Lies, damn lies and statistics

Before I get on to my musing I'm going to say a few words.

Anyone who knows me also knows that I take my beliefs seriously. I examine them constantly and fight for them even more fiercely. I've come to believe that the war being waged against freedom of personal expression, privacy and civil liberties is more dire then I thought before.
When the announcement is made this next year I'm going to move back east and work for Barack Obama for president. I've thought and considered it for a long time and I feel that in a state as red as Utah I can't change a single mind. But in a place like Ohio or Florida I could change the entire election (in theory)by changing a few minds. I'll be alone and chances are I won't know many people but I feel it's the right thing to do. If Barack doesn't win the nomination I don't know if I'll go help anyone else or not. Obama is the man to fix the direction in our country and if pounding in a few lawn signs or answering a few phones will help put him there it's a small price to pay. Details are forthcoming as plans and information is confirmed.

Todays musing is brought to you by the band VAST and Mark Twain. The product of his unholy union is... well read and find out.

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
-Mark Twain

Conventional wisdom is honesty is the best policy, but I'm finding in modern society the truth is more elusive then ever before. Oftentimes even the speaker does not know the truth. The listener does not know the truth and each who speak after them are just as confused as to the truth.
"spin" has been around for thousands of years. Kings and warlords weren't squishmish about putting the right spin on a story to bring themselves glory or capital. The famous Jedi Obi Wan said that the truth is a matter of point of view. He spun the death of Anakin Skywalker as murder by Darth Vadar and this tempered Luke's resolve to defeat Vadar and restore the Jedi.

Is that use of spin justified? Is a subtle manipulation of the facts justified if it leads to good? The truth is rarely well received. I've told people how I felt and had them attack and revile me. Yet a simple lie turns them into a staunch ally. If you tell people what they want to hear they will accept it rather it is the truth or not. If the truth is feared or unwelcome you will be met with anger and found suspect. Of all moral problems this one is most severe to me. To deceive for personal gain is wrong... but what about to deceive for the gain or benefit of others?

I lie in battle or contest often, it's called misdirection or feinting. I have no qualms with it because it's part of how things are done. It's a tactical manuver and not a moral dilemma. Treating life as a game and making tactical choices would make me vastly more successful in every area... but is that the kind of person I want to be? Could I handle how people would come to treat and feel about me? and more importantly could I feel good about myself treating and thinking of people in such a way? I don't think that I could and moreover I think my actions would change who I am until I did not care any longer.

I've come to believe that in order to effect real change you have to be honest with yourself. If you lie to yourself then you should be prepared to the consquences of that. You will grow twisted and your growth different from intended. In love I would prefer the brutal honesty to the spin and lies. In dealing with my rivals or enemies I don't see a problem with spin. Perhaps a boundry between my social and professional life is what I need. For my friends the honest truth and for my enemies a maze of lies and illusions. Then again I've long maintained that an open book with no secrets is harder to attack then one that is hidden from sight.

Spin and white lies will not slide my soul into a path of evil... but it doesn't seem like the right choice still. I think like all others I am forced to battle with question eternally and case by case. If my answers were uniform then I would be predictable and inhuman. I am not special or evolved beyond other humans. Occasionally I will deceive for my own personal gain or for the gain of others. That omission alone is an action of honesty to be met with scruitiny. Why would I tell the truth about my willingness to lie unless I wanted people to know I was capable of it?

However the end all of this arguement is simple to anyone who knows me. I am a terrible liar.
If the world counted on my ability to deceive I would advise hasty goodbyes to your loved ones.

Goodnight, truth be with you.