Empires Built on Sand

It continues to amaze and trouble me that those who have repeatedly shown themselves to be liars are so often freely given, in trust, the lives and property of American citizens. Nobody is surprised when government officials lie, but so many of us continue to put our faith in their words and good intentions even if, later, we find their actions to have been devious, at best, and/or, otherwise, outright criminal.

When government officials cite classified information as reason for war, supporting this war is trusting their words and intentions. When they create tremendously obfuscated and complex legislation to “enhance” the health and well-being of Americans, the act of trusting their claims about this legislation’s merits is an act of faith in their words and good intentions. However, later, once these government officials have successfully gained our support and gotten our approval – when we find out that all that was said were lies and half-truths – none of us are particularly surprised. Nonetheless, many of us are all-too-eager and willing to repeat this cycle again and again.

Until this cycle is broken, we, in the Western World, are likely to continue our decline. My only hope is that people will finally become fed-up enough to demand excellence and veracity from their government officials. However, judging from the recent past, my hopes are likely as misplaced as the hopes of those whom I am now criticizing.