Social media taught me that we can hardly expect politicians and their handlers to demonstrate truth and honesty when most of us have a truth and honesty problem of our own. Spin the antithesis of truth and honesty runs wild.
“Truth” and “honesty” are closely related. Truth refers to a state of being in accordance with facts or reality. It’s about what is, regardless of personal beliefs or opinions. A statement is considered valid if it aligns with verifiable evidence. The earth is round, the climate is changing, and vaccines work.
Honesty involves being genuine and sincere in one’s words and actions. It’s about having integrity and avoiding deception. It emphasizes the intention to be truthful. A person can be honest, believing what they say is the truth while still being wrong.
And there’s the rub. People can honestly believe something that is not true. And that’s where social media “discussions” go off track, insults are hurled, and reality is denied.
An example is that more than a handful of people firmly believe God chose the current occupant of the White House. Pew Research Center surveys have explored this topic, revealing that a significant portion of the US believes presidential elections reflect God’s will. A 2020 Pew study found that about a third of Americans said Trump’s (2016) election was God’s will. Far fewer, only 5%, said God chose Trump because God approved his policies.
If there is a god, assuming he (or she) is highly involved in the political affairs of the state is a belief with no basis in truth.
Another example of denigrating truth and honesty is the spin politicians and their mouthpieces spread. As you might assume, spin is a time-honored, if horrifying, tradition. It presents information in a way that favors a particular viewpoint, often by manipulating or selectively presenting facts.
Spin is designed to influence public opinion, defend or promote a particular position, or minimize black eyes. It relies on the selective use of facts, framing language that evokes desired emotions, downplaying negative information, stressing positive aspects, and attacking opponents’ credibility.
Recently, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in US history, tried to portray President Donald Trump’s tariff policies as beneficial for Americans.
When Associated Press reporter Josh Boak asked why Trump was willing to enact “tax hikes in the form of tariffs,” Leavitt answered, “He’s actually not implementing tax hikes. Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries that, again, have been ripping us off.”
The cost of broadly imposed import tariffs is inevitably passed on to domestic consumers. True, they won’t be on your Form 1040, but to deny the truth that tariffs are taxes is not honest. It’s spin.
Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, also known as “Baghdad Bob,” became a memorable figure during the US invasion of Iraq in March 2003. He was a key player in the Iraqi regime’s propaganda machine, using spin to create a narrative that was disconnected from reality. His confident predictions and theatrical language, such as referring to US forces as ‘mercenaries’ and ‘criminals,’ were designed to influence public opinion and defend the Iraqi regime’s position.
“Baghdad Bob” repeatedly asserted that there were “no American infidels in Baghdad,” even as US forces were visibly present in the city. This disconnect from reality was a hallmark of his spin. He confidently predicted that the Americans would “surrender or be burned in their tanks.” This, of course, did not come to pass. He used strong and often theatrical language to describe the situation, usually referring to the US forces as “mercenaries” and “criminals.”
He continually claimed Iraqi forces were inflicting heavy losses on the Americans, even when evidence to the contrary was widely available.
His spin was characterized by a complete disregard for verifiable facts, an unwavering commitment to the official Iraqi narrative, and a theatrical and often comical delivery.
“Baghdad Bob” was widely and rightfully mocked for his disconnect from reality. Depending on your political views, Karoline Leavitt is seen as either a strong defender of her boss or a purveyor of misinformation. Sometimes, she’s widely mocked, like when she says import tariffs are not taxes.
In essence, both figures represent a form of highly assertive spin. Listen carefully.
Honesty is a moral virtue, reflecting a commitment to fairness and transparency. It involves refraining from lying, cheating, or misleading others. In the political arena, dishonesty leads to a loss of public trust and degrades democratic principles. Therefore, it is crucial to lean toward honesty.
