We need to take a hard look at how we might democratize the public conversation. This blog is one such model, but it is a gated community, with a fee to discourage bots and trolls. We as a society have grown lazy about enforcing public sentiment to honor sincerity as a matter of principle and condemn fraud and lies. We cannot know fo…
We need to take a hard look at how we might democratize the public conversation. This blog is one such model, but it is a gated community, with a fee to discourage bots and trolls. We as a society have grown lazy about enforcing public sentiment to honor sincerity as a matter of principle and condemn fraud and lies. We cannot know for certain that we are correct, but lies are a choice.
Prominent Republicans now lie openly and outrageously, with a rhetoric that betrays the fact that they know they are lying, to an extent that I think would have troubled even Nixon. Democracy thrives in good faith, and can withstand lies, but if and only if We the People have the integrity to hand liars a red card; within our own cohort as well as our opponents'.
There were and are politicians who, though flawed and human, display sufficient integrity to be entrusted with profound civic responsibilities if held accountable. Modern campaigns however are often a "medicine show"; this not new but perhaps exacerbated by modern mass media. Big Lies and "dirty tricks" have always corrupted and afflicted society, but we can be a lot smarter and more ethical about weeding them out.
We need to take a hard look at how we might democratize the public conversation. This blog is one such model, but it is a gated community, with a fee to discourage bots and trolls. We as a society have grown lazy about enforcing public sentiment to honor sincerity as a matter of principle and condemn fraud and lies. We cannot know for certain that we are correct, but lies are a choice.
Prominent Republicans now lie openly and outrageously, with a rhetoric that betrays the fact that they know they are lying, to an extent that I think would have troubled even Nixon. Democracy thrives in good faith, and can withstand lies, but if and only if We the People have the integrity to hand liars a red card; within our own cohort as well as our opponents'.
There were and are politicians who, though flawed and human, display sufficient integrity to be entrusted with profound civic responsibilities if held accountable. Modern campaigns however are often a "medicine show"; this not new but perhaps exacerbated by modern mass media. Big Lies and "dirty tricks" have always corrupted and afflicted society, but we can be a lot smarter and more ethical about weeding them out.