Truth, Lies, and the American Culture of Screw You

It is an axiom in life that those in public service lie. Not just misspeak or misremember, but with cold calculation pronounce falsehoods intended to deceive the listener, usually for the advancement of some personal agenda. We have become so inured to the practice that we almost forgive it, expect it, and do not permit our blood to boil at the practicioners.

I, for one, have had enough. First, not all involved in politics lie. There are some among us who make a strenuous effort to conduct business in public view, to be straightforward about intentions and goals, and behave ethically. I am deeply tired of being lumped in with those who not only fall short of this, but who intentionally engage in dishonesty in pursuit of their ends. It is disgusting and should be rooted out whenever it is found and the malfeasers cast out of any role that involves the public trust.

I'm not even talking about the national level at this point, where its gotten so difficult to parse the truth from the lies that most give up the effort and simply resort to rooting for a uniform. I like Barack Obama, so I tend to assume he is telling the truth and his opponents always lie. Of course that's not the case, but it's so much easier. Delete the emails from right-wingers with the latest crazy accusation and read only that which supports my conclusions. Or, if you are on the other side, watch FOX and listen to Limbaugh because it feels good, like listening to the local broadcast of a Red Sox game, where the home team is always right.

No, I am more concerned with the local and state level, where the lies are just as invidious and more dangerous. This is where people fail to recuse themselves from votes where they have a financial or personal interest, where political careerism and advancement is more important than the public's business. I am sick to death of people lying to my face, of back-alley dealings and no governing philosophy beyond the pursuit of power and an adherence to ideology.

This is why we get what we get for public servants. Who in their right mind would spend time and energy sifting through the bullshit when we could be with our families? As a culture we encourage this, by the way. We celebrate deviousness and conniving. Television is rife with programs where "contestants" have to screw each other over to win cash and prizes, and we wonder why young people perceive ruthlessness as a positive trait? Double-dealing as something to brag about in a job interview? "They're all bums," we claim, so that's what we get.

I've had enough. Over the last thirty years we've successfully winnowed out of public life almost all of those who might have held the public interest above their own. There are no more giants anymore, and no more leadership. So now, with the economy in crisis, we get this foolishness in Washington, junior-high school crap about hurt feelings, and no men or women big enough to pull it together. New Hampshire's budget is is similar straits, but we can't even talk about revenue enhancements because it might mean an extra dime out of some pockets for the greater good. And while I've made it a point to avoid discussing local issues here, we have our challenges there as well.

My advice? I have none. I've tried to do my part and all it's come to is grief. So screw it. Make as much money as you can and take care of your family. Everything else is bad television.