I saw the news last night, oh boy…

There was an interesting segment on the news last night about truth-telling by American presidents, past and mostly present.  Although I listened closely, I don’t think I learned anything new.  I was hopeful that there would be a strongly suggested solution by some expert or other – like a clear set of procedures and consequences for public officials who lie.  Unhappily, no such luck.

As a child, I was taught, “When you speak, speak the truth; but don’t always speak.”  It was the second part that was hardest for me.  Still is.  But, like most of us, by the time I grew up I had learned that telling lies or even fibs was much too complicated and getting found out (which seemed inevitable) was much more embarrassing than whatever could have happened by being truthful in the first place.

Unhappily, as in every other facet of our lives, truth-telling has become complicated and the concept of taking personal responsibility for one’s actions seems to be evaporating.  Yesterday I received a telephone call from someone who purported to be from Medicare and who had a “solution” for my back pain.  “I don’t have back pain,” I said.  “Well, then, we can help with your knee and hip pain…”  I solved the pain of that phone call by hanging up.

I wish it were that simple to cut off the lies of our public officials.  But, in lieu of the simple hang-up-the-phone option, I’m marking my ballot very carefully today.  First and foremost, let’s rid ourselves of the known liars.  Perhaps we can start over on a more stable playing field – at least locally.

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