How can you be sure that claims, charges and rumors circulated on the internet are true? It's pretty easy in most cases. It takes but a minute to check them out.
There are a host of claims and charges being circulated on the internet by political operatives who lie and deceive the public about the issues in an attempt to damage and discredit the opposing political party or those with differing philosophical beliefs. Unfortunately, those most often responsible for egregious lies and deceit are conservative, right-wingers, and those who are cult-like followers of the Faux News Network, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and others whose main objectives are to create revenues through increased audience share by playing to man's base instincts stirring up hatred and anger between our fellow citizens. This unjust, unethical and divisive tactic is more commonly known as propaganda folks - and an element of Americans have gotten much better at it than the Russians and Communist nations ever were.
Even the most casual research into this will show that rabid, right-wing Republicans are most guilty and are responsible for 80% or more of the lies and character assassinations that are committed. This propaganda war is only one evidence we as a nation have slipped from the ethical and honorable path that our founding fathers set us on over 200 years ago. The USA once swelled with pride that we as a people were the most honest and truthful, most compassionate, most fair, most un-warlike, most forgiving and most generous nation on the planet. This has changed, not only in the eyes of the rest of the world but in the eyes of a growing number of Americans.
Unfortunately, there are strong indications if not absolute proof that some within our own government, using our tax dollars, are responsible for concocting and unleashing many of these deceptive and divisive lies through paid political operatives in an effort to persuade public opinion. In most cases the interests being served by these deceitful attacks on the truth are not the interests of our nation or its people but instead the interests of corrupt politicians and corrupt corporate leadership. Greed for wealth and power has apparently triumphed over truth, justice, national pride and love of country.
A non-partisan clearing house for internet rumors and deception is http://www.snopes.com/. You can check out the truth regarding most claims, rumors and urban legends by simply going to the site and doing a search using a few key words.
An example is a recently circulated claim attacking the Democrats over original intent and gross misuse of Social Security. It's been around for a few years and is a mild example of lies being circulated. If you care to read through this you will see how deceptive the circulated piece is. Keep in mind that the few changes to social security that were enacted benefited low to middle income citizens for the most part - not the wealthy. Guess which class of citizens most wants you to believe these lies that are circulated?
Snopes.com responds to the misleading email being circulated regarding Social Security and almost every other untruth that makes the internet rounds. For information including this and other internet propaganda go to http://www.snopes.com/ and enter key words - in this case Roosevelt Social Security.
Gary
