The mistruths of politics

I just wish we could be more honest about all of our mistruth.

If you are a Republican and can only see mistruth happening on the Democrat side — or a Democrat who only sees misinformation happening on the Republican side — you are not paying close enough attention.

How can you call Republican politicians “election deniers” for questioning the 2020 election without also referring likewise to the Democrats who made the very same claims about the 2016 election? Or vice versa?

How can you think that the 2016 election was the most corrupt in history (because your candidate lost) but the 2020 election was the most accurate, well-run election ever conducted (because your candidate won)?

I suppose the only thing that really is true about Republicans and Democrats was said by the great humorist Will Rogers:

“The more you read and observe about this politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other.”

What it comes down to is we get the leaders we deserve, and if we want them to tell us mistruths, we will keep not addressing our very real challenges — but we will be entertained by fictional solutions that won’t do any of us any good.

I suppose the only saving grace is that the often ridiculous promises and claims that are made by our politicians are never as bad as they could be, as the federal government is the most inefficient organization on the face of the earth.

As Will Rogers explains, that’s something we should be grateful for:

“Those who complain about the high cost of government should be glad we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.”

Purcell, creator of the infotainment site ThurbersTail.com, which features pet advice he’s learning from his beloved Labrador, Thurber, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist. Email him at Tom@TomPurcell.com.