26 September 2016

Now That We've Convinced You That All Politicians Are Liars, We'd Like to Offer You the Best Liar - a Really Terrific Liar

Republicans: I'd like to borrow the country.
Democrats: Again? It didn't turn out so well last time when you borrowed it.
R: As if you're any better.
D: Well you did total the country, the global economy, and leave the Middle East in turmoil.
R: None of that was my fault.

Today - 26 September - Donald Trump leads in the polls.


I do think that one thing Republicans have succeeded in doing is in making cynicism about government seem like sophistication. "All politicians are liars" is a wonderful way to excuse the worst candidates from any responsibility. There is now an argument about whether it matters that a politician repeatedly lies. 

It is an odd place that we've come to. Trump lays out incoherent policy that thumbs its nose at the constitution, expert opinion, and common decency and gets a break because everyone says, "Well, he will never do that." Clinton lays out a coherent policy and gets criticized because, "She will never do that."

Good policy that comes from the same ideological (and literal) family tree as the policy that helped to make the 90s so prosperous is discounted because we can't trust what Clinton is saying. 

Why can't we trust Clinton? Because all politicians are liars.

Bad policy that is inspired by reaction to talk radio and Fox news is discounted because we can't trust what Trump is saying.

Why can't we trust Trump? Because all politicians are liars.

Given all politicians are liars, we don't have to do the hard work of actually thinking about the policy or so-called facts. Instead of using our brains we can just use our guts. 

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Politifact tracks statements made by the candidates, rating them from "pants on fire" to "true." 13% of Clinton's statements earn either a "pants on fire" rating or a simple "false." 13%. Trump? It's 53%. Over half the statements he makes can't be trusted. 

6 comments:

Damon said...

seeing as Trump hasn't held any office (for better or worse) I'm not sure you can label him a politician. (yet)

Ron Davison said...

The GOP's candidate for president is not a politician?
Huh. How do you conservatives even come up with these ideas?

Allen said...

Ron, dear boy, haven't you been listening to anything Donald Trump has been saying? He's a businessman. A very RICH businessman. You don't even have to ask him. He keeps telling us. And because he's a RICH businessman and not a career politician, he's going to make our country great again. Never mind he had to declare bankruptcy 4 different times for business ventures he invested in. As even he said, "Hundreds of companies have filed for bankruptcies. I used the law four times and made a tremendous thing. I'm in business. I did a very good job." And don't think for a minute that Mr. Trump didn't suffer. He did. Badly. When the Atlantic City-based Trump Taj Mahal filed for Chapter 11 in 1991, not only did he have to give up 50% of his personal stake, he had to sell his yacht and airplane.

No, Mr. Trump is a businessman. A very RICH businessman. And he's going to make our country great again. Really. Like he says, "Trust me!" And because he's not a politician, surely we can trust him, right?

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