Lies, Lies, Lies

I was home sick from work today so I got to watch James Frey on Oprah. I also got to see George W.'s press conference on the whole Hamas thing. James Frey pretty much just took it from Oprah. Given that he'd lied (a lot) about his memoir that seemed like the right thing to do. George W. refused to reveal what he's done with Jack Abramhoff but had a lot of weird enthusiasm for the Hamas electoral victory, democracy, and the ability of people to overthrow corrupt leaders. Which is weird, because we sent those corrupt leaders 2 million dollars to help them out in their election. So I guess losers are corrupt and winners are just powerful.

So, when did the truth become so malleable? As a good liberal I deeply believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I don't believe everyone is entitled to their own facts. And since an opinion without facts to back it up isn't very convincing, all the good liars of the world have to make up some of their own facts.

I had an interesting conversation with an opposing attorney who had written a letter to the court saying that we had settled the case when, in fact, he'd never even called me.

Me: So, it seems like you've misrepresented the facts to the court.

Ethically Challenged Attorney: Misrepresent is a little harsh, and I'm not sure whats so bad about that. I settled with the other party.

Me: But you didn't settle with me.

Ethically Challenged Attorney: But what does it matter exactly?

Me: You said something untrue to the court. (I'm trying desperately to avoid the word lie at this point)

Ethically Challenged Attorney: But it doesn't really matter because I settled with the other party.

By the end of the conversation I was actually slowing down my words like you do for a very stupid child. And the conversation went on like this for half an hour.

I also managed to get in some Jerry Springer today. Those people throw punches when somebody lies, although it seemed to me that they were all lying about being shocked (shocked) that their boyfriends had slept with their cousins.

It just seems dangerous that we're living in a world where no one can be counted on to tell you the truth and there's not even really the condemnation of the good people to keep the bad people from lying.

The Autonomy Myth

I'm reading Martha Fineman's "The Autonomy Myth." The basic thesis is that our current economic structure doesn't account for the value added by those who take care of dependents. Which is basically true.

The "Free Market" is not exactly value neutral. Some things cost money. Other things are free. In general, the market values things and not people. But its easy for market thinking to bleed over into personal relationships. Some people can command good wages. Other people are only able to earn minimum wage. People who can't earn money start to look like less valuable human beings.

A big reason why women want to work is that in our capitalist modern reality, earning money defines you as a valuable person. So, I'll reveal my hippie liberal socialist side and say: Money can't possibly be the only way to value things and it is certainly no way to value people.

sanctimonious but true.