Philosopher and comedian George Carlin once said: Many American politicians seem to fully embrace Carlin’s workaround.
The outrageous lies uttered by George Santos, elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, are the inevitable culmination of a tradition of political lies that have been brewing for some time. Many people were watching and taking notes when he denied the act. The false rationale for President George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq further tested the limits of truth. President Donald Trump’s loose ties to truth have brought high art to work with lies. An unrepentant Santos plans to win a seat in the House of Representatives after lying about his education, employment, ethnicity, and even his mother’s death.
It’s time for American voters to say, “Enough is enough.” We must better vette the candidates who run for office, point out the lies, and demand laws to sanction officials who knowingly spread lies. If this trend is not corrected, the country will soon become ruled by charlatans and clowns. Let’s hope it’s not there yet.
Paul Gregory Smith
Ash Burnham
