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It's Official: Politicians Can Lie

Discussion in 'Alley of Lingering Sighs' started by Chandos the Red, Oct 9, 2007.

  1. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

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    It's something we Americans have been complaining about since time began - or maybe even longer. Politicians don't tell the truth. In fact, they lie like the devil. But that's probably an insult to the dark one, who can't find enough time in the day to lie like his "treasured" few. The flow of politicians probably keeps him way too busy, down there in Haydes, to craft that many untruths, falsehoods, fictious fabrications, bogus deceits and - dare I say - spinning, as our brigade of fine up-standing paragons of integrity.

    But the State Supreme Court of Fools, in the unfortunate state of Washington, another cadre of the highest standards of truth, justice and integrity have made it official that all this deceit - well - just comes with the job; kind of like an occupational hazard. Take a peek:

    Amazing. All people ask for is simple honesty, and suddenly the government would not know the truth if it fell from the ceiling and landed on top of it, according to these justices. But that's no surprise. Worst of all the ACLU was behind the the free-for-all in defending "our liars."

    Really? An attempt to put the government in a position of trying to determine the truth? I mean, who would want them to do something like that? The ACLU is clearly wrong in this instance. They appear as the idiots that the right often portrays them as - sad to say. But all was not gloom and doom. There was mighty dessention from among those justices who still take their roles as arbitrtors of integrity and justice seriously:

    Absolutely.

    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003924720_webfirstamendment04m.html

    [ October 09, 2007, 06:52: Message edited by: Chandos the Red ]
     
    Chandos the Red, Oct 9, 2007
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  2. The Great Snook Gems: 31/31
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    While agree with you that it would be nice if we could trust our politicians to tell the truth, I'm not surprised that a court found the law to be unconstitutional. How a law got passed to force people to tell the truth in the first place baffles me. What was the penalty? Did you have to sit in the corner with a bar of soap in your mouth? Maybe you had to write on a blackboard "I will tell the truth" 500 times.

    As much as I dislike people not telling the truth, I think I may dislike "Bad Laws" worse.
     
    The Great Snook, Oct 9, 2007
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  3. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

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    Ah, bafflement. Baffled by a committment to honesty and an attempt at regaining the public trust? Think of it this way: There was no law to force people to tell the truth; there was a law that prevents them from lying. And it's "nice" to know that there are at least a few who believe that it would be "nice" if people, who were in a position to gain the public trust, had honesty and integrity.
     
    Chandos the Red, Oct 9, 2007
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  4. Montresor

    Montresor Mostly Harmless Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder

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    If politicians hadn't been lying since the invention of the election, and the subsequent need to appeal to the public if you wanted to be elected to office, they wouldn't have needed to pass a law in order to regain public trust.

    Yes, I think it would be "nice" if those who are elected for office had some notion of honesty and integrity, but telling the truth doesn't get you elected for office - paying lip service to peoples' wishes does.

    And before anybody asks: No, I don't think that is a very happy thought, and it doesn't bode well for the future of democracy. :(
     
    Montresor, Oct 9, 2007
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    I need to read up on the details of the law and the context of the court case, but isn't this a licence to slander? I mean, if I'm in a campaign against Chandos, and I say "Chandos is a bank robber", my understanding is that already existing slander and libel laws will force me to prove that statement or be convicted of one of the two aforementioned crimes, not to mention issue an apology to my friend Chandos. When I have a little more time I'm gonna look into this particular law, or someone can do the fat kid a favor and summarize it for me.
     
    LKD, Oct 9, 2007
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  6. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

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    The impeachment hearing of Bill Clinton was a "trial" about a politician "lying." And there are laws that prevent people from lying, like perjury, obstruction, false advertizing, fraud etc. Politicians seem to be immune because many think it's OK, as long as it's "their guy" doing the lying.
     
    Chandos the Red, Oct 9, 2007
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  7. Morgoroth

    Morgoroth Just because I happen to have tentacles, it doesn'

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    Even if this law would have passed it would have probably been horrendously inefficent. Politicians can allways explain somehow that they acted in good faith on information they thought to be true. So no matter if it passed or not I doubt it would have had any effect to politicians lying.
     
    Morgoroth, Oct 9, 2007
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  8. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Hmmm. I can understand both sides of this argument. While I am completely with Chandos in wanting our representatives to have honesty and integrity, the law seems redundant or at least unnecessary.

    The law seems to protect against only specific lies: lies of one against one's opponent only. I believe there are existent laws against slander are there not? And if the lies do not constitute slander, one certainly has the opportunity to refute the lies.

    On the one hand I can see frivolous lawsuits to try to shut actual truths down (or lawsuits that drag on with trying to prove what was said wasn't really a knowing lie), on the other I can see the law tending to make the politicians more careful about what they say about their opponent.

    So, I guess I'm saying either way (the law in effect or not) there are pros and cons.
     
    Blackthorne TA, Oct 9, 2007
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  9. Death Rabbit

    Death Rabbit Straight, no chaser Adored Veteran Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Flip-flopper!
     
    Death Rabbit, Oct 9, 2007
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