Why politicians lie and why we should be more outraged

We have, by force of things and events, learned to admit that politicians lie more or less (much more than less) and that they never keep their electoral promises. The lies have taken on such proportions that it is legitimate to ask the following question: Do citizens have a right to the truth? In international politics, lying is called diplomacy... But the lying of a statesman, uttered in order to protect his own interests, to the detriment of those of the people, is immoral and, therefore, much more deplorable.

Pathological lying, however, creates a dangerous reality that is important to recognize. Beyond the falsehoods isolated in the context of a shared reality, the lie stemming from pathology creates an “alternate reality”. The creators of lies believe their own lies because of delusions, paranoia, and/or other overwhelming emotional needs. In addition, they are convincing for the vulnerable sections of the population, their preferred target. Thus, we find ourselves in distinct perspectives that elude reality-based problem-solving.

Understanding why “leaders” shamelessly lie is all the more important, because as soon as we fall into a malign normalcy that defies healthy dialogue, we are deprived of the meeting ground of a shared consensus reality.

Absent a thorough neuropsychiatric evaluation of these inveterate liars, we may not know for years whether they are asserting their lies based on a deep psychopathic personality structure or the intractable but historical success of the chronically used car salesman. What is known is that if they fall into the first category, the public should be aware of the dangerous consequences of keeping them in power.

What I know, at least, is that their lying is on a pathological level.

Pathological lying can occur in individuals who feel obnoxiously inadequate because they don't belong. The ability to gain the upper hand by deceiving others responds to the need for power and the denial of painful feelings of smallness and weakness. Nothing, neither relationships nor duty, overcomes the inner need to posture successfully, to show the world that they are not what they fear they are. The illusion of strength is supported by the lie, both in the repeated and unsubstantiated claims of the lie, sometimes called the "big lie". The repeated, relentless, and unhesitating practice of lying, each lies aggravating and eclipsing the one before it, reinforces the liar's inflation, his belief that he defines reality, not only for him but also for his enablers and his sidekicks. This level of lying catches us off guard. Unfortunately, our clumsy responses paradoxically normalize their behavior, as if the difference is just a matter of opinion.

It is certainly true that the "leaders" are not women and men of rigor. They make no effort to learn what is true or to separate what is true from what is not. They don't read briefings, they don't tolerate advisers with differing viewpoints, and they're happy that their newspapers, radios, and TV stations spread their lies as if they were divine words. This phenomenon has caused the “rulers” to become incredibly lazy and unconcerned about the unpleasant realities of the country or the state they have put the people in.

It is also true that the fear of their own inadequacies would have prevented them from seriously studying any subject, which would require recognizing that there are things they do not know and for which they must lean on others, not on their instincts. ”

I always wondered if the ''leaders'' know that they lie to the population until the day when the lies became so grotesque that the question did not even arise, or rather did not even deserve to be asked anymore.

The answer to this question gave rise to another: Why do the “leaders” lie unscrupulously to the people? Is it simply because, believing that they are smarter than others; they are able to sell any salad to the population?

Only a complete neuropsychiatric evaluation carried out by duly trained professionals and with the help of a standardized balance will help us answer this question. What I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, though, is that they don't mind empathy, duty, and/or shame because they're dangerously married to this which feeds their exaggerated self-image.

As things stand, their disregard for the truth puts the country at risk. And it is for this reason that we must always be indignant and not sink into the trivialization of their lies which reinforces the normalization of their behavior. In other words, banish the word ''Normal'' from our vocabulary.