Trump wasn't the first liar and he won't be the last. But the health of democracy remains in danger as long as Fox News and GOP leaders reject the truth and the public buys it.
I needed this post today as my brain has been on the verge of exploding all week. From when I was very young, my Dad, a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge in WW II, 1 of the greatest generation who rarely talked about his service in WW II. He was humble and as he said, there was no question that he would take a hiatus from college and enlist. He had to help his generation make the world sage for Democracy. And you have included the quote that my Dad would tell me when he did talk about the war.], the statement from Third Reich propagandist Joseph Goebbels: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”
As you note, we’ve seen the truth of that on a shocking scale in America since Trump lost the 2020 election and tens of millions of Americans—fueled by their hero’s anger, marinating in feelings of grievance, priding themselves on their skepticism of what is knowable—have refused to believe that Joe Biden was legitimately elected president.
45 and the woman who lost in AZ (I can't use their names because I get headaches and I get filled with rage ) are destroying our Democracy with their lies, their election denialism, their constant actions to bring the cult along with them and destroy faith in America's election system. Then, of course, I would be remiss if I didn't also mention that state tv (you know the channel) is not a news channel. It is a propaganda machine, established to perpetuate the lies of 45 and the AZ loser woman and to spread election denialism. Yes, state tv is also trying to destroy our Democracy.
How do we undo the damage that the liars have done, for the purpose of stealing their elections and maintaining their hold on power? I go back to the Goebbels quote that my Dad often mentioned to me. It seems that so many have already assumed those lies to be the truth because they have herd those lies so often. Let's follow the instructions and guidance that witnesses are given in court, to paraphrase: tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The truth will set us free. The truth will restore our Democracy. Telling the truth is the correct thing to do; and we must do it. And, in the words of Hillel: if not now, when. Let it be NOW. Happy weekend, everyone.
deception coupled with a lack of shame is deeply troubling. When repeated in the closed circuits of conspiratorial media, lies develop the patina of truth. They become revered as dogma and all reasonable discourse is rendered impossible. The solution in psychotherapy is systematic deprogramming, but extending those principles to the culture at large feels Sisyphean. I don’t know what the antidote is for this strangling political climate.
Feb 24, 2023·edited Feb 24, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss
Thank you, as always, Steven for your your outstanding writing. I think you identified the crux of the issue with your phrase: ' the difference between what you want to hear and what is actually the case.' It is remarkable that a mindset of denialism could prevail, to the extent it does today. I suspect that a great deal of insecurity exists in the minds of individuals who hold on so tenaciously to incorrect information.
I also contend that a base level of gullibility in reality deniers, is underscored by suppressed anger and frustration in a pattern of dissimulation. The disenfranchised are only too willing to latch onto a scapegoat for their grievances. Trump is a vociferous conspiracy theorist. and fanned the flames of doubt and discontent among his followers. He played his own personal victim card as well, providing common ground for the aggrieved to relate to him. Anger surged and conspiracy theories manifested with dangerous consequences, such as the January 6th Insurrection at America's Capitol. Truth is a connection to reality, and being capable of self-analysis and introspection is key. Seeking 'alternative facts' is a way to avoid difficult or uncomfortable issues. Truth is not always easy or kind, but it should be the guiding light of our existence. I hope we get there.
We’ve got to “speak” this race to the truth like the Tortoise ran the race against the Hare, slowly but consistently and steadily. We must constantly show our gullible populace what lies ahead for a country that believes a big lie. We must never lose the motivation to shed light on the truth whenever and wherever possible.
The only answer is to prove election deniers are a distinct minority of voters nationwide by popular vote as well as by electoral college votes. So 24 must be the pinnacle of truth-telling politically as well as raw “turnout.” That will be the obligation of every election believer! I believe everyone reading Steve’s column knows full well that democracy is at stake then! So please accept your responsibility to systematically encourage the registration to vote of seniors in high school, community colleges and four Year institutions. I am engaged with brilliant young minds at Harvard to do this in 2,000 high schools in competitive congressional districts strictly on a nonpartisan basis. If you are interested in helping please let me know at IraLechner@yahoo.com. Youth will save us!
Indictment of Trump will not help unify the country. Nor would his likely and much deserved conviction. Instead, it will deepen the divides that separate Americans to the point of killing our republic.
While speaking of slavery, Lincoln had it right. In 1858, in his famous “House Divided” speech, the future President said, “I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided.
