Remember Joe Izusu? He was the character who spun outrageous claims for the Izusu automobile, only to have a voice or a caption report “He’s lying.” Then Joe would give us another one.
Well, Joe the character might be gone, but he’s not dead. As a matter of fact, he’s all around us. One reason Congress has an approval rating lower than used car salesmen is that most American simply don’t believe a word they say. Our political system has more “pants on fire” ratings than a blaze at a clothing store. Advertising is based on bigger and better lies every year, unless one considers an inch more head room and a new grill constituting “all-new.” Media varies between left-wing lies on MSNBC and right-wing whoppers on Fox. Many Americans spend a lot of time just trying to find a source for information that they can trust. Why, then, have we turned into a nation of liars??
First, lying produces income. If, for instance, every advertiser told the truth about their products, who would blame us for sticking with what worked last year? Then what would happen to the business? If politicians didn’t lie, we’d see that our entire system is for rent to the highest bidder and we’d pick another kind of government — which might be damaging to huge corporations. Media would collapse if it didn’t keep feeding us pablum and spinning new emergencies as needed to spur circulation or market share.
Second, lying is easier. Listen carefully to most press conferences and ask yourself how much harder it would be for the interviewee if he or she answered the questions honestly and completely. This is why so many reporters ask “softball” questions that don’t require probing follow-ups. It’s easier for everyone to lie.
Lastly, we’re used to lying. Try to think of the last time you heard an honest speech from someone seeking high office. Try to remember the last time you heard a truthful advertisement for some product. Further, if you do actually hear something bearing a resemblance to truth, isn’t one of your first reactions suspicion that they’re after something? “What’s the gimmick?” is as much part of our culture as the worship of money.
Joe Isuzu is alive and well and he’s sitting at our dinner table and slouching on the couch. He’s running for the presidency and operating our biggest businesses. He represents us in Congress and takes our temperatures when we’re sick. And as long as we don’t rise up and demand his head on a platter, we’ll continue to get what we deserve.