Yes, my sense is that the importance of Honesty in American society has seriously declined in the last 60 years.
I think that it is particularly widespread among people who feel the need to systematically lie about their own beliefs in order to forward an ideology. It is one thing to lie occasionally, but it entirely different to systematically lie and try to push that lie into public policy, which forces other people to be affected by that lie.
I believe that this kind of lying comes from a lack of Moral Courage. When you are more concerned about being a member of a group and what other people think about you than being true to yourself, it gradually saps your courage.
Better to tell the truth and stand up to the consequences. The consequences typically are much less than most people think.
Yes, my sense is that the importance of Honesty in American society has seriously declined in the last 60 years.
I think that it is particularly widespread among people who feel the need to systematically lie about their own beliefs in order to forward an ideology. It is one thing to lie occasionally, but it entirely different to systematically lie and try to push that lie into public policy, which forces other people to be affected by that lie.
I believe that this kind of lying comes from a lack of Moral Courage. When you are more concerned about being a member of a group and what other people think about you than being true to yourself, it gradually saps your courage.
Better to tell the truth and stand up to the consequences. The consequences typically are much less than most people think.