TRUTH AND POLITICS

By Thomas Carter

The problem Our country is in the midst of a presidential election, one that both sides describe as the most consequential election of our generation. Both sides in this monumental choice are exerting their best efforts to convince the voters that they hold the right philosophy and the best plan for moving America forward to prosperity and happiness. Both sides are telling a story that they want the voters to accept and to believe. Each side in this great controversy is trying to convince the voters that they hold the truth in the debate. That is the basis for their pitch to the nation. The question for America is: Who holds the truth, and which philosophy conforms to the truth? Who can we believe? Truth is the fundamental question. In this age of unprecedented ease of communication and technological access to information, one would think that the truth of any particular controversy would be easy to find. On the contrary, the technology of our world today enables distractions, rationalizations, false representations, and demagoguery to distract from the truth, making it harder than ever to distinguish truth from propaganda. Any question can be, and is, argued and debated, often until the truth is utterly confused in a cacophony of argument of self-interest and discord. Is it any wonder, then, that the public becomes confused and individuals become cynical and resort to personal prejudice, self-interest, or raw emotion, rather than a rigorous examination of the truth, in casting their vote in favor of any particular party? Indeed, some will even argue that there is no truth in the matter, or that the truth is relative to the interests of each individual. Your truth is right for you, but my truth is right for me, and both are equally valid. This is a cunning and dangerous proposition, for it cuts one off from any standard of truth, and leaves him adrift in a sea of whim, blown by the winds of emotion, bias, and egotism. What is truth? A philosophical discussion of the definition of truth is beyond the reach or purpose of this essay. I will stipulate that truth is an absolute, and that there is only one truth to any given question. Without this stipulation, any argument of truth or right or what is best will be meaningless, for all argument is based on the fundamental standard of truth. This is different, however, from opinion, which is not necessarily truth. Reasonable persons may have different opinions on any given subject, but this should not be construed as truth.

Why do people believe as they do? In the current political landscape, an enduring question is: Why do people believe what they do? Why do half of the people believe one thing, and one half believe another? Why are there seemingly good and rational adults supporting opposite points of view? There has to be an answer to this question. We must answer this question if we are ever to become a united people. Belief is a choice. People believe what they want to believe. The art of a politician is to give people a reason to believe what he wants them to believe or in what they already want to believe. These assertions explain what is going on in America today. There are many reasons why people believe what they do. Their belief may be a result of tradition, culture, or personal interest. Often, people will believe simply based on emotion. Sometimes, a person will conform his beliefs to be consistent with his preferred behavior. People may have a strong reason for what they believe, but that does not necessarily mean that what they believe is true. Some people do not know why or what they believe, merely ascribing to the popular sentiments of the environment they find themselves in. Some people are confused in their beliefs simply because they have not made the effort to become informed. To illustrate this, I will use a quote from Thomas Carlyles classic work: Heroes, and Hero Worship, as he discusses in 1905 the antiquated beliefs in Paganism:
Surely it seems a very strange-looking thing this Paganism; almost inconceivable to us in these days. A bewildering, inextricable jungle of delusions, confusions, falsehoods and absurdities, covering the whole field of Life! A thing which fills us with astonishment, almost, if it were possible, with incredulity, -- for truly it is not easy to understand that sane men could ever calmly, with their eyes open, believe and live by such a set of doctrines. That men should have worshipped their poor fellow-man as a God, and not him only, but stocks and stones, and all manner of animate and inanimate objects; and fashioned for themselves such a distracted chaos of hallucinations by way of Theory of the Universe: all this looks like an incredible fable. Nevertheless it is a clear fact that they did it. Such hideous inextricable jungle of misworships, misbeliefs, men, made as we are, did actually hold by, and live at home in. This is strange. Yes, we may pause in sorrow and silence over the depths of darkness that are in man; if we rejoice in the heights of purer vision he has attained to. Such things were and are in man; in us too. --Thomas Carlyle, Heroes and Hero Worship 1

Carlyle, Thomas, On Heroes, Hero-Worship and The Heroic in History, 3rd Printing, Chicago, A.C. McClurg and Company, 1905, p 10.
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Careful reflection upon the world around us will convince us that man is still capable of believing falsehood and error. It will perhaps dismay us that we, also, may be capable of believing that which is not true, and which, when the light of truth is cast upon our awareness, will be shown as deception and absurdity.
We shall begin to have a chance of understanding Paganism when we first admit that to its followers it was, at one time, earnestly true. Let us consider it very certain that men did believe in Paganism; men with open eyes, sound senses, men made altogether like ourselves; that we, had we been there, should have believed in it. -- Thomas Carlyle 2

If so many, in so many eras, in all times and in all places, have been victims of falsehood and deception, how then, is one to find the truth NOW? We must first recognize, then, that man is subject to error and deception, that alone, he is fallible. Each of us is fallible. We must also be honest with ourselves: Much of our belief may be what is easy or natural for us to believe (tradition, culture, environment, how we grew up), and some of our beliefs may also be what we want to believe based on our emotions, behavior, or self-interest. Every man and woman has a solemn responsibility and duty to carefully examine his/her beliefs and the reasons he believes as he does. If he is to arrive at an understanding of the truth, he must be willing to give up his preconceived notions, prejudices, self-interests, and any particular or personal agenda. He must put aside his emotions that may be distracting him from clearly viewing the truth. He must become intelligently informed. This is the price he must pay to find the truth. Believe what is true If a man can believe what is false, he can also believe what is true. He can choose to believe the truth. To believe the truth is a choice and a supreme challenge for each person. A mark of true manhood is to find, choose and commit oneself to believe, as much as is possible, the truth. The truth can be found. Truth shines pervasively and independently, and prevails over error and deception. However, truth is often obscured or confused by distractions, rationalizations, false representations and philosophies, and demagoguery, promoted by those with their own agenda or self-interest. This is

Thomas Carlyle, On Heroes, Hero Worship and the Heroic in History, p. 12.

obvious to any sincere seeker of truth. In this climate, one must search diligently for the truth. He must pay the price to find the truth.

