Some of the most beneficial tools in a politician’s bag of tricks includes several statements that are often confused with the truth.  All of these items are used to create something that might resemble the truth but should never be confused with the truth.

Perception.  What a word.  In one well recognized dictionary I found over thirty synonyms for the word perception. It might be best described as a developed awareness obtained through our senses; eyes, ears, smell, taste, or touch. None of the synonyms for perception could be substituted for fact or truth.  Now it doesn’t take a genius to understand just how politically useful a perception could be.  A perception that looks, sounds, and feels real can’t be described as a lie and definitely is not a fact.  It is a perception.    You have think that you actually saw the candidate raise his or her hand and make a solemn campaign promise.  Solemnity and campaign promise don’t belong in the same sentence

“This will be the most transparent administration in the history of the United States.”  

I know I heard something like that.  Maybe it was a dream?  Maybe I misunderstood?  I know I thought that I heard someone say something about administration and transparent in the same sentence.  I think I might have heard it on the TV.  Maybe I just had a dream, a vague ephemeral promise of a transparency.   That a promise was made could be a fact.  A fact that creates a perception that something will happen in the future. Great political tool.

Along with perceptions, we find myths, and legends, stories that are almost believable.  Stories that have some basis in truth, a group of unsubstantiated, would be, want-a-be facts that are bundled up with a almost believable fact like statements.  Add some statistics for flavor and retell the story over and over until it sounds like it might be true. These myths and legends are great if you get many people to say the same thing, people like TV news anchors.  It helps if the story is believable and the consequences just a little scary.  Y2K was a myth until….well, until January 1, 2000 when we found out that Y2K was just a bunch of lies used to sell us things we really didn’t need; things like dried beans, bottled water, flashlight batteries and new computers.

None of these perceptions, myths, or legends should be confused with facts.  They may look and sound like facts but confusing them with facts can lead to some significant problems.  There is a persistent myth that we have a problem with illegal immigration.   That is a myth, a perception.  The problem we have is a corrupt Government run by elected officials that are masters at the manipulation of our perceptions though the use of myth, lies, and half facts.  A prevalent myth, often seen, is that liberals are intelligent and caring when, liberals, in reality are manipulative, deceitful, and controlling.  They create a problem and rush in on a horse with a bleach job to offer a solution.  

Don’t watch the lie, myth or legend but look for the dull, boring facts that define an effort to control.

Ed Tyler lives in Pell City. He may be reached at ed@edtylerinc.com