LIES, DAMN LIES! AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

So many lies are now percolating throughout our society over healthcare and other social and political debates that we are suffering from misinformation overload. And it is fueling irrational anger that creates divisions among us.

Why is it that in a democratic and free society is lying to the public allowed? We have a right to free speech, but should lying, an attempt to defraud the people, be a right? Free speech is rightfully restrained in some circumstances, such as attempting to cause a panic by shouting “Fire!” in a crowded venue when no such circumstance exists because that is a lie that threatens people's well-being. When overexercise of free speech threatens the well-being of others it must be restrained. Only under oath in the courtroom, is lying considered perjury – literally, misleading the jury. But shouldn't We, the People have a right to the truth? Certainly, opinions and speculations, whether fact based or not, should have a venue to be aired in public, but those should be stated that they are opinion or speculation and not absolute fact. Sometimes we can't know all the facts and speculation or opinion are ways toward finding those facts. This condition shouldn't affect the exercise of free speech.

Facts are immutable, they can be proved or validated by anyone using the same procedures. That's why we often call them, “Hard, cold facts.” They aren't open to interpretation except in a larger context when in concert with other facts, opinion and speculation. Willfully asserting that a concept is factual without having proof or even disproof is lying, whether one believes it or not. Belief is not fact, no matter how fervently it is believed. Facts must hold to a higher standard, else we would know nothing.

It's time that we consider lying for public consumption be considered a criminal act, punishable by public shaming and high fines, and in egregious cases, a limitation of some of the offender's rights for a designated time. It would make people think before speaking. Shooting off at the mouth is too often driven by irrational emotion that blocks rational thinking, or else it is craven political manipulation for power at the expense of others. This simple solution would make our society a much better one.