PRIMER ON HOW TO CONVERT LIES INTO

“DIFFERENCES OF OPINION”

            It seems ludicrously easy to lie to the public without being castigated as a liar. The principles are simple and easy to understand.

            1] Cherry pick the facts that support your argument. It’s much like selling any product: if some truths are inconvenient just don’t mention them. It is the responsibility of the audience to do the research and your opposition to cherry pick their facts.

            2] Always claim that any rebuttal is being made by someone “with a political agenda”. It is always helpful if a few critics are prone to cherry picking their facts. It is easy to confuse the audience when both sides are considered liars. That way lying is just another method of political dialogue. In other words “Everybody does it”.

            3] Carefully avoid addressing the specific criticism – unless it comes from someone of questionable moral principles – like yourself [after all, how moral can you be if you resort to deliberate deceptions on a grand scale?]. Honest critics always have less money and less access to forums – and you can’t refute their criticism without confirming your statements as lies.

            4] Always associate criticism with support of the most disreputable target of your dishonesty. As Jesus was called “friend of tax collectors and prostitutes” drug policy reformers could be called “friend of drug fiends and dealers”. Likewise, any critic of our foreign interventionism would be called “a friend of Al Qaeda and Islamofascists”.

            5] Always keep the audience focus on “the villain”. While the number of victims of our two forever wars [the War on Drugs and War on Terror] far outnumber the real villains there are real villains on “the other side”.  Constantly remind the audience about these bad actors. Even if they recognize you as a liar, they will believe that the lies are “necessary” to prevail over evil.

            6] Work with statistics to enhance your arguments.  When your cause is against a secretive or clandestine “enemy” this is ludicrously easy. Any verifiable information is impossible to come by and mostly guesswork. Nobody – including you– can verify the authenticity of these statistics. Inflate “the enemies’” capabilities and danger to the audience. Conversely, deflate or ignore – if possible – misconduct of those who prosecute your dishonest policy. All Islamic people are terrorists and all users of banned drugs are severe abusers and violent criminals – and they deserve to be abused by those in power!

            6a] When you are confronted by discrepancies in your “facts” pick the critic who is least trustworthy as a foil. You are less likely to be revealed by Al Jazeera than Amnesty International. If most of your critics are reputable revert to number 4 above. It is easy to associate principled critics with real villains and enhance your reputation. After all you control the mainstream media and can focus the public attention elsewhere.

            7] Remember the “Big Lie” principle. It doesn’t matter if none of your “facts” matches reality or “adds up”. Most people are incapable of critical thinking and those who are and haven’t been subverted are rendered as marginal players in the political system. When it comes to high profile political positions it’s conducted on a “liars only” basis. If you are incorruptible there is zero chance of you being seriously considered by those who matter. The average Joe mistakenly figures that “where there is smoke there is fire”. The reality is that where there is smoke there are often mirrors.