Any time a major political debate spills over onto the public (the most recent example being the debt ceiling talks), the ambiguity of the truth comes to the forefront. It seems like, regardless of where someone stands politically, they will always find information that supports their point and exposes the lies being presented by the “other side”. This phenomenon, while not limited to politics, seems to thrive under discussions of policy.
The complete disregard for facts (or the selective belief in them) is something that has always fascinated me. The psychological cause for something like this is a weird one…why would someone ignore the facts in front of them, just because it doesn’t fit into their personal philosophy or belief? This brings up another strange point: why do people feel the need to spread disinformation just to prove their point? Shouldn’t we be striving to keep our contention of facts to a minimum, and instead focus on discussing the ways different paths will affect us as a nation?
The rampant flow of misinformation (which is exacerbated by the Internet and the 24-hour news cycle) has reached an almost inconceivable level, threatening to make any form of constructive political debate a nearly impossible proposition. What purpose does this serve? Why spend so much energy arguing over the truth?
This separation doesn’t only affect our politicians, but also us as voters. There has always been political division in this country, just as their should be; after all, political dissent is a cornerstone of freedom. But what’s the point of exercising that freedom by perverting it? We are given the ability to freely discuss policy…why do we piss all over that ability by spreading misinformation, arguing over what’s true, and insulting each other?
I’m all for political discussion, and I’m all for dissenting opinions. But let’s at least agree to call a spade a spade, rather than a turkey. Remember: twisting the truth to fit into your opinion doesn’t suddenly make it true.
