When did it become so easy to lie? There use to be a game show called, “To Tell the Truth.” For those of you old enough to remember the show really wasn’t about telling the truth but rather about a group of contestants getting to the truth. The show was idealistic in the sense that when it was over the real “person” stood up and the truth was told. Today social media has given anonymous a voice and created a platform for the wacky, zany and half- truthers.
Last week, the anti-truthers tried their hand at local politics. Lawton and greater southwest Oklahoma are in a struggle to turn-around their declining population numbers. Mayor Stan Booker and the City Council have proposed what some of us consider a modest Capital Improvement Tax plan that would extend an existing CIP tax and more importantly allow the City of Lawton to engage in long-term planning in regard to crime prevention, wastewater management, beautification and many other projects. Once such poster took to Facebook to post a flier that stated the sales tax rate would rise to 11.25%. Comment after comment attempted to inform others about the misinformation yet those opposed to the extension of the tax clung to their misinformation. After admitting the post was wrong one such poster named Blake Stubb stated, “I have no obligation to be correct, I’m just a dude ...” That should sum up the value of his information and input but still, yet many supported his post.
Did our Founding Fathers envision “just a dude” when they fought for self-determination or were they hoping for someone more informed? Founding Father Thomas Jefferson said this in reference to informed voters, “a properly functioning democracy depends on an informed electorate.” While the smallest decisions we make can have a dramatic impact on our lives, the smallest decisions that our elected leaders not only affect our lives but the lives of those yet unborn. With that said, if you agree with that statement, then can you agree with the following?
DEMOCRACY DEMANDS THE TRUTH.