Democrats, Republicans, &c.

     This is not going to be the time when I write the big "question authority" essay.  (That is a part of the Great Conversation that has been going on for a very long time, and has been addressed by many, many minds far more advanced than my own.  Though I might get around to that some time soon, and put in my two cents worth.)

     But for my American readers, I ask this:

     Have you noticed that the Democrats (or liberals, if that is what you want to call them) have told some whoppers (and have done some seriously bad stuff) recently?  If so:

     . . . Do you believe those whoppers?
     . . . Is it okay with you that they do this?
     . . . Have any of their lies (or their misguided policies) hurt you, or people that you know and care about, or fellow citizens or strangers or immigrants or people in other countries?
     . . . Is this a recent development, or can you find examples of this fifty, a hundred, even a hundred-fifty years ago?
     . . . Is this what you want for yourself, your country, your friends or your children?
     . . . Is it okay with you if other people discover this fact, comment on it, call them out on it; even oppose them vigorously in the public sphere?
     . . . Or do you feel compelled to defend and promote whatever the Democrats-liberals do or say, regardless?

     And again:

     Have you noticed that the Republicans (or conservatives, if that is what you want to call them) have told some whoppers (and have done some seriously bad stuff) recently?  If so:  

     . . . Do you still believe them?

     . . . Is it okay with you that they do this?  

     . . . Have any of their lies (or their misguided policies) hurt you, or people that you know and care about, or fellow citizens or strangers or immigrants or people in other countries?

     . . . Is this a recent development, or can you find examples of this fifty, a hundred, even a hundred-fifty years ago?

     . . . Is this what you want for yourself, your country, your friends or your children?  

     . . . Is it okay with you if other people discover this fact, comment on it, call them out on it; even oppose them vigorously in the public sphere?

     . . . Or do you feel compelled to defend and promote whatever the Republicans-conservatives do or say, regardless?

     Or yet again:

     Let us suppose that there is a nascent Third Party -- Christian, Tea Party, Occupy, Green, Feminist, Gay, Libertarian, etc.  Looking around at the possibilities -- people you know, religious leaders, talking heads in the media, celebrities, and the like -- what is the likelihood that this will not happen all over again?

     This is a serious problem.  When we hear that "trust is breaking down," do we understand what is happening, why this is so, and what will be necessary to recover from this bad situation -- if it is even possible?

     And now for you good folks who are not Americans:

     Change the labels to fit your country.  Do you see a similar problem?  Can you offer constructive suggestions?