Thursday, July 03, 2003

Let’s Get Political

In the words of the immortal Olivia Newton John, let’s get political… yes I think the headband is constricting bloodflow to my brain, but that would only put me on par with those of us who fail to question the U.S. Administration’s veracity with regard to our recent escapades in Bagdhad and environs.  They’ve seemed rather oxygen-starved to me for months. 

My proxy Mom sent me this article this morning and it reminded me of two things: first, a rousing debate that I found somehow through Jared’s site, in which people were arguing whether or not the administration had lied to us about the Iraq situation.  One powerful voice in that debate set some ground rules: that a lie is (and I’m paraphrasing with an eye to being fair and accurate) an intentional misrepresentation or withholding of facts so as to create a false impression or understanding in the mind of another, which the speaker knows to be false.  That’s a high bar to clear, but this article really seems to put us over it time and time again.  To say nothing of what’s been put over on us - and that’s the second point of which I’m reminded: that most people in this country just don’t seem to care how misled and ignorant they are. 

I recently saw an editorial in the Orlando newspaper (this is a link to buy a copy of the article, it’s not available for free anymore) that claimed that unemployment is at a “miniscule” level, as I recall - that’s just not true.  That same article lauded the present administration for keeping inflation low - but as I understand things, we’re actually worried now about deflation, price collapse, loss of inventory and the ability to pay to make or buy more - an actual depression is not out of the question, like Britain in the late 40s when they devalued their currency and were strapped into the financial equivalent of a foam helmet to keep them from falling over and injuring themselves further.  Schools are being defunded, libraries are closing, hospitals are unable to care for our sick and injured - and the Sentinel is cheerfully telling its readers that we’ve never had it so good.  And it saddens me that people actually believe it. 

So we’ve got a litany of real lies, people.  Intentional misstatements or pure inventions, all obviously articulated with the sole purpose of getting us behind a war effort that has not produced the desired results for us or the parties directly affected.  And the same is true for the environment, for civil rights, for the impact of the tax cuts and the health of the economy in general.... I’m not saying that the administration shouldn’t ever be wrong, shouldn’t ever have a position different than my own.  But they should be telling us the truth about matters of national importance.  It’s enough to make a guy doubt the trustworthiness of politicians.  What’s next, commercials?  Don’t tell me - I’d rather not know....