Editorial in the Hindustan Times, Patna , Bihar , India , May 20, 03

True lies

A STUDY conducted this week in Britain has concluded that politicians lie. Apart from that precious nugget of information, it also states that voters know that politicians lie! So why are we not astounded? Probably because of the same reason we are not startled when we hear that journalists exaggerate or merchants cheat. But apart from showcasing the cynicism that accepts — or actually embraces — such tumbles in ethical standards, the study shows that by the very nature of their job, politicians need to be economical with the truth.

A peek at any political party's election manifesto will show that the trick is to lie without giving it away that one is lying. Voters, of course, know that — while politicians know that they (the people) know that they (the politicians) are lying. To escape from this ethical 'hall of mirrors', a social contract exists between the people and politicians.

'Don't ask and we don't have to lie' seems to be the arrangement that politicians have in place. Unfortunately, journalists and pesky citizens sometimes puncture this illusion. As the study points out, it is only when pushed to answering specific questions (like, 'Did you take the money?') that politicians are forced to be extremely liberal with the truth ('I didn't take the money').

There are occasions when lying may indeed be preferable to the truth in this practical world of ours (national morale etc.). But, as a rule, telling the truth in politics is the inability to lie — in other words a shortcoming. Quite rightly, politics has been compared to poker, a game in which other players practise and expect deception. To think otherwise is to make the terrible mistake of thinking that the ideal politician is a saint. The two hold two different portfolios.

THINK IT OVER...

A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation

H. H. Munro