A Lie Becomes Truth for the Lazy
Segment # 267
When ridiculously false statements become fact for even the most intelligent, it only becomes understandable in the context of historical analysis. The most obvious is the rise of HItler and how the Germans could rationally accept Hitler’s interpretation of Nietzsche’s Ubermensch and the eradication of 6 million Jews. But it happened and it clearly indicates that the human species has the frailty to go off the rails. There are other obvious extremes in Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, Duvalier and others. The point in citing extremes is noting potential for abuse once power is controlled by very few. As humans we don’t handle ultimate power very well. The concept of a benevolent dictator is a fairy tale.
These extreme examples always had a beginning that had to be somewhat benign or they clearly could not have succeeded. You normally don’t hand someone a gun if you know they will ultimately shoot you. In all cases the power bases control the information. Their is no rationale in any free society for giving up the right of free speech to criticize your governing body. Unfortunately this is happening now both in the UK and in Europe where governments are trying to control “misinformation”. To have free speech you must defend anyone’s right to say what you don’t want to hear.
It would be easy to say the left doesn’t get it. They understand quite well if the control information, they control the message and the people. Not Biden, not Trump, not anyone should be able to suppress free speech.
I have been surprised since the election of subtle lies that have become fact by repetition.. this time from the right. A great example is JFKjr who is consistlenty called on the right and left that he is an anti-vaxer.
Even though both the right and left have have repeated constantly that Kennedy is a conspiracy theorist and an anti-vaxxer . He is neither read his books, listen to his speeches, and look at what he does. Kennedy and many others have taken many vaccines which they support but are against 1. Concid vaccine 2. Lack of proper testing of vaccines 3. Chemicals in our food 4. Corruption if our regulatory agencies. Maybe after he gets to work these labels will be replaced.
The concept of an "arbiter of truth" suggests someone or something that has the ultimate authority to determine what is true or false. However, modern perspectives challenge the idea of a single, definitive arbiter of truth. An insightful article from Information Matters suggests that we are all arbiters of truth. As they note, "We are the arbiters of truth who judge the reliability and validity of each piece of information we encounter"
This perspective emphasizes that truth is not absolute but is interpreted through individual perceptions, intent, context, and social influences.