Most people will reject a lie if they know it's a lie. However, people still do believe a lot of lies. If you just can't believe the lies that other people believe you should have just one question...
How is it possible? Well, two... What can we do about it?
To say it's because people are just stupid is unhelpful and is not the central problem.
To say self interest over rules truth is closer to the problem. This is certainly evil when it's the case, but not everyone that believes lies are evil. Is there an explanation that includes a benefit of doubt?
Yes, it is that the best lies contain large elements of truth. People that believe those lies may simply be focusing so intently on the true part they miss the false part. Once they do that, if you don't acknowledge the true part you will have a difficult time arguing to get the lie rejected.
Pragmatically you want lies rejected, but paradoxically focusing on the falsity can work against that. Pointing out what is false will simply be ignored. First you have to acknowledge what is true. One problem is that the media in this country will often embrace you when you acknowledge truth, then cut you off when you go on to expose the lies. Face it, they really are evil while considering themselves saints but this post isn't about that.
Most people still consider Lincoln to have been a good president. He gave us a warning in the Gettysburg address when he said, "...that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." That government is in jeopardy today. It could perish.
What is the source of that danger? Lies that contain enough truth that they can destroy us financially. Lies that aren't rejected because people can focus on the elements of truth or apparent truth.
Which lies? Competition is bad. Ownership is unfair. People have rights that makes it ok for government to steal from some to give to others. Arguing what to call it is fruitless. The important thing is for people to realize they are being lied to and come to reject the lies. This isn't easy and will take time, but there is no alternative assuming we don't wish to perish. I'm pretty sure that if Obama is reelected this American experiment in exceptionalism is all but over.
So what truth should we acknowledge? Let's start with one from the bible: "...man dominates man to his injury." We that believe in competition and free enterprise have to acknowledge that business people are not angels. They aren't doing it for the public good but for themselves. But you can't fix human nature by trying to regulate it with more and more laws. Especially when these laws are made by people looking for their own advantage... dominating others to their injury.
Another truth to acknowledge? Many people have few resources to compete. So it's easy for them to give up while thinking that competition itself is bad. Which is somewhat ironic since they still compete for resources. They do have resources, but the demagogues will focus those resources on redistribution of wealth rather than working the slow path to success. It's not just that some people are lazy. It's not just any character flaw. We have a responsibility to educate enough people when they are young so they know they have to work for their own future regardless of the where they start. It is our fault if we let others educate them to believe they have rights which the government must supply by theft.
We have a lot of work to do. Hopefully it's not too late.
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