Truth must be more important

Truth must be more important

In his recent interview with Charlie Rose of CBS, President Obama gave an astounding explanation of what has gone wrong with his efforts in leading the country. He said of the presidency: “The nature of this office is also to tell a story to the American people that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism, especially during tough times.” In a time when millions are out of work, the president’s solution seems to be that he needs to, as he said, “tell the story better and people will be more optimistic.”

In 2009, the national debt, about $12 trillion, meant every American virtually owed $38,900. Today the debt under the Obama administration has risen to more than $15 trillion, and each of us accordingly would owe $50,530. I am wondering how one would go about telling that part of the “story” better, in a way that we can all be “more optimistic?”

Today, the president calls his eloquent attempts at making us all feel better “telling a story.” In an earlier day such efforts were called “propaganda.” One cannot help but remember a message from Hitler’s messenger, Joseph Goebbels: “It would not be impossible to prove with sufficient repetition and a psychological understanding of the people concerned that a square is in fact a circle. They are mere words, and words can be molded until they clothe ideas and disguise.”

Goebbels also, remember, said: “If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.”

In times like this it is hard not to become so cynical we join in Pontius Pilate’s question: “What is truth?” Many of us can only hope that the day will come when truth becomes more important in the halls of government.

Wightman Weese

Wheaton