The American Truth.

[Goldbling]

Okay maybe not the best title but whatever.

I believe that if the real truth is given that America would probably be in a better situation, think about all the bums with their conspiracy theories, if the government told us 100% truth they wouldn't be bums and there would be barley any debatable subjects on youtube. If we were told the truth we'd spend less time worrying and more time being productive members of society.

I want to know how you think your country would be better, or worse, if your government told 100% truth all the time.

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts."
Abraham Lincoln
16th president of United States (1809 - 1865)

 

[SharPhoe]

Total, complete, 100% honesty almost never works out in the end. Have you ever seen Liar, Liar? I imagine it would be kinda like that.

 

[Flying-Emu]

Alternatively, they could just stay the fuck out of my business, and then they wouldn't have any secrets that I could possibly care about.

 

[Kinguendo]

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts."
Abraham Lincoln
16th president of United States (1809 - 1865)

Edwards: Why the big secret? People are smart. They can handle it.
Kay: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow.

- MiB (1997)

Look how people treated those who even claimed the earth was round. People were butchered over shit like that. People are idiots who can not be trusted with anything.
The mob is only as smart as its stupidest member.
The government is right to keep secrets.

Well, people havent thought the Earth was flat since before the 13th century... but you know, whatever.

 

[Goldbling]

Well, people havent thought the Earth was flat since before the 13th century... but you know, whatever.

And? Did you have a point? People still get killed over their race, sexuality, their stance on abortion, religion or any number of things. People are just as pathetic and stupid as they ever were.

Yes, but that means people can't handle truth? Somehow mid-evil peoples thinking the world was flat pertains to your government telling the truth?

 

[Kinguendo]

Well, people havent thought the Earth was flat since before the 13th century... but you know, whatever.

And? Did you have a point? People still get killed over their race, sexuality, their stance on abortion, religion or any number of things. People are just as pathetic and stupid as they ever were.

Yes, but not as recently on that particular subject AND I prefer to call it "combating the spreading of ignorane on a certain subject"... I know its not a "catchy" name but it works, maybe I should call it "C.S.I.C.S."?

 

[blaze96]

My first thought was the president walking out and saying.
"My fellow Americans, people of the world these are the launch codes for the US nuclear arsenal, and you can use these codes from any computer and they will work."

 

[Herb sewell]

As long as we've got an emotional zeitgeist 100% open truth would never work.
Also you're assuming the truth wouldn't be more detrimental than the lie.

 

[Kiutu]

The biggest problem is not secrets but rather the people's stubbornness. Also what good is the truth when no one accepts it?

 

[Seldon2639]

Also, not for nothing, but who's truth and who's interpretation do you report? If we ask "what will the Obama healthcare plan cost", there are about fifteen different projections. CBO, OMB, GAO, JTC, and any number of independent groups. Who do we claim as the definitive truth? Then, once we've decided whose numbers to use, who do we let say "and this is how things will turn out?" Obama says his plan will lower costs, reduce corruption, and other nice stuff. Republicans say it'll destroy quality healthcare. Whose truth do we report?

I'm ignoring the "do they withhold factual information" question, since that's just a matter of opinion. Either you think that there are benefits to some information having a controlled release, or you believe that in a free society the costs of full disclosure are worth it.

 

[MasterSqueak]

Those bums would stay, because they have no way of knowing if something is being withheld.

 

[Zersy]

If america told the truth then soceity as we know will completely change
which is why it's a good thing thing if they do !

 

[King_Paco]

Abraham was part of a secret society.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

An interesting concept, Goldbling, but impractical in the case of Defence, and will come into problems with politics simply because politicians are the most pernicous liars to walk the earth. Nonethless, I do say governments could do with being a bit more open, and addressing people's fears not by means of spin and PR, but by simply, slowly and carefully explaining the logic and reasoning behind decisions taken.

 

[masher]

Truth is a double-sided blade...quite frankly...The truth hurts most of the time. Most people don't like the truth. Hell, if the news told us every little bad thing that's happening in America, we'd probably be to terrified to sleep properly. It's always nice to Sugar coat things. Take a lesson from Men in Black. Would you like to live in constant fear of Alien overloads trying to devour and\or destroy our planet and its inhabitants. I personally wouldn't. Ignorance is a gift.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Well, people havent thought the Earth was flat since before the 13th century... but you know, whatever.

And? Did you have a point? People still get killed over their race, sexuality, their stance on abortion, religion or any number of things. People are just as pathetic and stupid as they ever were.

People back into Greek civilization hypothesized the earth was round. The folks who were against Columbus' expedition were NOT against it because they thought the earth was flat. In truth, almost everyone knew the earth was round by that point.

The point is that angry ranting is no substitute for the facts. We're talking about how people should know the "truth" and you're spouting a view commonly held by the masses which is 100% false.

The irony is so thick here.

I say give people the truth. If they kill each other and cause the downfall of society, is that so bad?

 

[Deadarm]

Personally my policy is to always tell the truth no matter who does or doesn't believe you and the consequences, however once the consequences come up try to bullshit your way into or out of it with as few lies as possible so that they don't catch up to you. However most of the people that I know contradict this idea on a regular basis. You see, I live in Texas and as anyone who has ever been through here will know its impossible to tell most southerners anything and have them believe it, and if they do believe it they usually go apeshit crazy. My perfect example of the stubborn idiots I know would most likely have to be my grandfather or uncle. My uncle will never allow his childeren to correct him, as soon as they try he starts yelling, "HOW OLD ARE YOU?", and it really pisses me off because usually he is the one in the wrong. My grandfather is the typical southern old person who is opposed to pretty much anything that he himself doesn't do and if he does something wrong its okay because its him that did it, however at least he isnt religious like the rest of the old people I know. Almost everyone that I have ever come across in this miserable state fits one of those 2 stereotypes. Honestly all of my fellow americans that I have come across so far disgust me, however I rather enjoy the country itself and all of its double standards. After all what good is your government if it can't entertain you in some way shape or form. Just to clarify, I in no way shape or form dislike America. Just a large number of the people in it.
This means the government is right in its withholding information... in my opinion.

 

[Lord George]

The truth? THE TRUTH!, You can't handle the Truth!!

But yes I don't think the American government admitting all the torture/crimes/atrocities it commits would really make people feel better.

 

[RufusMcLaser]

Can't agree. There will always be conspiracy theorists, always be people who fall into that mindset. There always have been, and always will be. Sometimes they blame The Government, sometimes The Jews or The Masons or The Devil-Worshippers, and so ad infinitum. It will never end, ever, so long as there are human beings.

 

[Golden Gryphon]

Honesty about intentions and long term goals would be nice but given that I don't think I'd need to know every single aspect of what the government were doing.