Why do we let our leaders lie to us?

Blacksword wrote: Jim Garten wrote: I think the bottom line is we allow our leaders to lie to us precisely because we are too lazy to get off our arses and try to change society for the better ourselves. It is much easier to elect a representative, allow him to lie through his teeth at us (whilst keeping the country going on a day to day basis - something many people seem to forget they do), then complain bitterly when power corrupts, than it is to actually stand for public office, attempt to resist the many temptations, lobbyists, focus groups, businessmen and moneymen and maintain personal integrity. Just a thought. It's a great thought JIm, but you cant ignore lobbyists, focus groups, moneymen media etc. Industry and the media run our political circus. You would have to change the entire political culture in the country. You try and run a country without putting the moneymen first, and playing the media, you wont be in office very long. Step too far out of line and you could be 'dealt with' very severely.

Id love to say "dont buy the paper or listen to the news". Unfortunately, ppl have already done that, and they havent been able to convince others that it is not exactly how a person can c the world.  I trying to say that just not doing something dosent work... You need mass and continuous uprising for that to happen, and ppl are simply too apathetic for that.

Why not... Destroy capitalism..... And become a socialist      

Empathy wrote: Ah, finally someone as jaded and disillusioned as me!

Yeah join the club. Cynics anonymous.

Jim Garten wrote: I think the bottom line is we allow our leaders to lie to us precisely because we are too lazy to get off our arses and try to change society for the better ourselves. It is much easier to elect a representative, allow him to lie through his teeth at us (whilst keeping the country going on a day to day basis - something many people seem to forget they do), then complain bitterly when power corrupts, than it is to actually stand for public office, attempt to resist the many temptations, lobbyists, focus groups, businessmen and moneymen and maintain personal integrity. Just a thought.

It's a great thought JIm, but you cant ignore lobbyists, focus groups, moneymen media etc. Industry and the media run our political circus. You would have to change the entire political culture in the country. You try and run a country without putting the moneymen first, and playing the media, you wont be in office very long. Step too far out of line and you could be 'dealt with' very severely.

timothy leary wrote: I think Jimmy Carter was a fairly truthful American president. Unfortunately, he is remembered for the recession during his presidency. George, on the other hand, is the son of a liar. If Oliver North didn`t take the fall, George Sr. probably would have been impeached.

Agreed. Jimmy Carter was a great president who had a great sense of human rights and morality. The media tried to make him look bad, but he really was a great leader and imo showed what American Democracy was about.

Rust wrote: Peace Frog wrote: We let our leaders lie to us because the only ones who care that they're lying refuse to vote, and even if they did vote it wouldn't make a difference because we'd still have leaders that would lie to us anyway. There's no escape and we can't do anything about it. Well, we can always go to the Phillipines and claim one of those million islands, and be the leader there. I would call the land, Progressia! It would always have honest leaders, like me.

Sweet! Can I be vice-president?

Rust wrote: sleeper wrote: Empathy wrote: "My fellow Americans. As a young boy, I dreamed of being a baseball, but tonight I say, we must move forward, not backward, upward not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom!" - Kodos You sure it wasnt Kang?   If you're like me and understand this quote, it can only mean one thing... You watch to much TV.

Doesnt everyone watch the Simpsons

I am absolutely not surprised Bush lied. I live in Houston, Texas so this disaster has affected me personally, and let me tell you, I hear a lot of Bush blame about the whole situation. It sure would have been nice if he planned a little more ahead, it could have saved me that 8 hour trip to go 60 miles. I'm sure many others, like those who got stuck in so much traffic that it took 24 hours to get 20 miles, would have liked to know there was no planning of such a massive evacuation before hand.

What do the politicians care? The hurricane didn't touch them. Ofcourse I got the best of the situation since I didn't lose my home like many innocent and unfortunate people, so I havn't much room to complain.