May the Best Liar Win?

[Christopher]

I have been studying the reasons why our politicians lie and came across this paper. WHY POLITICIANS LIE

Here is one of the main points from the conclusions section:

Too often citizens lament that politicians are just a pack of liars. Generally speaking, their perception is correct. Yet voters chose those liars to represent them, and not necessarily because voters were duped, or because more trustworthy and honest alternatives were unavailable on the ballot. Political folklore often reflects underlying, if simplified, truths. And the truth is that politics is a dirty business and many politicians are liars. And that’s because, in political settings, liars often succeed in ways that more open and honest people might not.

I tend to agree with much of this paper and would like to hear other’s thoughts about it.

 

[Colin]

In a British TV interview, Gordon Brown's spin doctor was asked why politicians lie. His answer? "Politicians don't lie. They just never tell the truth."

 

[Truthmatters]

Yeap , its why Carter had so much trouble, he was not as willing to lie as others

 

[Christopher]

Yeap , its why Carter had so much trouble, he was not as willing to lie as others

I think he had other issues that cost him re-election, such as not having good leadership qualities when compared to Reagan. Of course, we are getting off topic.

 

[Christopher]

In a British TV interview, Gordon Brown's spin doctor was asked why politicians lie. His answer? "Politicians don't lie. They just never tell the truth."

That is a good quote. At least the British are honest about their lying.

 

[Colin]

In a British TV interview, Gordon Brown's spin doctor was asked why politicians lie. His answer? "Politicians don't lie. They just never tell the truth."

That is a good quote. At least the British are honest about their lying.

Lol! The majority of British politicians were shown to be both cheats and liars earlier this year in a newspaper expose on how they were blatantly cheating on their expenses. And these were big time abuses amounting to millions of pounds! Personally, I believe politicians are the same the world over. In it for themselves. They see politics as a way to feed their desire for power, whilst enabling them to feather their nests at the same time. The electorate is simply their 'means to an end'.

 

[California Girl]

In a British TV interview, Gordon Brown's spin doctor was asked why politicians lie. His answer? "Politicians don't lie. They just never tell the truth."

That is a good quote. At least the British are honest about their lying.

Lol! The majority of British politicians were shown to be both cheats and liars earlier this year in a newspaper expose on how they were blatantly cheating on their expenses. And these were big time abuses amounting to millions of pounds! Personally, I believe politicians are the same the world over. In it for themselves. They see politics as a way to feed their desire for power, whilst enabling them to feather their nests at the same time. The electorate is simply their 'means to an end'.

Yep, and it was bipartisan! LOL. Funny stuff.

 

[Christopher]

In a British TV interview, Gordon Brown's spin doctor was asked why politicians lie. His answer? "Politicians don't lie. They just never tell the truth."

That is a good quote. At least the British are honest about their lying.

Lol! The majority of British politicians were shown to be both cheats and liars earlier this year in a newspaper expose on how they were blatantly cheating on their expenses. And these were big time abuses amounting to millions of pounds! Personally, I believe politicians are the same the world over. In it for themselves. They see politics as a way to feed their desire for power, whilst enabling them to feather their nests at the same time. The electorate is simply their 'means to an end'.

Wow, do you have a link to the newspaper expose? I completely agree with you about politicians being the same throughout the world. Why do you think American politicians seem to be considered more corrupt, though?

 

[Colin]

That is a good quote. At least the British are honest about their lying.

Lol! The majority of British politicians were shown to be both cheats and liars earlier this year in a newspaper expose on how they were blatantly cheating on their expenses. And these were big time abuses amounting to millions of pounds! Personally, I believe politicians are the same the world over. In it for themselves. They see politics as a way to feed their desire for power, whilst enabling them to feather their nests at the same time. The electorate is simply their 'means to an end'.

Wow, do you have a link to the newspaper expose? I completely agree with you about politicians being the same throughout the world. Why do you think American politicians seem to be considered more corrupt, though

Here's a link.

Expenses row: MPs ordered to pay back more than £1m | Politics | The Guardian

I don't think US politicians are seen as any more corrupt than those in any other western countries.

 

[loosecannon]

I have been studying the reasons why our politicians lie and came across this paper. WHY POLITICIANS LIE

Here is one of the main points from the conclusions section:

Too often citizens lament that politicians are just a pack of liars. Generally speaking, their perception is correct. Yet voters chose those liars to represent them, and not necessarily because voters were duped, or because more trustworthy and honest alternatives were unavailable on the ballot. Political folklore often reflects underlying, if simplified, truths. And the truth is that politics is a dirty business and many politicians are liars. And that’s because, in political settings, liars often succeed in ways that more open and honest people might not.

I tend to agree with much of this paper and would like to hear other’s thoughts about it.

