R
rdean
Guest
It's one of the first "Rules" of Common Sense. If your position has merit, you don't need to lie. Just stick to the merits.
You don't need to call someone a Muslim or Not American if you disagree with their policies. Just explain what part of the policy you disagree with. And don't "make up" a policy and assign it to that person to prove your point. If that's not their position, then it's a lie.
Don't make a policy statement and then say it wasn't what you said when you discover that policy is unpopular. For instance, if you are running for office and during the election you said you would only represent the people who voted for you, don't walk it back. Improve on it. Say that you better vote for me so you will have representation. Walking it back makes it look like a lie.
Careful with subterfuge. It may or may not be a lie. For instance, saying your opponent paid zero taxes for ten years, which is why they won't release their tax return may or may not be a lie. But if they release their tax returns and you are proven to be wrong, it make you look like a lying loon. Until it's out there, it's not a lie, only a calculated risk. Same thing with a birth certificate. As long as it's not conclusively proven, it's political subterfuge. But once a state has to go through the state legislature and change state law, don't hold on to it. Let it go. Holding on to it leaves you vulnerable to ridicule. No one votes for someone everyone makes fun of, unless it turns out the ridicule was unwarranted. Then there might be some sympathy.
Now saying your opponent ended the work requirement for welfare or is shipping Jeeps to China can easily proven to be true or false. Saying something so blatantly provable could easily cost you votes.
And be careful who you ridicule. Injured veterans get government help. Working families get food stamps if their income is low enough. Many people work hard and go through great stress for an education - saying it's for snobs and elitists will cost votes. All of these come back to lies.
And be careful about far out "what ifs" and make sure they are plausible and make sense. The government wants semi automatic clips with fewer bullets so they can take your assault weapons is neither plausible nor makes sense.
And be careful about unintentionally having two positions. Examples:
1. We are against background checks but support "Voter ID" which includes a background check.
2. It's OK for white kids from rich families to be jumped over thousands of others who can afford to go to college simply because their families are connected and can pull strings. We call this "Rich People's Affirmative Action", but it's not OK for a minority to be helped simply because their family isn't rich or white. Either you are for Affirmative Action or against it.
3. Complaining that your job was sent to China while saying capitalism should be unfettered.
4. Receiving government money while complaining about people who receive government money.
Don't "pick or choose" the lie. If your leaders says one thing and it's proven to be false and he comes clean, don't continue to believe the lie. He already told you he was wrong.
If people had a little more "common sense", then the discussion would be more fruitful.
You don't need to call someone a Muslim or Not American if you disagree with their policies. Just explain what part of the policy you disagree with. And don't "make up" a policy and assign it to that person to prove your point. If that's not their position, then it's a lie.
Don't make a policy statement and then say it wasn't what you said when you discover that policy is unpopular. For instance, if you are running for office and during the election you said you would only represent the people who voted for you, don't walk it back. Improve on it. Say that you better vote for me so you will have representation. Walking it back makes it look like a lie.
Careful with subterfuge. It may or may not be a lie. For instance, saying your opponent paid zero taxes for ten years, which is why they won't release their tax return may or may not be a lie. But if they release their tax returns and you are proven to be wrong, it make you look like a lying loon. Until it's out there, it's not a lie, only a calculated risk. Same thing with a birth certificate. As long as it's not conclusively proven, it's political subterfuge. But once a state has to go through the state legislature and change state law, don't hold on to it. Let it go. Holding on to it leaves you vulnerable to ridicule. No one votes for someone everyone makes fun of, unless it turns out the ridicule was unwarranted. Then there might be some sympathy.
Now saying your opponent ended the work requirement for welfare or is shipping Jeeps to China can easily proven to be true or false. Saying something so blatantly provable could easily cost you votes.
And be careful who you ridicule. Injured veterans get government help. Working families get food stamps if their income is low enough. Many people work hard and go through great stress for an education - saying it's for snobs and elitists will cost votes. All of these come back to lies.
And be careful about far out "what ifs" and make sure they are plausible and make sense. The government wants semi automatic clips with fewer bullets so they can take your assault weapons is neither plausible nor makes sense.
And be careful about unintentionally having two positions. Examples:
1. We are against background checks but support "Voter ID" which includes a background check.
2. It's OK for white kids from rich families to be jumped over thousands of others who can afford to go to college simply because their families are connected and can pull strings. We call this "Rich People's Affirmative Action", but it's not OK for a minority to be helped simply because their family isn't rich or white. Either you are for Affirmative Action or against it.
3. Complaining that your job was sent to China while saying capitalism should be unfettered.
4. Receiving government money while complaining about people who receive government money.
Don't "pick or choose" the lie. If your leaders says one thing and it's proven to be false and he comes clean, don't continue to believe the lie. He already told you he was wrong.
If people had a little more "common sense", then the discussion would be more fruitful.