“It will become all one thing or all the other.”
Our democracy – supposedly a unified republic of multiple racial, religious, ethnic, and other differences -- now needs to be re-sold to its own citizens who have been brainwashed by Fox and its ilk.
Let me suggest to wealthy, pro-democracy readers of your column that they fund a large, paid advertising campaign, selling Americans on America.
And it should not be for just one election cycle, but ongoing for years.
To stop Fox by government fiat would surely tread on the First Amendment. And even if Dominion Voting Systems wins its $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox, the propaganda monster will continue lurching on like the undead as it uses one legal step after another to avoid paying any settlement.
Once Americans believed in the “American dream.” It’s time to re-inspire that dream.
As we progress, I think it will become more and more clear what a debt of gratitude we owe Dominion for pursuing its suit against FOX for defamation. Without it, the emails that are clear proof that FOX and its major hosts deliberately pushed dangerous lies that they knew to be lies would not have come to light.
My hope is that when Dominion wins this suit, as it must if there is any justice, one thing they will have to do is remove the word NEWS from the name of their network. It would be even better if they had to use the word PROPAGANDA in their title, and on every chiron, but that is probably too much to hope for.
I do so appreciate your usual optimism. It appears to be missing, in this missive. Having no foresight regarding future indictments, we need to get over our inured tolerance of political lies, and continue to numerate them. As we tally Drumpf's, let's count MGT, LB, ad nauseum. Call them out! Thanks.
John you miss read me. I would only speak the truth when I tell deniers what their lives would be like under a government like Russia’s and Hungary’s. I want them to face the negative consequences, if not fear, of life under such governments
How about the Russian hoax or the Laptop from hell. Better yet the 50 experts. Top that one, how about the vaccine ;). Oh. And Reagan, debt to GDP was only 41% when he left office and the gap between revenue and expenses was less than 3% but GDP approached 4% meaning the ratio was coming down. Oh, that was you. Liars all no?
Sadly, everyone lies. Parents lie about Santa and the tooth fairy. As a little girl, I lied. If I did something wrong, I said my imaginary friend , "Gummy" did it. Many make false claims that God has spoken to them, literally, and they then proceed to tell some crazy story.
As Abe Lincoln said -you can fool all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. I believe the latter includes those of us who join in these discussions.
All presidents have lied. Founding Fathers called for equality but owned slaves. JFK owes political success to his father's enhancement of the PT boat incident which would not have happened as Jack was considered a poor boat commander. LBJ lied about the Gulf of Tonkin which led to our full fight in Viet Nam. Nixon "I am not a crook" lied about Watergate. Reagan about the Iran Contra affair. Ike about the U2 spy plane. Clinton about his sexual interludes. Truman A bomb of Hiroshima saying it was a military base. FDR promised never to send the boys to fight in Europe. Biden has a thing about driving/riding in trucks and falsely claimed arrest in a civil rights protest. Even Abe pushed colonization in Africa of freed slaves . There is no need to even mention the other guy. He tells so many, one expects he is lying, shakes one head, and moves on. Sometimes if it weren't so serious, it seems comical. Junior with his shaking arms is a given. I do get upset at Keri Lake episodes. Like trump, her spiel is a broken record, same victim story over and over. VP in mind???
Carlson et al not alone. Brian Wilson of NBC claimed he was in a shot down helicopter in Iraq.
The question is why do people believe this stuff? What advantage to them? Often it just is proof to them that what they already believe is so. And to deny it would prove them wrong.
There is a lot of talk now of AI-artificial intelligence. Students using it to write term papers. What will it mean when it reaches out to those in government who wish to enhance their popularity and bank accounts? AI can be truth and lies, both. trump won't even know what it means, but DeSantis will.
After reading this I am of the opinion, we will never be able to turn the tide with the election deniers. They swallowed the lies hook, line and sinker and will drown and go down with the ship. And Trump, Lake et al. Do not care about them at all - they use them for their votes and rabid support. They will not suffer at all and probably laugh as they are found guilty of their January 6th activities in their name. Ugh ugh ugh. I’m sorry I am just feeling so evasive today about the red states and the awful GOP...
Perhaps I missed something--are you saying all or some part of the Arizona deniers came to understand the truth? They were buying autographed books, but were their minds changed? Thanks for your answer.
