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Honest Politics

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This is a blog on why we believe and do what we do, why we pretend otherwise, how we might do better, and what our descendants might do, if they don't all die.
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Honest Politics

Robin Hanson
May 14, 2008
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Honest Politics

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Robert Samuelson in today’s Post:

There’s a vast gap between the country’s problems and the candidates’ agendas and rhetoric. The candidates dissemble because they believe that Americans don’t want the truth. It would be too upsetting.  They’re probably right. Let’s imagine what a candidate inoculated with truth serum might say. …

"I know you worry about the economy. So do I. But, frankly, if you elect me, I won’t do much about it. … We must also cut spending … cuts should focus on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. … raising eligibility ages … ‘Energy independence’ is a fraud. … All we can do is limit our dependence by shifting to more-efficient vehicles and increasing domestic production. … Without major technological breakthroughs, making big cuts in greenhouse gases will be impossible. … Unless we stop poor people from coming across our Southern border … we won’t reduce [USA] poverty."

Of course, our hapless candidate would be dismissed as misinformed, offensive, possibly racist and, of course, unelectable. People say they value candor, but in practice they don’t. … Politics is mostly … about offering up convenient scapegoats and instant solutions for voters’ complaints, even if the villains and promises are often false.  We in the media bless this process by treating much of the self-serving rhetoric with undeserved seriousness.  Is it any wonder that our genuine problems persist year after year and, in the end, foster public cynicism?

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Overcoming Bias Commenter
May 15

I was just watching the Replicans speaking in Iowa. They were telling people that we must slash health care and every other program that helps them, and force women to have children even if they were raped, and everyone who isn't a straight, union-bashing, preferably white, bible-thumping god-fearing christian isn't worthwhile. And wealthy corporatings should not pay taxes and have no regulations. And they get standing ovations. The democrats insist that we must increase our deficit, increase tax only on the wealthy, and expand failing programs and have government control everything. Their policies pressure companies to move overseas and drive the debt even higher and destry unions that they pretend to support. And the base supports them. The problem is that all politicians care about is getting elected, and they believe to do that, they must placate their base. In 1984, Fritz Mondale was honest to the American people and was soundly defeated. Both sides want sacrifices, but only from the other side. A truly honest candidate cannot win. A few brave politicians over the years have been honest. They have all lost. Like Jack Nicholson once said, "You can't handle the truth."

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Mayson
May 15

Truth-telling:

"If you must tell the truth, be sure to leave them laughing." [look what happened to Jesus]

"There once was a man who did one thing right, and one thing wrong: he told a fool that he was a fool, and he forgot not to be standing next to a deep well at the time."

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