Read more
Going all the way back to the time of George Washington, much of what we see and hear in the political world consists of lies and deceptions. Despite assurances to the contrary, politics is not about truth, justice, and principle. It is about money, power, and status. As astute political commentator Ben Ginsberg convincingly demonstrates, politicians habitually lie, pretending to fight for principles, in order to conceal their true selfish motives. Citizens who need the frequent injunctions to participate in politics and abjure political cynicism are likely to be duped into contributing their tax dollars and even their lives for dubious purposes. Most individuals gain little from political participation. Participants are the foot soldiers of political warfare, but even if their side is victorious, they receive few of the spoils of war. Thus, in this new political season, Ginsberg encourages citizens to think outside the (ballot) box, finding new ways to act on behalf of their interests and the public good. But if they do vote, their motto should be when in doubt vote them out. The elections of 2008 are a good time to begin. "Ben Ginsberg s engaging jeremiad about the absence of truth in political discourse is in itself based on a big lie the author s claim that he is a dedicated cynic. His own words betray him as one of the few idealists remaining among us. And his trenchant analysis of America s mendacity-ridden politics demands our attention and respect." --Robert Shogan, author of Backlash: The Killing of the New Deal "With the acerbic wit of an H.L. Mencken and a dash of Machiavellian cynicism, Ginsberg has written an iconoclastic must read book for political junkies, and just about everyone else." --Hon. Bill Clinger, former Member of Congress Zusammenfassung Going all the way back to the time of George Washington! much of what we see and hear in the political world consists of lies and deceptions. Despite assurances to the contrary! politics is not about truth! justice! and principle. It is about money! power! and status. As astute political commentator Ben Ginsberg convincingly demonstrates! politicians habitually lie! pretending to fight for principles! in order to conceal their true selfish motives. Citizens who need the frequentinjunctions to participate in politics and abjure political cynicism are likely to be duped into contributing their tax dollars and even their lives for dubious purposes. Most individuals gain little from political participation. Participants are the foot soldiers of political warfare! but even if theirside is victorious! they receive few of the spoils of war. Thus! in this new political season! Ginsberg encourages citizens to think outside the (ballot) box! finding new ways to act on behalf of their interests and the public good. But if they do vote! their motto should be when in doubt vote them out. The elections of 2008 are a good time to begin. 1. INTERESTS AND PRINCIPLES IN POLITICAL LIFE; THE PRINCIPLES OF CYNICAL REALISM; ALTRUISM AND INTERESTS; INTERESTS AND PRINCIPLES; PRINCIPLES AS POLITICAL WEAPONS; BECOMING REALISTICALLY CYNICAL; 2. PUBLIC OPINION: MYTHS AND REALITIES; ADVERTISING; PUBLICITY; MEASURING OPINION; 3. ELECTIONS AND THE LIMITS OF POPULAR GOVERNMENT; VOTING AS A MEANS OF REGULATING; POPULAR POLITICAL ACTIVITY; THE LIMITS OF VOTING; POLITICAL MARKETING; 4. PRIVATE INTERESTS AND PUBLIC POLICIES; MOBILIZATION BIAS; ORGANIZATIONAL BIAS; PRIVATE C...
