Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Politicians Still Morally Wrong

Don’t believe anything you hear.

Lying is commonplace, and now it is evidently even being encouraged. Aftermath of the recent election revealed that much ridicule and many of the promises, claims and  counter-claims were lies. However, that’s all fine and dandy, according to man-made rules. Be a politician, say whatever you want (true or false), and the laws don’t apply.


Most people have lied at some time in their life. Often they’re just ornery fibs or perhaps even considered jokes when said. Realistically, these “white lies” are not intended to do harm, and generally do not, with the exceptions of getting someone in real trouble or hurting their feelings, unintentionally.

People do lie though for a variety of reasons, think nothing of it, and get by with it. Certain folks tell untruths so regularly it’s impossible to believe anything they say,
even when it is true. These people often come to believe their own falsehoods  because they’ve said them so often. “Take everything they say with a grain of salt,” as the adage goes.

We’ve always been pretty naïve about worldly things, and usually believed what people have told us. Likewise, much of the world is trustworthy.

Come to find out there are truth-in-advertising laws which pertain to sales of goods. However, they don’t apply to political advertising.  It’s unlikely anybody could be
prosecuted for lying or saying something about another person during a campaign.

A person can sue another for libel (written) or slander (spoken), but politicians are largely exempted. It would be almost impossible to win a lawsuit in any campaign   controversy, according to what we’re told.

Horse traders have always had a reputation of “stretching the truth,” or “not telling the whole story.” We’ve been trapped more than our share, but we should have always known better. The rule is: “Buyer beware.”

We’re evidently all on our own to figure out what’s true and what’s not on about everything. Of course, since the beginning of God’s laws governing man, as Moses brought down from Mount Sinai on the two stone tablets:“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” It’s always been a sin against God to lie.

Rightful analysis comes in Proverbs 14:25:“A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.” Likewise in Jeremiah 9:5: “Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity.”

Jesus verifies the true law about liars in John 8:44: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

+++ALLELUIA+++

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