Such a lonely word

Honesty is not the best policy. But it's my policy.

The most fitting epigram for our age is De Tocqueville's observation that people prefer a simple lie to a complex truth.

If I had any sense at all, and if I added up all the troubles I've brought upon myself by being honest, I'd lie like the the talented Mr. Ripley, or if I could, like the suave Mr. Bartholemew / Dyle / Joshua from "Charade."

There are so many great lies to choose from nowadays:

• Iraq is a key front in the war on terror (well, it wasn't until we visited chaos upon it — so, I guess it was pre-emptively true)
• "Supporting our troops" means cheerleading for all American-made wars, right or wrong
• Vietnam was a great war until those commies Hanoi Jane and John Kerry ruined everything
• Decades of terrorism by the PLO, Hamas, and Hezbollah shouldn't factor into how progressives feel about the Middle East
• Everyone should speak in hushed, respectful tones about religion, even when it sets the world ablaze
  

What a dumb fuck you'd have to be to tell the truth about any of this stuff.