You Can’t Hide Your Lying Eyes

People often speak of a sixth sense. Certainly human beings possess the ability to sense things beyond the simple use of their five physical senses. To varying degrees people are often able to perceive when they are being lied to. We find being lied to repugnant, in much the same way that we recoil from spoiled milk. Our senses of smell and taste serve to prevent us from swallowing bad food, and perhaps it is some higher level sense that serves to prevent us from swallowing a lie.

There are those who lack a particular physical sense either from birth or through injury or illness, and I suppose there may be some who for whatever reason are unable to sense at all when they are not being told the truth; we call them gullible. Certainly our “truth detector” sense is no more fail safe than the rest of our senses, but as with our other senses, when something doesn’t “smell” right, or “look” right, it’s a good idea to investigate a little further. More often than an inability to sense a lie, an unwillingness to admit to the possibility seems to be the reason people are so easily deceived. Why do people close their eyes just when it seems most important to keep them open?

The victim of a cheating spouse is often the last to know, though they were probably the first to sense that something wasn’t right. Sometimes they need the help of a good friend to finally believe what they already know to be true. As our eyes have eyelids, our “truth detectors” seem to have lids as well, when the truth is something we don’t want to see. Walk in a cow barn in the morning and the smell might offend you; stay there and by the end of the day, miraculously, the manure doesn’t smell as bad! Repeat a lie often enough, and it can begin to sound like the truth.

We want to believe that people are honest. It’s hard work to suspect everyone. When your mechanic says you need an expensive repair, you don’t want to have to get a second opinion. When the girl at the coffee shop gives you your change, you don’t want to have to count it. When your husband says he has to work late, you don’t want to have to hire a private detective. When a politician talks about an issue, you don’t want to have to take the time to check up on him; that’s one of the reasons we have a representative government, we have our own jobs to do. That’s why our ability to sense a liar is so important; it limits the need to always be “checking up” on people. When we do find that someone is being dishonest with us, it’s generally best to simply end the relationship… who wants to be involved in business, love or politics with someone you cannot trust?

We’re always more likely to believe a lie when it supports a position we believe in. Hence, our political affiliation is always pure as the driven snow, while the opposition is the spawn of Satan. It’s seldom that black and white, and it goes without saying that part of being a good politician (as with being a good human being) is having the ability to occasionally avoid the truth. Just the same, political contests can often have one candidate that is selling snake oil. Interestingly, since liars understand that their lies conflict with truth, and are less believable than truth, they are often quicker to try to label the truth as a lie; while the honest man depends more on the ability of people to recognize the truth.

We have wanted to believe that we were being given honest choices and that our government was transparent. Experience has shown us otherwise, and we have had enough. We are educating ourselves, and we are holding our representatives accountable. If they prove to be less than honorable we are dismissing them. We are electing people with proven character from all walks of life, with honesty and accountability more important than political incumbency, or even party success. If they show themselves to be corrupted, we will dismiss them as well. For the most part we are a good and honorable people, and it’s time we expected more from the people we elect to represent us.

IMHO: Like a philandering spouse our elected officials have taken our gullibility for granted. When it appears they are hiding things from us and abandoning their loyalty to the people, they tell us it is our own eyes that lie. From the top down they have trusted in party affiliation, voting blocks, complacency, bribery of voters and the perceived stupidity of the electorate. Our country is being dismantled in a pursuit of power from those elected to serve, not to dominate. No more! If an elected official proves to be less than honest and faithful we should let them go, and try the next guy. If he proves in the course of his term to be no more honorable, then we let him go as well. Incumbency should be a disadvantage for the less than honest candidate; instead of a pass, one’s record should be a burden of honor. Humility is seldom a trait possessed by corrupt politicians, and they will ever trust in their silver tongues and the presumed gullibility of the American people. To those who suppose they are more clever than an army of patriots, your arrogance will be your undoing. Believe what you will, we are no longer blind… and there ain’t no way to hide your lying eyes.