I needed this post today as my brain has been on the verge of exploding all week. From when I was very young, my Dad, a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge in WW II, 1 of the greatest generation who rarely talked about his service in WW II. He was humble and as he said, there was no question that he would take a hiatus from college and enlist. He had to help his generation make the world sage for Democracy. And you have included the quote that my Dad would tell me when he did talk about the war.], the statement from Third Reich propagandist Joseph Goebbels: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”
As you note, we’ve seen the truth of that on a shocking scale in America since Trump lost the 2020 election and tens of millions of Americans—fueled by their hero’s anger, marinating in feelings of grievance, priding themselves on their skepticism of what is knowable—have refused to believe that Joe Biden was legitimately elected president.
45 and the woman who lost in AZ (I can't use their names because I get headaches and I get filled with rage ) are destroying our Democracy with their lies, their election denialism, their constant actions to bring the cult along with them and destroy faith in America's election system. Then, of course, I would be remiss if I didn't also mention that state tv (you know the channel) is not a news channel. It is a propaganda machine, established to perpetuate the lies of 45 and the AZ loser woman and to spread election denialism. Yes, state tv is also trying to destroy our Democracy.
How do we undo the damage that the liars have done, for the purpose of stealing their elections and maintaining their hold on power? I go back to the Goebbels quote that my Dad often mentioned to me. It seems that so many have already assumed those lies to be the truth because they have herd those lies so often. Let's follow the instructions and guidance that witnesses are given in court, to paraphrase: tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The truth will set us free. The truth will restore our Democracy. Telling the truth is the correct thing to do; and we must do it. And, in the words of Hillel: if not now, when. Let it be NOW. Happy weekend, everyone.
The psychology of naked
deception coupled with a lack of shame is deeply troubling. When repeated in the closed circuits of conspiratorial media, lies develop the patina of truth. They become revered as dogma and all reasonable discourse is rendered impossible. The solution in psychotherapy is systematic deprogramming, but extending those principles to the culture at large feels Sisyphean. I don’t know what the antidote is for this strangling political climate.
Thank you, as always, Steven for your your outstanding writing. I think you identified the crux of the issue with your phrase: ' the difference between what you want to hear and what is actually the case.' It is remarkable that a mindset of denialism could prevail, to the extent it does today. I suspect that a great deal of insecurity exists in the minds of individuals who hold on so tenaciously to incorrect information.
I also contend that a base level of gullibility in reality deniers, is underscored by suppressed anger and frustration in a pattern of dissimulation. The disenfranchised are only too willing to latch onto a scapegoat for their grievances. Trump is a vociferous conspiracy theorist. and fanned the flames of doubt and discontent among his followers. He played his own personal victim card as well, providing common ground for the aggrieved to relate to him. Anger surged and conspiracy theories manifested with dangerous consequences, such as the January 6th Insurrection at America's Capitol. Truth is a connection to reality, and being capable of self-analysis and introspection is key. Seeking 'alternative facts' is a way to avoid difficult or uncomfortable issues. Truth is not always easy or kind, but it should be the guiding light of our existence. I hope we get there.
Time WILL tell but Willie Shakespeare says: " truth will out". Hope he's right!!! Democracy is depending on it.
We’ve got to “speak” this race to the truth like the Tortoise ran the race against the Hare, slowly but consistently and steadily. We must constantly show our gullible populace what lies ahead for a country that believes a big lie. We must never lose the motivation to shed light on the truth whenever and wherever possible.
As long as we subscribe to the notion that the ends justify the means, truth will remain a casualty. Great post Steve!
The only answer is to prove election deniers are a distinct minority of voters nationwide by popular vote as well as by electoral college votes. So 24 must be the pinnacle of truth-telling politically as well as raw “turnout.” That will be the obligation of every election believer! I believe everyone reading Steve’s column knows full well that democracy is at stake then! So please accept your responsibility to systematically encourage the registration to vote of seniors in high school, community colleges and four Year institutions. I am engaged with brilliant young minds at Harvard to do this in 2,000 high schools in competitive congressional districts strictly on a nonpartisan basis. If you are interested in helping please let me know at IraLechner@yahoo.com. Youth will save us!
Very sobering !
Indictment of Trump will not help unify the country. Nor would his likely and much deserved conviction. Instead, it will deepen the divides that separate Americans to the point of killing our republic.
