Truth and Politics

I witnessed the moment a lady conditioned her attention to a politician: she would only listen if he didn't promise the impossible. “Of course,” he replied while reviewing his script of promises. He made an effort to emphasize his role as a family man and to pretend that, like any ordinary citizen, he suffered from the price of eggs and the cost of bus fare. During campaigns, there are candidates who hallucinate and lie, who are out of context, who are cunning; the message is deceitful and the messenger is deceitful. As Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) said in 'Truth and Politics': 'No one has ever doubted that truth and politics do not get along well, and no one, as far as I know, has placed veracity among the political virtues. Lying has always been seen as a necessary and justifiable tool for the activity not only of politicians and demagogues but also of the statesman.' A friend said she would vote for whoever, in a debate, responded with a 'I don't know!' or 'I have to find out about that,' accepting that they don't know everything.