More than a few lies are being told by politicians today.
I can think back to the late 1940's to a politician by the name of Tommy Douglas. Tommy Douglas didn't tell lies to further his cause. He just stood up and supported his cause until all his opponents had had enough. His cause was to help people. Tommy Douglas brought in Medi-care to Canada.
In Canada, John Diefenbaker was an honorable man who knew how to support his cause. Lester Pearson was instrumental in bringing in Peace Keepers. These were two Prime ministers in the 50' and 60's in Canada.
Over the years , I guess, politicians wanted their own things so had to play fast and dirty to get what they wanted.
Somewhere along the way telling lies slowly entered the political scene.
The smart guys knew how to tell a lie that sounded like the truth and got away with it. Then they started telling lies about each other. Elections brought lies to a much higher level. Others could tell blatant lies and didn't care if people recognized it. Trump fits that category.
For the sake of simplicity let's divide things into left and right. I admit that I'm a lefty. Oh boy, I just lost a bunch of followers! So I could spot lie from the right wing from miles away. Of course, the lefties were the good guys and didn't tell lies, so I thought!
So politicians of all stripes are using lies to get elected and further their causes.
I have recently begun to recognize that both sides tell lies. I should have known this a long time ago.
What about religious denominations? Are they squeaky clean when it comes to the truth?
It hit me when the Ukraine war started. Both sides were making good use of propaganda.
I lived in a time when politicians were somewhat reliable. I would like to go back to that time again.
I agree. Even Nixon seems polite compared to the bad behavior these days. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteYou must be a rare bird leaning to the political left in Alberta! Lies bother me a lot no matter who is telling them (politicians, christians or anyone else). Sadly they seem so prevalent today.
ReplyDeleteFor quite a few years I didn't have many friends. It's much different now.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI agree, most politicians lie. I follow various news outlets and will check out the facts for myself. Take care, enjoy your day and new week!
Most of the time you don't have to check too far or long.
DeleteIt's all disgraceful. Seems like politicians are working for themselves rather than for the people and their country.
ReplyDeleteSo would I. Back to the days when people in politics had some integrity!
ReplyDeleteThe world was certainly a better place.
DeleteI think there are some reliable politicians, Red. It is just that the outrageous, lying ones get all of the publicity while the honest ones get the good work done.
ReplyDeleteYou're right that thee are some decent people in politics.
DeleteI endorse your every word here Red - I fear we shallnot see that time again.
ReplyDeleteWe may not see that time again but I hope we will have to see something that is different and honorable.
DeleteIt does seem that the quest for power comes wrapped in lies these days. To tell the truth politicians would have to say who really owns them, who really pulls the strings, and where all the money comes from.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's an lot of money that pours into politicians.
DeleteWho knows if that is possible.
ReplyDeleteWell it's not possible but we could have a new system that runs in truth and integrity.
DeleteI'm with you!
ReplyDeleteYou know more about it than I do.
DeleteAs a lefty, I don’t know what I think of equating the two sides. I do think there is a big difference in ethics between the two.
ReplyDeleteI'm with AC, I'm not sure that the left tell so many lies. But I could be wrong. My SIL ran for election a few years ago. He was so good and above board. It's a shame he lost.
DeleteI agree that there is a difference but to beat the enemy you have to play their game
DeleteLies go back a long time. Does anyone really believe George Washington chopped down that cherry tree and then admitted it saying, "I cannot tell a lie"? I agree the lies, political and otherwise, seem to have gotten worse. But I wonder. Do politicians lie, or do they just tell us what we want to hear?
ReplyDeleteGood question. To be fair lies have been told for a long time. In these days of so many outlets, more stuff can be spun.
DeleteMoney talks. So does power. Unfortunately, it's more and more the case that people who would be truthful and straightforward are not willing to wade into the mess to help fix it, and I hardly blame them. I agree with Ellen D., though - we still have some good people but they tend not to rise to the top of the power structure and they don't get the publicity.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned, here in the U.S. the worst liar of all lives in Mar-a-Lago.
ReplyDeleteHe may be the worst liar but also one of the dumbest.
DeleteBut it is true that politicians on both sides of the aisles here in the U.S. alter the truth to suit their own futures.
ReplyDeleteThe comment I was trying to make is that I always thought that my side was not telling lies.
DeleteI'm a centrist which is why I adhere to the answer to the following question. "How do you know if a politician is lying?"
ReplyDeleteThe answer is that their lips are moving!
Good one!
DeleteRed, first we must be rid of the alternative news and facts folks. When this load of crap took over the airwaves six or seven or eight years ago, I thought it would die a natural death. Wrong. This stuff is believed and repeated. It can only be attributed to lack of reasoned thinking., whether left or right.
ReplyDeleteMany people have easy access to past on the crap.
DeleteWouldn't it be nice if politicians could be sent back in time? And we could leave them there maybe. :-)
ReplyDeleteI was sure I left a comment ... I wonder if it went to your spam inbox or whether I forgot to hit the Publish button? Anyway, I agree with you although as Ellen D. says, it's still possible to find good people in politics but they tend to not get the publicity and they tend to not rise to the higher positions. Maybe because they are not willing to play political games.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing reliable about politicians is that they will tell lies...sad:(
ReplyDeleteA "lefty"? No wonder your nickname is Red! This little confession lifts you up in my estimation. Trump turned lying into an art form and he's still doing it. That deranged megalomaniac wouldn't know truth if it bit him on the ankle.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my poor knowledge politics and lie are inspareable
ReplyDeleteMaybe lying wasn't as blatant years ago as it is now, but lies have always been a part of politics. It's just that now for some liars, there isn't even a nugget of truth, and yet people are believing them because that's what they want to believe. And Yes, I mean the Trumpsters.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't lose this reader, Red. I'm a lefty too.
ReplyDeleteOh, and PS, I want to say that in my country, I'm heartily sick of hearing people say 'all politicians lie', as if trump's lies were not anything out of the ordinary. They were. He is an extraordinarily dishonest man and he surrounded himself with others just as dishonest as he was. He is a threat to democracy and it amazes me that people simply cannot see it.
ReplyDelete