While speaking of slavery, Lincoln had it right. In 1858, in his famous “House Divided” speech, the future President said, “I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided.
“It will become all one thing or all the other.”
Our democracy – supposedly a unified republic of multiple racial, religious, ethnic, and other differences -- now needs to be re-sold to its own citizens who have been brainwashed by Fox and its ilk.
Let me suggest to wealthy, pro-democracy readers of your column that they fund a large, paid advertising campaign, selling Americans on America.
And it should not be for just one election cycle, but ongoing for years.
To stop Fox by government fiat would surely tread on the First Amendment. And even if Dominion Voting Systems wins its $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox, the propaganda monster will continue lurching on like the undead as it uses one legal step after another to avoid paying any settlement.
Once Americans believed in the “American dream.” It’s time to re-inspire that dream.
As we progress, I think it will become more and more clear what a debt of gratitude we owe Dominion for pursuing its suit against FOX for defamation. Without it, the emails that are clear proof that FOX and its major hosts deliberately pushed dangerous lies that they knew to be lies would not have come to light.
My hope is that when Dominion wins this suit, as it must if there is any justice, one thing they will have to do is remove the word NEWS from the name of their network. It would be even better if they had to use the word PROPAGANDA in their title, and on every chiron, but that is probably too much to hope for.
I do so appreciate your usual optimism. It appears to be missing, in this missive. Having no foresight regarding future indictments, we need to get over our inured tolerance of political lies, and continue to numerate them. As we tally Drumpf's, let's count MGT, LB, ad nauseum. Call them out! Thanks.
John you miss read me. I would only speak the truth when I tell deniers what their lives would be like under a government like Russia’s and Hungary’s. I want them to face the negative consequences, if not fear, of life under such governments
How about the Russian hoax or the Laptop from hell. Better yet the 50 experts. Top that one, how about the vaccine ;). Oh. And Reagan, debt to GDP was only 41% when he left office and the gap between revenue and expenses was less than 3% but GDP approached 4% meaning the ratio was coming down. Oh, that was you. Liars all no?
Sadly, everyone lies. Parents lie about Santa and the tooth fairy. As a little girl, I lied. If I did something wrong, I said my imaginary friend , "Gummy" did it. Many make false claims that God has spoken to them, literally, and they then proceed to tell some crazy story.
As Abe Lincoln said -you can fool all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. I believe the latter includes those of us who join in these discussions.
All presidents have lied. Founding Fathers called for equality but owned slaves. JFK owes political success to his father's enhancement of the PT boat incident which would not have happened as Jack was considered a poor boat commander. LBJ lied about the Gulf of Tonkin which led to our full fight in Viet Nam. Nixon "I am not a crook" lied about Watergate. Reagan about the Iran Contra affair. Ike about the U2 spy plane. Clinton about his sexual interludes. Truman A bomb of Hiroshima saying it was a military base. FDR promised never to send the boys to fight in Europe. Biden has a thing about driving/riding in trucks and falsely claimed arrest in a civil rights protest. Even Abe pushed colonization in Africa of freed slaves . There is no need to even mention the other guy. He tells so many, one expects he is lying, shakes one head, and moves on. Sometimes if it weren't so serious, it seems comical. Junior with his shaking arms is a given. I do get upset at Keri Lake episodes. Like trump, her spiel is a broken record, same victim story over and over. VP in mind???
Carlson et al not alone. Brian Wilson of NBC claimed he was in a shot down helicopter in Iraq.
The question is why do people believe this stuff? What advantage to them? Often it just is proof to them that what they already believe is so. And to deny it would prove them wrong.
There is a lot of talk now of AI-artificial intelligence. Students using it to write term papers. What will it mean when it reaches out to those in government who wish to enhance their popularity and bank accounts? AI can be truth and lies, both. trump won't even know what it means, but DeSantis will.
Warning: Beware.
After reading this I am of the opinion, we will never be able to turn the tide with the election deniers. They swallowed the lies hook, line and sinker and will drown and go down with the ship. And Trump, Lake et al. Do not care about them at all - they use them for their votes and rabid support. They will not suffer at all and probably laugh as they are found guilty of their January 6th activities in their name. Ugh ugh ugh. I’m sorry I am just feeling so evasive today about the red states and the awful GOP...
Perhaps I missed something--are you saying all or some part of the Arizona deniers came to understand the truth? They were buying autographed books, but were their minds changed? Thanks for your answer.