Why Do We Even Put Up With Lying Politicians?

No one likes to be deceived. Even if we ease through life buoyed on a current of soothing half-truths, exaggerations, and the occasional fib, we self-righteously demand honesty of others. Once a lie is detected, trust and credibility are lost.

source

I remember the countless number of times when I was growing up that my parents counseled me about lying. They would say things like God is going to punish you for lying, the devil is going to get you, I am going to whip you, nobody is going to trust you, it isn't right to lie, lying gets you nowhere, lying only gets you in trouble, lying only leads to more lies, and many more sayings that I could add. Only to find out later that I have been lied to all my life.

There was no Santa Claus, flying reindeers, or tooth fairy. The things my parents promised to buy me at a future date never materialized. People have different names for lies to soften the blow of being deceived. Some lies are outright lies, some are bluffs, some are white lies, some are lying by omission, but they all add up to the same thing--- a lie.

As I read the quote above, I began to realize how true the quote is. There are many people I no longer trust because they have lied to me. Many good relationships that ended because of ones failure to tell the truth. On the other hand, many people have ended their relationship with me because I lied to them. Either way it is a lose-lose situation.

However, when you apply this quote to politicians, it seldom seems to apply. A politician can tell you a straight up lie about his candidate, his plan, or himself and his supporters will support him 100%. When Clinton said I didn't have sex with that woman and later turned out he did, did people lose trust in him? When Bush the first said his Read my lips pledge on taxes and then raised taxes, did people lose trust in him? When Obama and McCain are running all around the US lying about each other, themselves, or their plans, Do people lose trust in them? I would have to say that the answers to these questions is no for the most part. People seem to expect a politician to lie and as a result are willing to accept those lies as long as their candidate wins.

I think lying to the American people has been a conspiracy of government for a long time. By lying to the American people, politicians make themselves less responsible and accountable for their actions because people don't expect much from them in the first place. The lying allows politicians to cover each others back as well as to hide vital information from its citizens under the false pretense of National Security.

What I don't understand, is why do we tolerate such lies from politicians?

Why can't we hold them to the same standards we have for our families and friends?

How many lies does it take to in order for one to lose faith in a politician?

What kind of lie does one consider to be of a serious nature?

Do you consider lies socially acceptable?

or is it because one cannot handle the truth?

One thing is for sure, politicians that lie lead us to nowhere and nowhere is exactly where we are.

I believe it may be safe to propose that the reason that we 'accept' being lied to as a matter of course, is because the political party's make us believe we have no other choice but to accept the celebrity career socialite politicians as 'the only choice.'

Anyone who challenges there 'way of life' gets vilified or marginalized to the point of humiliation or disgrace.

I think there aren't many who would argue that theirs is a sub-culture unto itself. And there may be some who consider them an actual 'class' of citizens, who's rights and privileges are superior to the 'common citizen. Considering some of them can lie to congress and not get charged, or can simply 'ignore' congressional subpoenas; this could very well be true.

hah, just read this earlier, ties in very well

You know what blinders are right?

reply to post by Maxmars

Anyone who challenges there 'way of life' gets vilified or marginalized to the point of humiliation or disgrace.

And what you say is one of the reasons I feel people will never rise up to the occasion to correct the injustices these politicians create for the American people.

I also want to say that your post is very well written and no doubt articulate.

Starred

reply to post by jam321


Studies conducted by fake researchers show that people love liars. This statement is not a lie.

Probably a complex answer. Part of it has to be sheer force of habit. Has there ever been a civilization that wasn't dominated by pathocrats? Doubt it. Maybe habit isn't a strong enough word. We're bred for it.

Another part has to be some kind of bizarre projection of ourselves onto candidates. Not for you and me, maybe. Hell, I think that politicians are, by definition, parasites and narcissists. But for the person who buys into the Hegelian Punch & Judy we call bicameralism, there is some kind of transference going on in there; a superimposition of one's own desires onto one candidate, and one's fears onto the other. The outgroup candidate becomes the Liar and the ingroup candidate becomes the Hero.

We're a sad, broken little species.

[edit on 30-10-2008 by applebiter]

I think it's at the point now where we expect our politicians to lie. The American people believed everything their government told them for damn near 200 years. Then there was the assassination of the Kennedy brothers, Vietnam, Watergate and Iran-Contra. Now we expect our politicians to lie - it's just a matter of how big the lie is. I'll give you a few examples:

Nixon and Watergate - What was Nixon's defense? Basically it was "That's ridiculous! The President of the United States would never participate in a third-rate burglary." When the truth came out it was "Bye bye Nixon." Big lie, big crime, impeachment procedures underway and "Adios, 'Tricky Dick.'"

Reagan and Iran Contra - What was Reagan's defense? "Umm...not that I can recall." Every question he answered began with "Umm...not that I can recall." Was it a lie? Probably. Was it a big lie? Not necessarily, because it was entirely plausible that, considering Reagan's age, that he honestly couldn't remember. Not a big lie, not a big deal.

Clinton and his drug use - He denied smoking pot and then finally said, "Well yeah I did, but I didn't inhale." Now that's total BS. Everybody knows that. But it wasn't a big deal and everybody laughed about it.

Clinton and Lewinsky - He looked the American people straight in the eye and said, "I did not have an affair with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." Now should the question have even been asked? No, of course not. But it was and he lied about it. And by looking the American people in the eye and denying it he made the lie bigger than it normally would have been. Big lie. Got impeached. Luckily, he wasn't convicted nor should he have been.

But the point I'm trying to make is that the American people don't mind if you lie to them, but within reason. It makes me laugh when people hear what Obama says he plans to do when he gets elected and then call him a socialist. "He wants to give people free money and redistribute wealth." No, he wants to win an election and he's trying to reach as broad of a base as possible. And that's fine. Voters don't expect their elected officials to keep their campaign promises. However, we don't expect them to authorize a break-in into the opposing party's headquarters either.

It's not the lie, it's the cover-up. The bigger the lie, the bigger the cover-up, the less likely the American are to tolerate it.

reply to post by italkyoulisten

Studies conducted by fake researchers show that people love liars.

I agree. This has got to be the truth. Maybe because liars are able to tell more interesting stories and make things up at the spur of the moment. As long as they sound convincing people seem to buy it hook, line, and sinker.

[edit on 31-10-2008 by jam321]

All we as americans ...and people have to do is turn our backs.

We need to build self sufficient towns or communities.

Solor energy, grow our own food, clothing, Many areas in the country already are experiencing this now. TRUE FREEDOM!

Its all we need to do.

reply to post by DarthChrisious

It's not the lie, it's the cover-up. The bigger the lie, the bigger the cover-up, the less likely the American are to tolerate it.

Right on target.

The cover-up is usually what does one in. John Edwards and the Senator from Stevens come into mind when you think of how they tried to cover up their misdeeds.

Good point.

comming from a family in a heavily involved in law enforcement they take a dim view of lawyers said the only profession that you learn how to lie,think about it to be a president must have a law degree,who in court is only one exempt and not sworn in to court to tell the truth and nothing but the truth,lawyers and judges,so it has been conditioned in them

The awful truth is this: Those that know the game, play the game. The name of the game is money and power. Where money and power are concerned, there will always be a bit of bribery and trickery. So...if you don't like what you see, the only thing you can do is GET IN THE GAME and rework it from within.