Intellectual Dishonesty: A Means to an End (Iraq, illegal, Afghanistan)

[mlassoff]

I'm just curious... I see a lot of intellectual dishonesty on this discussion board. So here's my question:

Is it permissible to use intellectual dishonesty to advance what you perceive as a greater good?

For example: If you perceive that tax cuts are a greater good and help society is it permissible to paint the expiring Bush-era tax cuts as a tax hike, when they are truly not?

or

If you perceive ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a greater good is it permissible to paint BOTH wars as illegal and unjustified (even if the Afghani war was justified due to 9/11)?

[alphamale]

Since the dems are supposedly the "intellectuals", they must be the liars.

[AeroGuyDC]

An expiring tax cut is a tax hike. I don't see the intellectual dishonesty there. The intellectual dishonesty comes from a certain President who said that "you will not see any of your taxes go up one dime" when its obvious that that's a colossal lie.

I'm less concerned with intellectual dishonesty in the electorate and more concerned with intellectual dishonesty from our elected leaders who have the power to make radical changes in our lives and lie at our expense.

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by alphamale

Since the dems are supposedly the "intellectuals", they must be the liars.

Foolish post. Not to mention a great example of the intellectual dishonesty I am talking about!

Please don't take this as an opportunity to liberal or conservative bash. If you can't discuss this intelligently, please don't discuss it at all.

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by AeroGuyDC

An expiring tax cut is a tax hike. I don't see the intellectual dishonesty there. The intellectual dishonesty comes from a certain President who said that "you will not see any of your taxes go up one dime" when its obvious that that's a colossal lie.

I'm less concerned with intellectual dishonesty in the electorate and more concerned with intellectual dishonesty from our elected leaders who have the power to make radical changes in our lives and lie at our expense.

Fine the point is intellectual dishonest is rampant on both sides... "Death Panels" is another example if you reject the example of the expiring tax cuts...

It is used by both the electorate AND politicians... I'm concerned that on this board it's used so much, most don't even know when they're doing it.

[alphamale]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

Foolish post. Not to mention a great example of the intellectual dishonesty I am talking about!

Please don't take this as an opportunity to liberal or conservative bash. If you can't discuss this intelligently, please don't discuss it at all.

Who do you think you're talking to?

[lilypad]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

I'm just curious... I see a lot of intellectual dishonesty on this discussion board. So here's my question:

Is it permissible to use intellectual dishonesty to advance what you perceive as a greater good?

For example: If you perceive that tax cuts are a greater good and help society is it permissible to paint the expiring Bush-era tax cuts as a tax hike, when they are truly not?

or

If you perceive ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a greater good is it permissible to paint BOTH wars as illegal and unjustified (even if the Afghani war was justified due to 9/11)?

Perception (always subjective) is the key. One person's truth is another's lie. Sifting and sorting out "truths" takes a lifetime of practice, good judgment and common sense. Good luck.

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by alphamale

Who do you think you're talking to?

Anyone who reads the post. I am not talking to you, but addressing the foolish post you made.

Are you attempting to be threatening?

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by lilypad

Perception (always subjective) is the key. One person's truth is another's lie. Sifting and sorting out "truths" takes a lifetime of practice, good judgment and common sense. Good luck.

But ultimately there is a single truth. There were no Death Panels in the Health Care Bill. Afghanistan was a very reasonable target following 9-11. When people screamed Death panels (or that the Afghanistan war is illegal) they must know they are distorting the truth-- and being intellectually dishonest.

[Booya]

I don't know if dishonesty is ever intellectual in my book.

Smoke and mirrors. Is that what you mean? Obama's administration. They like to fancy themselves as intellectual. Really Obama is just another sleezy, underhanded, uber-liberal politician from Chi town.