To summarize he article in one sentence the author basically says that democracy is inviable for large groups.

Our own democracy was forged when there were only a few million people in the nation, only a small % of which were allowed to participate. And yet the birth of our nation looked a lot like the political/sectarian gridlock in Iraq today.

A constitution was eventually ratified, after 8 year(?), but the divisions that existed at that point later expressed themselves in a civil war. And largely still express themselves in the red state/blue state rifts of today.

It doesn't really matter tho, when democracy fails it still functions in roughly the same way that top down (party) and authoritarian governments do.

We are in the phase where all of our allusions to our own democracy are pretense. But the trains still run on time.

 

[007]

Yeap , its why Carter had so much trouble, he was not as willing to lie as others

He was a dumbass peanut farmer without a fucking spine. That's why he had so much trouble.

And obama is the biggest liar the Presidency has ever had the unfortunate trouble of hosting.

 

[Ragnar]

I don't think US politicians are seen as any more corrupt than those in any other western countries.

So first, all politicians are the same (See Obama=Bush=Hitler) and now your saying that American's do not lead the world and may not be the best, numero uno and top dogs... at being corrupt?

 

[Colin]

I don't think US politicians are seen as any more corrupt than those in any other western countries.

So first, all politicians are the same (See Obama=Bush=Hitler) and now your saying that American's do not lead the world and may not be the best, numero uno and top dogs... at being corrupt?

Well, how do we determine this. After all, they'd only lie if asked!

 

[rdean]

Too bad there isn't a "comparison" thread of "lies".

Which lies hurt the country more?

Slam Dunk.

WMDs

Bush was behind 9/11

Iraq is now a constitutional democracy

The Democrats had "total control" of the Senate during Bush's last two years (49 to 49 with two independents - takes 60 for "total control")

Gay marriage will damage straight marriage

God punished the US with Katrina and 9/11

 

[cad]

Too bad there isn't a "comparison" thread of "lies".

Which lies hurt the country more?

Slam Dunk.

WMDs

Bush was behind 9/11

Iraq is now a constitutional democracy

The Democrats had "total control" of the Senate during Bush's last two years (49 to 49 with two independents - takes 60 for "total control")

Gay marriage will damage straight marriage

God punished the US with Katrina and 9/11

Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.
Nancy Pelosi

so you're calling nancy a liar?

 

[Ragnar]

I don't think US politicians are seen as any more corrupt than those in any other western countries.

So first, all politicians are the same (See Obama=Bush=Hitler) and now your saying that American's do not lead the world and may not be the best, numero uno and top dogs... at being corrupt?

Well, how do we determine this. After all, they'd only lie if asked!

So, we come to a fork in the road guarded by three politicians. One road leads to capitalist paradise, one road leads to death and one road leads to socialist slow decline/fail. One politician always lies. Another politician always tells the truth. The third politician is a commie who stabs people who ask tricky questions. What do you do?

 

[Colin]

So first, all politicians are the same (See Obama=Bush=Hitler) and now your saying that American's do not lead the world and may not be the best, numero uno and top dogs... at being corrupt?

Well, how do we determine this. After all, they'd only lie if asked!

So, we come to a fork in the road guarded by three politicians. One road leads to capitalist paradise, one road leads to death and one road leads to socialist slow decline/fail. One politician always lies. Another politician always tells the truth. The third politician is a commie who stabs people who ask tricky questions. What do you do?

You'd only think I was lying if I told you!

 

[Ragnar]

Well, how do we determine this. After all, they'd only lie if asked!

So, we come to a fork in the road guarded by three politicians. One road leads to capitalist paradise, one road leads to death and one road leads to socialist slow decline/fail. One politician always lies. Another politician always tells the truth. The third politician is a commie who stabs people who ask tricky questions. What do you do?

You'd only think I was lying if I told you!

Lying? I could not say. But you are starting to sound like a politician.

 

[Colin]

So, we come to a fork in the road guarded by three politicians. One road leads to capitalist paradise, one road leads to death and one road leads to socialist slow decline/fail. One politician always lies. Another politician always tells the truth. The third politician is a commie who stabs people who ask tricky questions. What do you do?

You'd only think I was lying if I told you!

Lying? I could not say. But you are starting to sound like a politician.

Ya think? Perhaps I should stand for election. The money's good and you can fiddle a fortune on expenses. Oh, and the vacation time is superb. And a gold-plated pension. I'm sure I could find enough gullible voters to support me!

 

[Ragnar]

You'd only think I was lying if I told you!

Lying? I could not say. But you are starting to sound like a politician.

Ya think? Perhaps I should stand for election. The money's good and you can fiddle a fortune on expenses. Oh, and the vacation time is superb. And a gold-plated pension. I'm sure I could find enough gullible voters to support me!

Well I'd vote for ya.