As I watch the president’s speech, I find myself wondering: why do we, as a nation, continue to let lies go unchecked? I know that fact-checkers scrutinize his speeches, but in today’s polarized climate, that hardly matters. Networks that challenge Trump are dismissed as partisan, deepening our political divide. But regardless of political affiliation, we should all call out lies — wherever they come from.

There are so many lies that it’s understandable if it’s hard to decipher fact from falsehood. This deliberate confusion underscores the importance of calling out each falsehood. Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, openly discussed this tactic, stating, “I strongly believe in the ‘flood the zone’ theory, which is just to overwhelm the opposition.” By inundating the public with executive orders and misinformation, the strategy aims to confuse both the press and the populace, making it challenging to counteract the agenda effectively.

Even if others don’t agree with me politically — or if they want to see the federal government dismantled — what happened to calling a lie a lie? Are we that lost? I don’t want to take a side, join a team, or pledge loyalty to any party, especially one that refuses to call out falsehoods. I just want the truth. I’ll figure out the rest on my own.

Billy-Joe Smith
Standish