for the defense for the defense - Voice For The Defense Online
for the defense for the defense - Voice For The Defense Online
for the defense for the defense - Voice For The Defense Online
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Greg Westfall<br />
Editor’s<br />
Comment<br />
So this morning I’m taking my kids to school and listening to <strong>the</strong> radio. My son and I are<br />
talking about <strong>the</strong> debt ceiling, and I explain to him about debt, budgets, and <strong>the</strong> politics<br />
of <strong>the</strong> debt ceiling. At one point, my explanation becomes something like this: “It’s a lie.<br />
Everything <strong>the</strong> politicians say is a lie. <strong>The</strong> politicians who hate Obama lie about Obama and<br />
his policies. <strong>The</strong> ones on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side lie about those guys. Politicians never tell <strong>the</strong> truth.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y always overstate <strong>the</strong>ir claims. <strong>The</strong>y always posture. <strong>The</strong>y always lie. But somehow we<br />
keep moving <strong>for</strong>ward.”<br />
I have thought about this all morning. My son is 10 years old, my daughter is 7. What<br />
kind of message am I sending <strong>the</strong>m by talking about our elected officials this way Actually, to<br />
my mind, I am sending <strong>the</strong>m an eminently truthful message; just check http://www.politifact<br />
.com/truth-o-meter/statements/, where you will find a detailed list of 400 statements, mostly<br />
from politicians and those who support or attack <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong> media, that are classified as<br />
“false.” Ano<strong>the</strong>r 160 such statements are classified “pants on fire,” meaning falser than false,<br />
I guess. But still, what should I tell my kids<br />
<strong>The</strong> ironic thing is that right now, our family is watching <strong>the</strong> HBO miniseries “John<br />
Adams.” We just saw <strong>the</strong> segment on drafting <strong>the</strong> Declaration of Independence last night.<br />
Are my kids going to assume <strong>the</strong> Congress that included John Adams are all liars 1 Probably<br />
not. But really, I wouldn’t care if <strong>the</strong>y did.<br />
I have decided that what I wish most <strong>for</strong> my children is <strong>for</strong> each to have an inquiring<br />
mind. I want <strong>the</strong>m to think <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>mselves. I want <strong>the</strong>m to take available in<strong>for</strong>mation and<br />
come to <strong>the</strong>ir own conclusions regardless of <strong>the</strong> positions being staked out by advocates.<br />
Thankfully, in this country we do have <strong>the</strong> freedom to do just that. And I’m going to let <strong>the</strong>m<br />
know that when we drive to school tomorrow.<br />
1. If so, he’d be partially right. Sam Adams is a member of <strong>the</strong> Massachusetts delegation. After <strong>the</strong><br />
“Boston Massacre” he distributed pamphlets that were demonstrably untrue.