Are We Told The Whole Truth? - Is it the whole truth or the selective truth?
INTRODUCTION:
Greetings to all. Is a large part of life about the truth? Do we need the whole truth in order to make an informed choice? Whenever, or if, you had to testify in court, you are sworn in with the following statement. “Do you swear or affirm that the evidence you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
It doesn't state the selective truth or partial truth. It states, "THE WHOLE TRUTH.
People will twist the truth to suit their needs. Mostly by stating only what they want you to know, which in most cases is NOT the whole truth. We call this "SELECTIVE TRUTH." A practice that is often used in politics. Let me give you an example. Let's take the new border bill, which is hundreds of pages long. Our President makes us believe in his statements regarding this bill, and the money spent is only about border control. That is true. However, it is the "selective truth." When he speaks to us, he is leaving out the whole truth. The truth is that money is allocated for many other things in this bill. Things we are NOT told about. This is why the House keeps rejecting this bill and wants the bill to be broken down into individual parts.
That is not the normal way bills are presented. This is how one side or the other gains leverage to get what they want. The bills throughout the pandemic were the best examples of this. It is estimated that 5 Trillion dollars may have been spent on other things. These bills were passed so both sides could get what they wanted. Not considering what would happen to the national debt. (REFERENCE) Let's begin.
TYPES OF TRUTH:
There are many forms of the truth. I want to focus on the whole truth and selective truth when referring to a particular subject. To talk about truth, we must understand it. The truth is something that is true or in accordance with facts or reality. However, people can manipulate this. Let's see how. Let's look at a couple of fictitious characters named Bill, Karen, and Jill. Bill and Jill are married but have some problems. Jill goes out, and when she comes home, Bill asks her where she went and with whom; her answers are very vague. This troubles Bill, and when he asks more questions, they argue. One night, Jill said she was out with Karen, and they just hung out.
Rather than push it and have another argument, Bill calls Karen, who verifies she was out with Jill and they hung out. She fails to tell Bill they were only together for a cup of coffee when Jill left in her car, saying if Bill calls, just tell him we were together until around 11 p.m. Did she tell the whole truth or the selective truth? That is, she selected what she would tell him and what she would not.
This is common practice when one friend uses another as an alibi for where they were. Was Karen right or wrong for doing this? You can form your own opinion. However, people do this for various reasons.
They want to help and not betray their friend,
They do not want to get in the middle of their problems,
They do not want to lose a friend,
and more.
However, when the whole truth eventually comes out. And it usually does, that person ends up stuck in the middle anyway. The moral is that sometimes the truth hurts, but it is always better to tell the truth or not become part of the issue. Another example might be when you call a friend to go out, but there is no answer. Tomorrow, when you see your friends and ask why they didn't answer,
they tell you they fell asleep. Part of that is true. They actually took a nap before THEY WENT OUT. When you called, they didn't answer because they had other plans and didn't want to hurt your feelings. Later, you see another friend who tells you they were out last night with the person you called.
The most common type of truth is the selective truth. It happens in our daily lives, at work, and in most other aspects of our life. Oftentimes, people use the selective truth so others are not hurt or get in trouble. Basically, their intentions are good, but most of the time, they lead to bad outcomes. Once that occurs, your honesty, integrity, and trust are placed in question.
There are many more examples of this that happen in life, but you probably know them all and have used them yourself. It doesn't make you a bad person. We all have at one time or another. Most of the time, this affects a few lives, and people get over it. However, in politics, it affects millions of lives, and people do not get over it because they must live with it every day.
Other types of truth are Moral Truth, Religious Truth, Logical Truth, Empirical Truth., and Pragmatic Truth. Each has its own meaning, We do need to discuss them all for the purpose of this post. The point is, for this section, that the concept of truth is multifaceted and encompasses various types that have distinct characteristics and implications. Understanding them all can enrich our comprehension of the world and assist us in understanding why many things occur.
TRUTH IN POLITICS:
Here is the best one. In today's world, the concept of political truth has become increasingly elusive as misinformation and disinformation flood the public forum. The rise of social media and the proliferation of fake news have made it challenging for citizens to discern fact from fiction, leading to a growing sense of distrust in political institutions and figures.
At the heart of the issue lies the phenomenon of post-truth politics, where emotional appeals and personal beliefs often outweigh objective facts in shaping public opinion. Politicians manipulate information to suit their agendas, blurring the lines between reality and truth. The consequences of this distortion of truth are dire, as they chip away at the foundations of democracy and undermine the public's ability to make informed decisions. When truth becomes a matter of opinion, the very fabric of our society is at risk of unraveling.
