My post yesterday seems to have caused something of a stir. Maybe it’s because it was based on the truth.
Too often nowadays we are fed information that has been ‘doctored’ in some way. Whether it be from a politician, a newspaper or an advertisement, it seems to me the people in charge base their policies on Jack Nicholson’s character in A Few Good Men, ‘You can’t handle the truth.’
Let’s take the nuclear industry for example. “No we haven’t had a leak.” A few days later, “We’d like to correct that, we had a small
leak, but nothing to worry about.” When the truth finally emerges the leak was big enough to cause two head monsters that glow in the dark, we are told it was in our own interests not to know. Wouldn’t it be far better to just tell us from the start? Some of us are capable of making informed decisions you know, but we can only do that when we are told the facts.
Let’s take the nuclear industry for example. “No we haven’t had a leak.” A few days later, “We’d like to correct that, we had a small
leak, but nothing to worry about.” When the truth finally emerges the leak was big enough to cause two head monsters that glow in the dark, we are told it was in our own interests not to know. Wouldn’t it be far better to just tell us from the start? Some of us are capable of making informed decisions you know, but we can only do that when we are told the facts.
I work in an industry, that like the nuclear industry, is a ‘Just’ culture. What it means is that if you make a genuine mistake and own up to it, then you should have no blame attached to you. However, if you were negligent then you can expect consequences. This is only fair, and in the interests of safety. It encourages people to report their mistakes, genuine mistakes.
Now let’s move that into the rest of the world. When was the last time you saw a politician say ‘Sorry, my cock up’? I don’t think I’ve ever seen that happen. Instead, they put ‘spin’ on it. Spin eh? To cause something to turn or whirl round quickly. That’s the correct defitnition of spin. The political defitnition seems to be ‘to manipulate the truth in such a way as it becomes unrecognisable as the truth, and puts someone in a favourable light.’ Is that not just another way of saying ‘Lies’?
For once I would like to see a government department back down when they have been proven wrong, or a politician say ‘I messed up,’ or a business owner say ‘we are only intersted in the maximum profit, and we don’t care who we hurt in the process.’ (yes I know there are many ethical business owners, but equally, there are many who are not.)
I know it is a utopian ideal, but I would like a little more truth in the world. No, Im wrong. I don’t want a little more, I want a lot more.
‘You Can’t handle the truth.’ Well I’ve got news for you guys. Yes we
can. Truth is refreshing, it’s cathartic and it’s the only way we should live. You should try it some time.
can. Truth is refreshing, it’s cathartic and it’s the only way we should live. You should try it some time.
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