The Web of Deception

How much of the economy is based on deception, lies and outright fabrication? Isn't the foundation of capitalism the old saw "Let the buyer beware?" The billions spent on advertising creates illusion, polish and unsubstantiated banter. The public being a willing dupe much prefers the chimera to flat reality and in the end ignores the fact that the beer does not taste so good, the product doesn't work so well or the fashion doesn't fit. This is a phenomenological reality. Does individual responsibility absolve business and government from transparence or any semblance of truthfulness? Our ability to think is altered by shiny lights, loud noises and grand displays and we become guinea pigs for sophisticated commercial hucksters.

Enter any bazaar in the third world and even the most sheepish tourist instantly is transformed into a perceptive, aggressive haggler. Yet at home we quietly hand over our money without question. We believe the sugar coated history proffered in textbooks and fire up false patriotism at the first sign of trouble. Our country suffers from faith based reality. We are always willing to ignore experience, science and rigorous documentation in favor of popular perception, accounting tricks and empty rhetoric. As a society we lack the ability to listen. Our national attention span is deficient.

Obviously, it's easier to hold onto and reiterate a talking point than it is to think. A recent video shows Tea Party members still obsessing about death panels and grandma being sent off on an ice floe to die. I've often said these people are silly and self interested, you can add stupid to that list. Americans love to speak up but many don't take the time to study the question or consider the substance of a debate; then they become infuriated when little credence is given their ill informed opinions.

Apparently, the first amendment guarantees our right to be misinformed. Free speech offers no qualifiers as to veracity. One again it is left up to the listener 'to beware' and supply his own skepticism.

Sending cash to a telemarketer may seem like a terrible mistake and waste but it's only money. Investing in lies and faulty thinking poses even greater risk. Adolf Hitler was a freely elected official and becoming gung ho over any war talk always causes loss of life. Business always hedges every bet, it throws money at both sides knowing the greedy always take the bait. The individual is virtually powerless but the mob reactionary mentality scares the hell out of congress. No one knows which way they will go or who they will turn on. This paranoia contributes to the general schizophrenia of government. Nothing gets done because delusional leadership knows only to scramble for the best light or to duck and cover.

I am forever incredulous in Missouri the 'show me' state.