An Afternoon Rant: All Governments Lie

There are some of us who have been taught never to believe any governments' word, or any half-way dubious news reports, or the so-named cultural norms that has been forced fed to us since early childhood. The rule: never receive anything on face value. There are many reasons for this particular mind-set of doubt. I've come to call this a 'philosophy of suspicion'.

All governments lie. As a young man growing up in Colorado, the government lied to us about the Vietnam War. Millions of civilians and soldiers died, based on a lie. The US and her allies lost this conflict, and the pain of this war continues to affect individuals and families today. We were lied to about the assassinations of JFK, MLK and RFK. All these men were revolutionaries, desiring change for the common people. And for this, they were shot in the street. The Iraq War.,,

Indeed, with the benefit of hindsight, and the writings of insiders, whistle blowers, we know this to be true. 

Moving slightly forward on the timeline, we have been told of the hundreds of CIA backed coups in many of the small countries of South America – Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, to name but a few. The reason we have continually have a wave of South American refugees seeking asylum, is the direct result of these regime change wars, and economic 'scourge and burn' tactics of the United States. The purpose of these tactics is to 'own' said country, benefiting only the puppets of the regime. While the people are left without, are only left with nothing. This is, at bottom, the immigration issue in the US. Though the government blames “their” problem on socialism or "staggering" crime. This is ridiculous, even on face value. My surprise and disgust, is the American people believe these lies, believing a failed businessman and Reality Game Show host. These lies did not start with Trump. We have been fed these lies since the end of WW2. But what has happened to critical thought?

Over the last five to ten years, the extreme Right has taken front seat in politics. The reason for this upsurge in “hate”, is the remnants of Neoliberalism. In short, this elitist economic philosophy, based on a strict economic system of Capitalism, reserves the right of trade and production to only benefit the few. It came to appear for many, during the Obama Administration in the recession of 2008. Millions of people lost their homes during this time. Rather than re stimulate the economy through the public sphere, creating jobs and home owner incentives, Obama bailed out the banks, Wall Street, the very institutions that caused the recession. For certain, across the world, Neo-liberalism had taken its toll on the common people. The rich had come out richer, and the common middle class were now poor. The same happened in the UK. The irresponsible spending of the elite caused a major recession. The government, rather than stimulate the economy for the people, created 'austerity' laws, taking money away from social institutions like medicare, thereby filling their own pockets. The people around the planet had had enough. The Right wing mover in, promising everything, and has given nothing. Continuing to help the elite while we, the everyday suffer.

What really bothers me, is that good people do not look beyond what's given to them. These elite power-hungry-&- $ hungry elites, now in seats of true influence, do not give a rats ass about us. It's all a game for them. Poverty is justified by blaming the victim. War is justified by blaming the 'other'. When people begin blaming victims for their own condition, something is wrong. This is the behaviour of the psychopath. He beats his wife to death, screaming, “This is your fault, you made me do this!” Classic psychopath, mirroring our government's current behaviour.

Never believe what authority tells you. History tells us to be aware of power.

All governments lie.