Politics and My Opinions

Most of my friends work, have families and are busy with everyday life. I have lots of time on my hands so I tell them to send me these fake emails that are filling up their Inboxes and giving them heartburn and I will research them and try to let them know what is true and what isn't.

I go through the emails, search out links to corroborate or dispute the data and return everything with factual information so they can make an informed decision. I am amazed at how many there are and each year it gets worse. Around 99.9% of them are either total lies or twisted facts presented with just enough half-truth to seem plausible. I don't take sides. I have trashed as many Rep as Dem emails. Right now it is running more towards the Dems but that is simply because they are in power. Just a few years ago I was tearing apart anti Bush emails.

Of course it is not the politicians putting these out and I do not blame them. How do these things start? Money, pure and simple. These lies begin on websites just like this one where people are trying to make money. The more people who look at their site, the more money they make.

Have you heard of Perez Hilton? He was an insider wannabe in CA that set up a blog. He was able to weasel a fake relationship with Paris Hilton (the heiress famous for her sex tape) and they built this cutesy "pairing" into bigger fame for both. He was able to increase interest in his website and now even has a web show that includes semi B & C list celebs.He is well-known on the celeb gossip shows.

A few weeks ago he posted a pic of Mylie Cyrus. She was filming a video and getting out of a car when her skirt hiked up a little and you could see her panties. Hilton posted a close-up picture with something pasted over the panty area to give the impression that she had none on and he was saving her modesty.

When corned and told the girl was 17 and he could go to jail for child pornography he quickly backtracked, showed police the original photo and admitted she had panties on. However he had made big money by that time. It had been about 48 hours since he had posted the picture. Mylie had been raked over the coals by everyone from the Today Show to Showbiz and Extra. All of them mentioned the picture was on Perez Hilton's website which drove people there by the thousands. For every person that visited, the counter was ringing up revenue.

Get the picture? This is exactly how these fake political emails work. They are created strictly because they are provocative and will incite arguments. Talk show hosts with hours and hours to fill find them and try to present them as fact. This will drive people to the website and raise revenue for the original writers. The problem is they move through the system so fast that it is nearly impossible to track down the original composer. Most of them are posted as "from a friend" and the chain begins. Eventually, instead of sending links some people will just copy the text into an email and that is what gets sent. There is no way of tracking it after that. I am stunned at how many that have been disproved make the rounds over and over. I received 3 this week that had been shot down by a number of websites last Sep.

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."
— Mark Twain

A lie is a lie. We cannot vote and maintain the democratic process if we do not understand the facts and have responsible conversations to discuss the pros and cons of each side. This insidious name calling and "I'm right and you are stupid" attitude that has prevailed and worsened over the last 30 years or so will lead this country to another civil war. Keep on and we will implode and destroy ourselves. There will be no democracy left for our children and grandchildren.

Anyway, I like to keep my groups and other blogs light and just for fun, music and Christian shares. Sometimes I spend 12-14 hours researching these emails. I was going to send them to my friends and groups but I have decided I will just post them here and send out a link now and then to remind people where they are. Anyone who wants to check in to see what I have been researching can find the results of my digging on this blog. Most pieces will have detailed links in rebuttal or concurrence with the information in the original email. There will be an occasional piece that is strictly opinion and I will make a note of that at the top of the post.

Hugs,
LindaB in TN:)