Don't be fooled by lying politicians' half-truths

In a representative government, the purpose of politicians is to represent the people. We elect politicians to office because we feel that they are the best people to represent our political beliefs. But the question is, how are they going to represent the people when they will not tell them what they stand for? This election has demonstrated the extent to which politicians will mask their true intentions for the sake of gaining a few extra votes. The Republican side especially has been trying to attract voters by keeping them uninformed about the issues.

For example, a survey of women in the 16 "battleground states" indicates that at least 23 percent of women who support Republican presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz) believe that he is pro-choice, although he is clearly pro-life. They believe this only because McCain wants them to. He wants his reputation as a "maverick" to be the veil that masks his true beliefs. He wants this 23 percent of women to vote for him on Election Day, never minding that he is blatantly misleading them. Palin is also continually praised for her so-called strong beliefs. However, what many do not know is that Palin had originally supported the $400 million Ketchikan "Bridge to Nowhere," only to change her mind after Washington decided not to finance it. Yet there are people who are not aware that Palin ever voted for the bridge in the first place. They also believe that Palin is a staunch supporter of getting rid of excessive earmarks, congressional provisions that direct funds to be spent on specific projects, despite the fact that even this year she sent a proposal for 31 of them. The state of the nation is distressing when people hear, and believe, only a deliberately shortened tale.

Then there are the politicians themselves. Gov. Palin can supposedly do no wrong. The excuses people are willing to make for her are astounding. When 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears became pregnant and chose to have her baby, people everywhere condemned her parents for allowing this to happen. What's happening to society these days? When 17- year-old Bristol Palin became pregnant and chose to have her baby, people applaud her and her mother for their strong convictions. Thank goodness some people in society still have values. Thousands of teenage mothers choose to carry their babies, but this choice is not seen as a virtue. Instead, the mothers are the subject of malice and accusations, although a young woman willing to take responsibility and carry her child to birth should be praised.

Let us not forget the Republicans' insistence that Gov. Palin has the proper experience necessary for being a heartbeat away from presidency when her recent performances in interviews show otherwise. Palin said, "And you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska," as a response to a question asking about her insight into Russia's actions the last several weeks. This is the same woman who Republicans claim has the proper experience to hold one of the highest positions of power in the country. Even though politicians have a reputation for being less than wholly truthful, there are still so many people willing to believe whatever opinions are fed to them.

Palin and McCain are hiding behind a defense of a cardboard wall. It may look strong enough now, but it will collapse eventually. To them this does not matter; they only have to fool America until the election is over. In order to make an educated vote, one must first be educated. Learn now to prevent regret later. This vicious cycle of lies will continue until we as a country take a stand. Voters need to understand what the politicians stand for before they cast their ballot. America must be willing to seek the truth, despite the veneer that politicians hide behind.