Politics and Hyperbole

A nation's politics that rests on a foundation of tolerated exaggeration cannot stand

The advent of direct to constituent communications along with the need for competitive fundraising has seriously warped the American political process.

Instead of “refining and enlarging public opinion, as the founders’ had presumed members of the House of Representatives would do, representatives instead spend more time demagoguing the masses for campaign donations.

The result is that constituents then have a hard time separating enthusiastic hyperbole from political reality.

And members of the Senate -- who are supposed to represent the more thoughtful and deliberate branch of government -- have often joined their House counterparts in saying and doing almost anything to extract fundraising dollars from the public.

Clearly, such a defective arrangement cannot stand in a republic.

To remedy politicians’ rampant demagoguery the following measures should be taken.

First, since politicians have a greater responsibility to act with integrity and respect for our Constitution and the founders’ wishes, politicians should use their platforms to raise money for charity or other public projects.  This would do more to serve the taxpayer than begging the masses to fund their endless campaigns while eliminating the need for more pork barrel spending.

Second Senators should act with greater restraint and limit their speaking engagements to forums where they are able to speak most thoughtfully.  Out of respect for such responsibilities, Senators ought to spend less time tweeting and more time reading and thinking instead of serving as glorified fundraisers for the party apparatus.

Third, the American people should reject all forms of exaggeration in politics and condemn political actors who frequently do so.   This would be an upgrade over the partisan practice of cheering on lying when it benefits one’s political tribe.

Should such steps be taken our country could once again stand -- on a solid foundation of truth and honesty with integrity for all.

Zigmund Reichenbach has an M.A. in Philosophy from West Chester University and works as an advocate for less government by day.  You can help him combat bad ideas in politics and philosophy by donating to his work at https://ko-fi.com/zigmundreichenbach