It’s not revisionism, it’s lying

"...proceeded on the sound principle that the magnitude of a lie always contains a certain factor of credibility, since the great masses of the people in the very bottom of their hearts tend to be corrupted rather than consciously and purposely evil, and that, therefore, in view of the primitive simplicity of their minds, they more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a little one, since they themselves lie in little things, but would be ashamed of lies that were too big. Such a falsehood will never enter their heads, and they will not be able to believe in the possibility of such monstrous effrontery and infamous misrepresentation in others.…" --Adolph Hitler

Lying has become the dominant form of information in politics, and untruth has become the distinctive mark of political propaganda. Lying includes the massive historical revisionism which has taken place over the last decade, the falsification of government documents, the false claims which are used to justify the invasion and slaughter of innocent people who have large oil reserves, and so on.

There are countless examples from virtually every country in the world. I have listed a few below, by way of example. Sadly it is a truism that lying and falsification has become normative for many of those in power. The profound consequences for the social narrative as well as for basic human rights, are obvious. This penchant for lying speaks to the character of those in power, as well as the contempt for their contempt for those they rule. In private many of these leaders joke about the the stupidity of the “rabble” and make fun of the utter naiveté of those who believe their lies.

There are many methods incorporated into the weave of political lying and falsification. But there is one which while not unique to our own time, is perhaps uniquely pervasive. This is the technique of acculturation to the credo that truth is relative.

So for example when science as well as simple intellectual honesty indicate that dinosaurs did not cavort with humans 6000 years ago, the relativization of truth declares that well, this ’theory’ is on an equal footing with the evidential facts of genetic evolution. That is to say, truth is a relative thing, depending upon one’s viewpoint. And so the mythological imaginings of a group of religious zealots is claimed equal in weight and worth to the scientific process.

Or take another example, wherein some politician on behalf of the oil-company which has bought and paid for his loyalty states that there is nothing to worry about concerning climate change. He simply disagrees with those who say humanity is on the brink of disaster. Why? Because his belief is just one of many equally valid ones in this area - truth is relative. And so the planet burns while he declares his belief in business as usual as of equal worth to all contrary evidence.

But truth is not relative.

Scientific truth can be objectively tested. The veracity of political statements can be objectively tested. Yet legions of those who have inhabited the halls of martial power from earliest times, would have their subjects believe otherwise. They use revisionism, propaganda, intimidation, the educational system, fiscal pressures, and much more to acculturate their subjects to a belief that lies are normative and acceptable - that their resolution and testing is malleable. That is to say, that truth is relative. That so many have come to believe this is one of the strongest indicators of social decay. And all that is good in humanity, suffers as a result.

“We did not, repeat, did not, trade weapons or anything else for hostages, nor will we” — U.S. President Ronald Reagan, lying, Nov. 1986

“I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that’s true, but the facts and evidence tell me it is not.” — U.S. President Ronald Reagan trying to pretend he was somehow not breaking U.S. law after being forced to admit he had lied when proof was uncovered that he had indeed traded U.S. military weapons for hostages, Mar., 1987

Of course there are countless other examples, from virtually every country in the world. It is a sad truism that lying and falsification has become normative for many of those in power. The profound consequences for the social narrative as well as for basic human rights, are obvious.

I have taken a handful of obvious examples illustrative of the commonality of lying by heads of state and listed them below. Without naming these highly litigious people, for obvious reasons. an image - please see terms of use

I have used examples from Canada by way of illustration. I chose that particular country because it had made the most rapid change of any western country away from a peaceful peace-bringing nation to full-time nation of war. It has since become something quite unpleasant on the world stage. Could that country have so transformed itself from a nation of peace to a nation of war and invasion-for-oil had its leadership been honest about their true intentions? Unlikely.

