What price honesty?

‘Fake News’, spin, deception and lies. If you believe some latest reports on Australia’s recent election result, it appears that all these things played a part.
No, I am not a sore loser. This result is not about sporting teams, where one ‘side’ wins and the other team loses. It is far more important than that.
Nevertheless it does seem that facts were, in some areas, a bit ‘thin on the ground’.
It also seems that lies were deliberately spread.
 
If these reports are true, then an examination of them is necessary.
Facts are important.
 
Rumours are not important.
Gossip is not important.
But lies can turn out to leave impressive messages –  in a nasty and truly negative way.
Lies and deception can halt and ruin progress.
Lies and deception can ruin lives.
 
During the lead up to last week’s election, lies were (apparently) placed and spread strategically.
That’s more than not fair. It’s more than misleading; it’s dangerous.
 
The outcomes of lies are often hard to predict. We should be aware – as well as beware.
 
(Let’s get this straight – it is not only in Australia’s latest election that these strategies were utilised; it is evident in other countries’ politics. It is just that Australian political manoeuvres have been very recent).
 
Way back in the early 18th Century, Jonathan Swift said, “Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale hath had its effect.”
 
Oh, dear!
Is there any hope that things will change?
 
We can only hope that one day people will come to understand that facts are important.
That good, decent facts are essential for civilised living and civilised progress.
 
In other words, it is truth that we should seek.
 
When the pursuit of power far exceeds the desire to help one’s fellow man (and lying is used as the way to achieve it), we are in trouble; not only as a nation, but the world’s whole existence.
 
“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is”, said Winston Churchill
 
I have mentioned the importance of facts but haven’t mentioned all the other missing elements: equality, decency, compassion, empathy  -   and kindness.
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Where are these?