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Article: Why do politicians lie?(Commentary)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- October 23, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Do we live in a Republic of Lies? Benjamin Cardozo Law School Professor John O. McGinnis thinks we do. So does Pope John Paul II. Both men have a lot of company.
How did this deplorable condition come about? Democracy and free speech are supposed to produce truth, not its opposite.
There are many aspects to the answer. Professor McGinnis blames our political culture. The pontiff blames philosophers who have given up on truth.
The income tax and the New Deal radically altered our political culture. Prior to these two disasters, Americans sought to elect honest and accomplished men -those George Washington called "the first characters ...