One of the key challenges in the quest for political truth is the concept of "confirmation bias," where individuals seek out information that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs, reinforcing their own views while dismissing conflicting evidence. This cognitive bias is further enhanced by the echo chambers of social media, where like-minded individuals congregate and amplify each other's opinions, creating a distorted reality disconnected from the facts.
Moreover, the weaponization of misinformation by foreign and domestic political actors further muddies the waters of truth, resulting in confusion and discord among citizens. The spread of conspiracy theories, fake news, and alternative facts undermines the very essence of democratic discourse, leaving citizens vulnerable to manipulation and deception.
To combat the erosion of political truth, it is imperative for individuals to develop critical thinking skills and media literacy. By questioning sources, verifying information, and seeking out diverse perspectives, we can arm ourselves against the tide of falsehoods that threaten to engulf us. As I have said many times, do your research.
Additionally, holding politicians and media outlets accountable for spreading misinformation is essential in restoring trust in our political discourse. Fact-checking organizations play a crucial role in debunking falsehoods and setting the record straight, but ultimately, it is up to each of us to be vigilant guardians of truth in the public sector.
Most of this occurs in the passing of bills. Most bills submitted to the House for approval for spending are hundreds of pages long. Remember, the House is the keeper of the purse. They must approve it before it goes to the Senate. Oftentimes, another spending is buried in the language that meets the agenda of those submitting the bill. This is done to give the other side leverage. Give us this, and we will give you that. Remember, the House can approve a bill, and the Senate can still reject it. Therefore, the political games begin.
I believe each spending bill should be a separate bill for each item, as spending should be determined on a case-by-case and as-needed basis. However, many in politics see that as limiting or greatly reducing leverage. I see it differently.
What disturbs me the most is how our politicians and presidents express the truth about these things. As I stated earlier, President Biden made it sound like the House is holding up the security of our border by rejecting the bill presented to them. He failed to inform us of all the other things NOT related to the border that are in the bill. The House wants a separate bill just for the border, and I agree. However, if that happens, the Senate loses its leverage for what it wants. Therefore, it has turned into one side blaming the other while nothing gets done. Who are we kidding? Is limiting border crossing to 5,000 a day going to fix the drug and crime rate that comes with it? That is not the answer.
This is a good example of telling us the "SELECTIVE TRUTH." NOT THE "WHOLE TRUTH." What politicians are failing to realize is that people are no longer stupid and ignorant. Due to the mistrust politicians have instilled in us over the past years, we do not believe so easily anymore. These are dangerous times and dangerous ways to play this political game. I ask you. As taxpaying citizens of this great nation, don't we have the right to know upfront, before a bill is passed, EXACTLY where our tax dollars are going?
I can't help but find it funny that every President has a record-high new job hiring, the lowest inflation, and the lowest unemployment. If that were true, there would be no unemployment by now. Everyone would have a job and be working. In addition, it insults my intelligence when each of us lives each and every day with high food costs, high gas prices, and other energy costs. The American public is no longer ignorant. We see it and feel it every day. President Biden boasts 15 million new jobs. What is the real number after you deduct those who went back to work from the pandemic? How do we have such a surge of "NEW" jobs when hundreds of thousands have been laid off due to brick-and-mortar store closings? You can't feed us broccoli when we know it tastes and looks like lasagna.
The political selective truth is contributing to the demise of this great nation. The misinformation and mistrust in our political leaders are staggering. Our leaders MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE—not only for the cause but also for the solution. The state of the global world does not allow us to continue on this track. The days when people had to live from paycheck to paycheck were much less than four years ago. Our children were better educated and suffered from less social issues. Times will never be perfect. However, they can be exponentially better.
IN CLOSING:
The quest for political truth is a daunting but necessary endeavor in an era of post-truth politics. By staying vigilant, demanding transparency, and upholding the values of honesty and integrity, we can strive to reclaim the whole truth rather than the selective truth. The whole truth has always been the bedrock of our nation and what made us great. We need to return to those times.
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Please feel free to leave comments, or if you have a topic you would like me to discuss, you can email me at crondina@caesarrondinaauthor.com. Thank you.
Be safe, stay well, and focus on being happy. And remember to always:
Live with an open mind,
Live with an open heart,
Live your best life.
Best Regards,
Caesar Rondina
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