Reagan's hypocrisy ('07)

This letter of mine was published in Time magazine in April 2007:

Hypocrisy is at the root of the sad situation on the political right, and Ronald Reagan started it [March 26]. He said the right things in a most seductive manner. Despite his talk of small government and fiscal responsibility, the federal bureaucracy and the national debt both grew tremendously under his guidance. Politicians say whatever the audience wants to hear, even if their words are completely divorced from reality. Whether discussing budget forecasts, civil liberties, the environment or reasons for war and the readiness of troops, they are just uttering patriotic-sounding lies.

- - - - [ As I wrote it: ] - - - - -

Hypocrisy is at the root of the sad situation of the Right, and Reagan himself started it.

He said the Right things, in a most seductive manner, but he didn't live up to it, and he would never admit it. Despite his talk of small government and fiscal responsibility, the federal bureaucracy and the national debt both grew tremendously under his guidance.

This led directly to today's pervasive political double-speak and denial. Politicians simply say whatever the audience wants to hear, even if that is completely divorced from reality. From the names of Congressional bills, to budget forecasts, to professed devotion to fiscal restraint, civil liberties, the environment or scientific research, even to the reasons for war and the readiness of troops -- it's all patriotic-sounding lies, repeated endlessly and never questioned by the press.