Bedrock

Most adults understand that life has few guarantees. How well folks see and accept this reality determines a great deal about how they operate in the world, including choices they make at the ballot box. What amazes me is that candidates make promises and people believe them. Politicians will say anything to gain support and thereby power. Politicians I can understand; they act in their own best interests, regardless of what they say. Those who believe them are harder to comprehend. Children usually trust what adults say, as long as they keep their word, but eventually we all learn that it's much easier to make a promise than to keep it. Even young adult voters should know this. Before I continue, permit me to add this. If we actually held candidates to their promises and their “feet to the fire” when they didn't, we have them making far fewer empty promises. As long as enough of us are gullible and let them off the hook when the truth comes out, they will keep ma...

A “half truth” is an intentionally deceptive statement that contains some element of truth; a half truth is not truth. Such a statement is like a doctor saying, “Half of you doesn't have cancer; therefore you don't have cancer.  A half truth is half lie, and like water that is half sewage, it isn't fit for consumption. Politicians are masters of half truths; Barack Obama is no exception, but he is not alone. In my own personal life, I give people the benefit of the doubt.  In other words, I try to trust people and assume they are being honest with me. However, once a person lies or fails to keep his or her word, that person must then prove worthy of further trust. I can accept that people would want to trust Obama; he has created an image that invites trust, and he made promises that many found appealing, promises of hope and change (though rather vague promises at that). What I don't understand is how people, who desire something different and upbeat, can continue...