Lies (The Next Generation)

Here is an example today of John McCain not realizing that we actually having media stretching as far back as 2007.

The deal with PhRMA, which has been heavily criticized by the left, does raise questions, but it is odd to hear McCain criticize someone for soliciting the support of Billy Tauzin. In 2007, Tauzin contributed to McCain’s presidential campaign. When The Hill reported on the contribution in April 2008, Tauzin’s spokesman said, “Sen. McCain put out a call for help and Billy…answered it.”

A year ago I wrote this about McCain

You're a war hero/admirals son/senator - everything you've said since about 1968 has been recorded either in print or on tape. Including the oh, 194 autobiographies you yourself have written. Yet it doesn't occur to you that people would take, oh, about 14 minutes and research this stuff to see if you're full of shit? Really? And how is it possible nobody on his team stepped in with this bit of counsel, ie "you know, everything about you is on the historical record, we're gonna get busted if you try to make shit up"?

American voters appear to be able to be divided into three parts (like Gaul):

PART 1: the old people. They have no access to information, do not believe in or have the internet, cannot fact check anything other than their last stool sample, are in the last innings of beating the Depression/WWII/the 1950s/the American Dream. Vote how they did 50 years ago, no "facts" can change them. Easily swayed by emotion, the dream that is "America."

PART 2: middle aged, kind of into the internet, believe and cherry-pick whatever info online they want. If they're liberals they love Jon Stewart, if they're not they MIGHT love Fox News, but a good part of them are kinda queasy about the whole thing, they know how to access the information via the internet but aren't entirely sold. Can sway facts to coincide with their own beliefs; will agree with anybody that tells them they're gonna pay fewer taxes so that they might pay off house/send kids to college/have a retirement package. In golf terms: KNOW how to find the cup, but just wanna play through for now. Too much to lose.

PART 3: young people, raised on the internet, very aware that anything can be investigated in 7 seconds. Something like what John McCain pulled today wouldn't make it past brunch for them, they're used to the internet being the internet and facts being facts. They do not remember the "American Dream," but they are readily able to check whether or not they are being screwed over by anyone, much less the government. More willing to have their records online, ie overseen by a central government. Has no "pioneering spirit," so not interested in suffering just for suffering's sake. Ironically, as socially perverse as the whole online thing has been, more willing to pay taxes and vote in accordance with helping out their own collective, which, after all these generations, is broader than ever before. The first generation in a while to see the world is a place bigger than themselves, and have evidence.

The point is, we are one generation away from a voting public very much different than today's. With each election cycle, lying will be less of a tool, since everything can be fact-checked so readily. If you wanna arrive late to that party and lose votes, you're welcome to. Otherwise, you might wanna start remembering that IT'S ALL ONLINE.

It's like wanting to lie on camera - fuck it, you might as well just give the fucking truth.