Why not lie to Congress?
Just about any reputable poll reveals that most Americans believe politicians lie to the people. And there is no real penalty for political prevarications. Yet the penalty for the average citizen lying to Congress is a possible prison sentence. Until Congress and other politicians stop lying to us, there should be no penalty for us lying to them. In their perches in committee rooms, Congress assumes a supercilious, artificially virtuous demeanor and uses its bully pulpit to force people to tell the truth under penalty of perjury (ie, prison). Members of Congress can lie until the voters lose interest but will still probably maintain their official positions even if they are caught lying. Since we can’t stop politicians from lying, let’s stop sending people to jail for lying to them. End the hypocrisy.
Everyone knows that most congresspersons have no have no hesitation what ever in lying to us, but we also know that most of them think they live on a much higher plain than the rest of us common folks and so the laws that apply to us don’t apply to them. I think it would be great if Congress relinquished their fat retirement salaries and learned to live on social security like the rest of us, but don’t hold your breath until it happens.
Al Benson Jr.
March 2, 2009