scientific method' to read someone else's work, saying "Why should I travel to another planet? Someone has already written about it." The protagonist thought, "Scientific method, hell. No wonder the galaxy was going to pot."

Azimov was prescient. We find ourselves in a similar time. All the technologic wonders of this era are being challenged by Social Justice Warriors (who, among other things, claim algebra is racist), and by shortcut-taking scientists that purchase or wrangle "peer review" of their scientific work (that is nothing of the sort).

This is the time of universal lying. Consider:

1. Major "news" networks and papers use to have a policy of requiring two sources, preferably identified and credible, before presenting news. That has been discarded, in the effort to depose President Donald Trump. Now you will see articles and editorials based on a single anonymous source, often making incredulous claims. The Washington Post (one of the most egregious practitioners of the policy) even noted the alarming trend back in the year 2013. The release of the utterly-fabricated "Russian Dossier" on President Donald Trump is one of the most prominent examples of the complete collapse of the trustworthiness of major 'news' organizations.
2. The scientific "peer review" system is completely broken. Many journals and organizations are retracting articles based on discovery that they were "peer reviewed" by fraudulent people. From that article: "The practice can occur when researchers submitting a paper for publication suggest reviewers, but supply contact details for them that actually route requests for review back to the researchers themselves." Several journals even 'peer reviewed' nonsense based on Star Wars pseudo-science, and those papers survived the review process.
3. Social Justice Warriors have acted to remove algebra -- one of the simplist forms of abstract math -- from student curriculums, claiming that it is discriminatory to certain minorities. Eloy Ortiz Oakley, the chancellor of California’s community college system said he wants to abolish the college algebra requirement and called it a “civil rights issue”.
4. The public confidence in major 'news' organs was as low as 32% in 2016, and may have sunk lower than that. Alternative media has filled some of the information gap -- news that the major organs simply will not cover, such as the possible spying scandal of politico Wasserman-Shultz and the Pakistani Awan Brothers -- but alternative media has its own credibility problems.
5. Various 'fact checking organizations', such as Snopes, have been demonstrated to be politically-aligned and unable to operate impartially.

Where does this leave us, when the organs of news no longer adhere to time-honored standards; when science is poorly peer-reviewed; when the fact-checkers need their facts checked?

It leaves us in a time of universal deceit, and as George Orwell once famously said, "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." America must be based in its entirety on truth. Truth must exist in science and in news, both print and broadcast. Thomas Jefferson warned us, in an 1816 letter, that "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."

[datricker]

I’ve peered reviewed this - All true

[Mr. Jeeves]

They have their own reality - and woe to those who challenge any of it. Not different from totalitarian movements we have seen in the past, but this one has far less competence and technological ability. They can misuse existing systems, but cannot successfully create their own (Obamacare) with the brains available to them.

The key is the MSM - without it, their influence over our culture would vanish quickly.

[ichabod1]

I’d hit dat!

[RepRivFarm]

Very well written article. Thank you.

Note my tagline......

[Lazamataz]

The Official Lazamataz Sometimes-Funny, Sometimes-Disturbing Ping List
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Original graphic by TheOatmeal.

[Lazamataz]

Very well written article. Thank you.

HEY! You oughta ping the actual author!

[originalbuckeye]

Couldn’t agree more. Recently had a ‘disagreement with my S-i-L about the ‘gay gene’. I told her that the two studies that ‘found’ this were flawed. And the result has not been replicated by anyone, outside of the original two ‘researchers’. And seeing them in the early 90’s being interviewed on TV, I suspect they were both gay themselves. Agenda driven, for sure. People who don’t know how research projects are conducted don’t realize that the only way research is validated is for independent researchers to find the same results. I was in the medical community for several decades and in the early 80’s, I noticed the relaxation of standards.....it just seemed that studies were able to come up with the result that the ‘funding organization’ wanted. And then 6 months later, you would here the exact opposite from another study. Truth has been absent in many areas of our lives, for decades. Journalism is just the most visible example of this.

[txhurl]

ping!

lol

[Lazamataz]

This tendency, in Azimov’s “Foundation”, laid the groundwork for the collapse of an interstellar Empire. What chance have WE?

[Tax-chick]

I also had noticed the galaxy is going to pot.

[datricker]

Thanks for the kudos;however, I believe they belong to Laz. I agree well thought out and written.

As I was reading this a thought popped into my head it occurred to me that those on Free Republic love the country but dislike government were the progressive left they love the government and dislike the country. Even if the truth were being told with the folks so polarized, at this point, what difference does it matter (Silly glasses and shrug).

[datricker]

Thanks for the kudos;however, I believe they belong to Laz. I agree well thought out and written.

As I was reading this a thought popped into my head it occurred to me that those on Free Republic love the country but dislike government were the progressive left they love the government and dislike the country. Even if the truth were being told with the folks so polarized, at this point, what difference does it matter (Silly glasses and shrug).

[Lazamataz]

Special ping to two people who I respect.

[Lazamataz]

Special ping to you so you can see me kiss ass. lol

[Lazamataz]

I also had noticed the galaxy is going to pot.

What is the origin of that phrase? It struck me as odd, even as a teenager, when I read that in Azimov's work.

[originalbuckeye]

PS-I have had that Orwell quote as my tag line for a long time. It is distressing that TRUTH no longer matters, especially when it comes to enforcing our Laws.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

The new (maybe not so new) lame stream media mantra:

A lie is as good as the truth, as long as you get someone to believe it!

[Eurotwit]

I am published, laz, in a peer reviewed journal.

But, now?

We do not need that gatekeeper.

Do the research, put it on the internet.

And, let the real “peer” review start.

Newton did not publish in any peer review publications, neither did Galieleo or Copernicus.

[Responsibility2nd]

Do you mean to tell me that the media is lying to us? /s

Pravda from the USSR days had more integrity and decency than the presstitutes we have here in the US today. At least Pravda was not kidding anyone.