Policy of Truth

Listen while you read:  Depeche Mode

You had something to hide
Should have hidden it, shouldn't you?
Now you're not satisfied
With what you're being put through

It's just time to pay the price
For not listening to advice
And deciding in your youth
On the policy of truth

Things could be so different now
It used to be so civilized
You will always wonder how
It could've been if you'd only lied

It's too late to change events
It's time to face the consequences
For delivering the proof
In the policy of truth

Never again is what you swore
The time before
Never again is what you swore
The time before

Now you're standing there tongue-tied
You'd better learn your lesson well
Hide what you have to hide
And tell what you have to tell

You'll see your problems multiplied
If you continually decide
To faithfully pursue
The policy of truth

Never again is what you swore
The time before . . . 

~  Martin L. Gore (for Depeche Mode)

"The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it." ~ George Orwell

I've been thinking a lot lately about how casually we, as a people, lie. And no, I am not calling you a liar. I don't think I am a liar. But the happenstance of lying seems to become more and more the norm these days, and it is more than disturbing. So I googled "songs about lying," and you might be surprised to know how many there are! Now most of these songs involve the lies told between lovers; no surprise there. "Policy of Truth" can be found on Depeche Mode's seventh studio album, 1990's Violator.

One would think that a "policy of truth" is a good thing, but in the song, the suggestion is that telling the truth can put one in a worse situation than if one lied. I can't help but contrast this idea with the reality of Michael Flynn's recent admission that he lied to the FBI. And by the way, who in his right mind would think he could lie to the friggin' FBI and get away with it? Does Flynn wish that he hadn't lied? Good question.

But the Liar-in-Chief makes Flynn look like an honest man. I tried to find the current number of lies Trump has told since his inauguration, but I wasn't able to find an updated count. (Who can keep up?) Back in August, the number of lies topped 1,000, so that means about 145 lies per month, suggesting that the count might be up to about 1,500 lies by now. And this is normal?

Pathological lying, or pseudologia fantastica is a thing. And DT has it. Did he listen to Depeche Mode back in the 90s? (I doubt it.) Certainly, he did not decide in his youth on the policy of truth.

But it's bigger than that. "The fish rots from the head down." If the President lies, I can, too. I grew up with The Ten Commandments (the Catholic version), and the 8th Commandment warned me not to bear false witness. In other words, don't lie. It's pretty simple. And you don't have to be a Christian to know that.

And while you contemplate our collective fall from grace, give Depeche Mode a listen. It's a compelling tune.