Saying it is So

For many years now I have been saying something that puzzles me. With almost disbelief I hear political thoughts expressed and wonder how those people believe what they are saying is the truth. Maybe another way of saying it is, ‘do they really believe what they are saying represents facts, reality?’

I started thinking this way back in the 90’s. It was just before the Clinton Presidency began. During that election campaign the republican machine was in high gear saying all sorts of things without any proof of fact. That was a new experience for me; oh sure, I’ve been exposed to misstatements and propaganda in the past, but not forceful, programmed discourse that was totally off the beam fact wise.

As the Clinton presidency continued for 8 years, I noticed an increasing fervor, frequency and decibel of political speak that simply was not factual. I began then to see a behavior in politics that was curious but prevalent.

Republicans spoke from a scripted presentation of distortion and un-truth. It was a campaign to discredit their opponents regardless of what was claimed. If a democrat said the sky was blue, republicans insisted it was gray or orange. And they acted on those statements as though they were the gospel truth.

In time supporters of the view rallied behind the script and voted that way – in congress and in the ballot box. In a very odd way it became the truth – the representation of the universe was theirs by simple fiat.

That behavior has continued to this day. Throughout all of the Bush W years non-fact was touted as fact. That’s how we came to fight two wars simultaneously and enrage the world against us. It was also how Muslims came to be hated in America. And how the economy was turned upside down all the while we were told it was the fault of someone else.

Then the Obama years were upon us and they were excoriated continuously for things that simply were not true. But republicans believed this nonsense nonetheless. It went on for 8 years.

During the Hillary/Donald campaigns the same un-truth behavior ran rampant. Hillary was repeatedly attacked without proof, without validity and without logic. Sound bites all. Misspeak and misdirection. Until enough people believed it and the election was up for grabs.

That's how we got the Donald in the White House and everyone is scratching their heads.

Today the same behavior continues. Say what you want as the truth regardless of the lack of proof; say it enough times and it will be perceived as truth. And it is. Over and over again.

So pervasive is this behavior that the news media is now distrusted by half the population of the USA. Unfair, but that’s a fact. All because political imps have mastered the art of propaganda.

That’s how propaganda works. It is how Putin has taken control of Russia. It is why the Donald admires Putin. Saying something is so makes it so regardless of the facts.

This is pure delusion on a massive scale. And we are all pulled into it like the vortex of the planets.

The answer to this? Education. Open a book and read it. Learn how to learn. Learn how to think for yourself and locate facts and play them against other facts. Learn how to discern the truth. Understand your own life and those of others; also learn how to understand history and know what it is.

We don’t have to learn things by rote. We don’t need to memorize vast lists of things. All we have to do is learn some facts, understand how they interact with one another, and then let logic actually work. Occasionally ‘prove’ your conclusions using known facts and data bases. Take hold of your own life and mind and learn what is fact and what is fiction.

And then with a clear and informed mind vote for people who will do the same.

Ignorance is an ugly thing. All you have to do to see that is turn on the news or read a newspaper. All sorts of ugly surround us. Which is true and which is not? Well, that’s not easy unless you have fought off ignorance with a determined spirit to become educated.

If people undercut education and school budgets, you have a clue that something is not right. Follow your nose and you will see what I’m talking about.

Will you help change the tide? Will you do this for yourself and others? Or will we continue to let others steal our nation’s spirit and vision for greed and ego?

I think the choice is clear. How about you?

August 8, 2017