What the head of state said: Claimed that the outcome of the Copenhagen climate change conference was a major step in addressing climate change, and that the head of state had a significant role in making this happen.
- What actually happened: Documents leaked by the Wikileaks organization showed that this particular head of state did not want to be involved in the conference at all and that he and his people did virtually nothing while there (other than wine and dine on taxpayer money, of course). Additional documents of his earlier speeches showed that neither he nor his senior ministers (none of them with any background in science) believed that climate change was either occurring. Nor was it an issue of any importance for them.
What the head of state said: My government will stick to the promised Afghanistan pull-out date.
- What actually happened: Documents leaked by the Wikileaks show that the head of state told NATO commanders that his public position was a lie, and that his strategy was to use the sham of a “training” mission to extend deployment of Canada’s troops for as long as NATO wished.
What the head of state said: The head of state repeatedly pointed to Canadian sovereignty issues in the Arctic as excuse for vastly increasing military spending and purchasing over budget F-35s attack aircraft.
- What actually happened: According to leaked documents that particular head of state had privately told heads of other nations that he saw absolutely no threat to Canadian sovereignty and further that billions committed to war plane purchase were completely necessary for the defence of Canada
What the head of state said: Promised that the military would only participate in UN Peace keeping missions
- What actually happened: The mandate of the military was changed away from peace missions and into active participation in U.S.-led wars. The troops were deployed by executive order without parliamentary debate (ie. without informing the people’s representatives). Billions of dollars were redirected away from social programs and instead toward increasing the size of the military, military weaponry, and arms trade. Within a very few years Canada changed from a United Nations directed peace-keeping nation, to an active participant in far away wars for oil and plunder.
What the head of state said: “The recession is in full swing and everyone must tighten their belts”.
- What actually happened: Within days of making the statement the head of state authorized the expenditure of a billion dollars of taxpayer money to entertain 160 rich men for two days at a G20 summit. Presumably the head of state had never heard of a telephone or video conferencing. Interestingly an additional $50 million "legacy infrastructure funds" was spent in the electoral riding of the Cabinet Minister in charge, in was was called by investigators "flagrant...hog-troughing of the highest order".
What the head of state said: “I will bring in smaller government, and reign in the size of cabinet”.
- What actually happened: The head of state created the largest most expensive to run cabinet, with the largest number of supporting bureaucratizes support staff in history.
What the head of state said: We will withdraw all of our troops from Iraq.
- What actually happened: Regular troops were replaced by mercenaries - at least 16,000 under direction of the then American ambassador. This was the size of and entire Army division. In addition the size of the drone aircraft fleet was expanded. The “pull-out” was non-existent.
What the head of state said: “Winning a majority government ... is a sign [the leader’s party] has become a home for Canadians from all regions and backgrounds. [Our party’s] values are Canadian values. [Our party] is Canada’s party".
- What actually happened: ~77% of the electorate did not choose the head of state’s party. Majority governments in western first-past the post democracies are almost never elected by a majority of voters - quite the opposite in fact.
What the head of state said: “Ours will be a open government”
- What actually happened: The government was the most secretive in Canadian history, refusing access to information requests, refusing to speak to media, refusing access by citizens, etc.
What the head of state said: “We have released the detainee documents which prove we did nothing wrong”
- What actually happened: After refusing for years to release documents relating to potential war crimes and human rights abuses by his government, the courts finally forced the head of state to release the information. However, the documents released were a heavily redacted carefully selected 4,000 pages out of more than 40,000. Most had little information on relating to the war crimes charges, and were largely irrelevant to the question at hand.
What the head of state said: Claimed that lowering corporate taxes was good for the economy.
- What actually happened: Individual taxes were raised. The economy went into recession. CEO salaries hit record highs. Corporate profits hit record highs. Social programs were slashed. Tax ’loans’ to corporations were forgiven at the same time that individual debt became the highest in history. The Centre for Policy Alternatives calculated that roughly $84 billion could have been collected over three years by taxing corporations at an equitable rate, thereby allowing all social programs to be kept, and even expanded, all without damaging the economy. The reality is that increasing public revenue through a fair and balanced tax system is really a matter of political choice. Lowering corporate taxes is a political, not economic choice.
What the head of state said: “Politicians should keep their promises”. In his ‘Red Book’ the Prime Minister outlined a series of actions which he promised to keep.
- What actually happened: When confronted about breaking his promises, the Prime Minister stated: “Screw the Red Book… Don’t tell me what’s in the Red Book. I wrote the god-damned thing. And I know that it’s a lot of crap.”
What the head of state said: Promised to eliminate the the hated ‘GST’ tax (a tax on everything)
- What actually happened: The GST tax was kept and made permanent
What the head of state said: Promised to “Preserve and protect universal Medicare”
- What actually happened: Transfer payments to provinces was reduced by 40%, creating the worst crisis of health care funding in Canadian history, almost destroying Medicare. Private for-profit US corporations where allowed to set up a two-tier system (those that could afford to pay received excellent timely treatment, unlike everyone else). The two-tier system marked the end of universal Medicare in Canada and the beginning of huge profiteering for private insurance companies and private medical systems.
What the head of state said: Promised to renegotiate or cancel the destructive North American Free Trade agreement
- What actually happened: The North American Free Trade agreement was strengthened and parts massively expanded via the SPP (Security and Prosperity Partnership). Canadian water, oil, gas, lumber, and other resources were shipped to the US. US corporations were given the power to virtually dictate prices paid for these resources. The agreement marked the beginning of the diminution of Canadian and US middle classes.
What the head of state said: Promised to eliminate child poverty in Canada
- What actually happened: Funding changes by government helped create the largest homeless population in Canadian history; the largest homeless child population in history was a corollary of this. Changes in tax laws created the highest child poverty rate in Canadian history.
What the head of state said: Promised that “Health care, not tax cuts are our first priority"
- What actually happened: All budget surpluses from the 40% cut in transfer payments were redirected into tax cuts, most of which which went to the rich. The number of Canadian multi-millionaires was at the highest in history, while simultaneously the number of those citizens earning below the poverty line was at the highest. The number of those below the poverty line rose by over 60%. Health care was changed to a two tier system where those who could afford to bumped the queue for service in the private system.
What the head of state said: Promised to ensure that Canada would always be an independent nation
- What actually happened: The SPP (Security and Prosperity Partnership) was signed by two Prime Ministers. This ’harmonized’ Canadian military, police, customs, arts, water rights, oil rights, mineral rights, corporate law, trade, foreign affairs, border security, and many other formerly independent items with United States laws. Under numerous ’harmonizing’ deals negotiated and signed behind closed doors, exclusive of public input, Canada’s Republican Party, led by the same Christian fundamentalist who had promised that he would keep Canada independent, gave away all of the important rights held by independent nations.
What the head of state said: Promised a new "Veteran’s Charter" to support injured soldiers.
- What actually happened: Support and benefits to disabled soldiers were cut.
What the head of state said: Promised to usher in a new era of openness and accountability.
- What actually happened: Ushered in the most secretive government in history; ignored or made impossibly difficult ability of citizens to have freedom of access to information requests approved; refused to give interviews to the press; silenced cabinet ministers; suppressed dissent at every opportunity; ignored court orders to grant access to information.