Is telling the truth really so hard?

Why does it seem that at every turn, we, the American People, are lied to by those who wish to govern over us? I hate to single out any one single party or candidate, but the entire Romney Campaign seems to be attempting, to quote a Fox News contributor (which makes this all the more poignant), “to set the world record for the greatest number of blatant lies and misrepresentations slipped into a single political speech.” It would seem that these politicians are willing to take whatever measures are necessary to secure their spot in the White House this year… but wait.

Haven’t we seen that from their entire party for the entirety of this presidential term? Lying to, cheating and deceiving the American People seems to have become their favorite past time. From voter suppression barely thinly veiled as an attempt to prevent voter fraud to statements that their first goal this term was to unseat the President, it’s a miracle that most of these politicians still hold office. The only explanation I can come up with for why they have remained for so long is this: that they are well versed and highly skilled liars, capable of whipping up any explanation for their actions. They can spin any story to put themselves in a positive light, and anyone they happen to dislike at the time in a negative light. Of course, this doesn’t include the fact that they have some of the most vocal media outlets completely under their thumb.

What is amazing, though, is that we let this happen. From Paul Ryan’s Republican National Convention speech to Romney’s performance in his first presidential debate, we seem willing to ignore the fact that half of what they spew is lies, and grade them on their performance otherwise. Despite the fact that we’re becoming aware that we are being lied to, we are simply taking it lying down. Between the two of us, the media, and ourselves as citizens of a once great democracy, are failing the Constitution and ideals upon which this once glorious nation was founded. We have shown that we value sensationalism and showmanship over honesty and substance, and it has become unacceptable. It is becoming ever more apparent that we cannot trust the Republican Party to be completely honest with the American People, the Democratic Party to challenge their opponents on this dishonesty, nor ourselves to call either of them out on these issues, and this is what I believe to be one of the greatest problems, and greatest challenges, of my generation: to fix the problems with the Bipartisan American Political system.


http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/30/paul-ryans-speech-in-three-words/