The standard for truth The truth will always be consistent with the facts. Truth will always be based upon and consistent with fundamental and sound, time-tested principles. Truth will always be consistent with God-given moral values. History and sad experience has shown us that truth will not be found by reliance solely on human opinion or argument. Human judgment is too fallible and human vision too limited to be the standard for truth. Argument, debate and discussion are not reliable standards for the truth because there will always be someone more expert in the debate and the truth is not dependent on debating skills. Some persons do not accept principles or values as a standard for truth: they are left without means to determine truth, so are at the mercy of expediency, like a ship without a rudder in a troubled sea of confusion and doubt. Error and falsehood will be based on expediency at the expense of moral values and sound principles (the end justifies the means). Proponents of falsehood will sometimes claim to have moral values and principles, but under scrutiny will rationalize and quickly jettison them in favor of what seems expedient at the time. Mixing it up The best political choice is usually a mixture of truth and error, but will contain the largest or most fundamental proportion of truth. Human affairs are complicated, and rarely does truth manifest itself through imperfect humans in a pure form. Even execution of sound policy based on truth will often be flawed because of the imperfections of the instrument. Of course, the opposing party will always exploit a mistake to challenge the truth of the policy itself. The worst political choice will also have a mixture of truth and error. The most misguided and perverted philosophies and beliefs will always have elements of truth in them. This is true because men and women in their heart of hearts want to believe the truth, and all discussion or debate starts from this fundamental point. Everybody claims that his or her argument is based on truth. Even facts, however, will sometimes be disputed. Interpretations of facts may differ. Worse, truth will be rationalized, distorted and perverted in cunning ways by mixing it with falsehood. But God-given values and sound, time-tested principles provide a standard that will lead the committed seeker to an understanding of truth.

The Challenge 1. Choose to believe the truth. 2. Commit yourself to find the truth. 3. Be willing to give up your own traditions, habits, prejudices, self-interest, or personal agenda that may conflict with the truth. 4. Identify the time-tested principles and God-given moral values that should be applied to your consideration of the political issues of the day. 5. Study thoroughly the opposing political philosophies and positions so that you are informed of the principals and values of each side. 6. Identify the values and principles upon which each political philosophy is based. 7. Compare the values and principles that you know are true to those of each side. 8. Compare the assertions of each side with the known facts. 9. Make a judgment of which side is based upon correct and true principles, is consistent with God-given moral values, which conforms to known facts, and which espouses the greatest proportion of truth. 10. When you have found the truth, sacrifice whatever is required to embrace it, and hold on to it. 11. Always be willing to test your judgment of the truth with opposing views to relevant issues and controversies. Be ready to add to the truth you know or change your opinions based on new knowledge. When you find truth, do not be ashamed to hold to it. Holding to the truth is not close-mindedness, but enlightenment, the ultimate in integrity and honesty. To equivocate in defense of the truth is cowardice. Holding to error and falsity in the light of truth is foolishness, self-betrayal, dishonesty, and perpetuates ignorance, confusion, and bigotry.

APPENDIX Examples of sound, time-tested Principles: 1. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 2. to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed 3. The principles embodied in the U.S. Constitution regarding the duties and responsibilities of the varied institutions of government. 4. The Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution 5. Do what is right 6. The Law of the Harvest: What you sow, so shall you reap 7. Each man or woman is responsible and accountable for his own actions. 8. Equal justice should be guaranteed for each person. 9. Each man has a responsibility to provide, by his own labor, to the extent he is capable, for the support of himself and his family. 10. Believe in God and keep His commandments. 11. The poor and needy should be taken care of in a just society. 12. Men have free agency to act according to their will, but must bear the consequences of their actions. 13. Men are free and sovereign in their actions that do not harm others. 14. The idler shall not receive the fruits of the laborer. Examples of God-given moral values: 1. Life, in all of its forms, is sacred. 2. The Ten Commandments 3. Love your neighbor as yourself (The Golden Rule) 4. Compassion for the unfortunate 5. Commitment to something greater than oneself 6. Recognize the existence of and be committed to a Supreme Being 7. Pursuit of truth 8. Commitment to excellence 9. Love 10. Honesty 11. Virtue 12. Chastity 13. Forgiveness 14. Dignity, equality, and freedom from tyranny for all human beings 15. Respect for self 16. Respect and care for others 17. Respect for the natural environment

18. Civic responsibility 19. Self-discipline 20. Self reliance 21. Accept responsibility for ones behavior 22. Act in accordance with ones conscience 23. Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

QUESTIONAIRE 1. Why do you believe that your preferred candidate is the best choice? (Please list five reasons) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 2. What basic principles does your candidate support? (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

3. What values does your candidate support? (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 4. Please identify your motive for believing what you believe (prioritize): ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Emotion (he makes me feel good, personality, sex appeal) He understands me Tradition (the way I grew up) Self-interest (his policies are best for me) Similar values Racial ethnicity Same as my friends or family Political Party affiliation He tells the truth Other

5. What is your ultimate standard for the truth? (prioritize) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) A person that I trust The best debater The Bible God My own intellect/opinion Values Basic Principles Popular opinion Other:

6. How do you determine which is the best candidate? (prioritize) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 7. How sure are you that you have made the right decision

8. Are you open to new information that might change your opinion? 9. What will you do to embrace what you believe to be true?

10. What do you think about people who support the other side?