U.S. President Donald Trump has admitted he fibbed about the imbalance of trade between the U.S. and sa国际传媒 when talking with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
It鈥檚 one of the countless lies Trump has told, but he鈥檚 unrepentant, nor do his followers appear to be bothered.
Trump is not alone in his casual disregard for the truth. Just before she resigned recently, White House communications director Hope Hicks told a House intelligence panel that she has occasionally told 鈥渨hite lies鈥� for Trump.
The phenomenon is not confined to the U.S. A person convicted in 1986 of trying to murder an Indian cabinet minister on Vancouver Island was invited to two official events during Trudeau鈥檚 recent visit to India. Despite a backbencher in Trudeau鈥檚 government admitting the faux pas, the prime minister continues to insist it was part of a plot by the Indian government to embarrass him 鈥� as if he needed any help.
Politicians have always come under fire for a reputed flexibility with the truth, a stereotype that is unfair to the many honest elected officials. And things such as broken campaign promises are not necessarily lies, but a matter of confronting reality upon taking office.
But as Trump and his ilk continue to make lying a way of doing political business, the public will become even more cynical, further eroding the effectiveness of the political process.
It鈥檚 up to politicians to reverse the trend by following that simple kindergarten lesson 鈥� tell the truth.
