Truth in Politics, An Opinion Piece on the Ethical Philosophical Outlook

By JoEllen Steinberg on September 23, 2012

Tax ReturnsCan we even use the words “truth” and “politics” in the same sentence?  In the mist of a United States presidential election in a time where media convergence is greater than ever, a new term has been born.  It is the “truth checker”.  Websites, blogs, and media groups are being born to assert the truths in what the candidates are saying.  So, what is the definition of “truth”?  This should be the first question that needs to be examined, but how do you answer that in today’s world?  Truth is different for politicians, clergymen, lawyers, journalist and really everyone.  Truth: being a term of relevance and context whether it is in its wholeness, or in its absence of, but for academic purposes Merriam-Webster defines it as:

1.)  a : archaic : fidelity, constancy. b : sincerity in action, character, and utterance

2.)  a (1) : the state of being the case : fact (2) : the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality (3) often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality. b : a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true   c : the body of true statements and propositions

3.)  a : the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality. b : chiefly British : true 2. c : fidelity to an original or to a standard

 

If “truth” is an action within its sincerity, character and utterance in the body of real thing, events and facts, it begs the question of the campaigns coming from the presidential candidates in terms of ethical and truthful purpose.   How much transparency should a presidential candidate display to the American public who will be judging this candidate in many areas, including ethics, morals, values and competence and how much should the media release of their knowledge?

One example I would like to examine is the current issue of presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his refusing until recently to release his past tax returns.  The situation that arose from his refusal seemed to be how much a presidential candidate should reveal to the public through traditional media outlets.  As a personal belief, I would say that “yes”, the presidential candidates should expose everything from health records to tax records.  If we elect an individual to the office of the President of the United States, that person should be held to a higher standard of ethics, morals, values and competence.  If Mitt Romney were hiding money in offshore accounts to avoid some tax payments, then I would assert he does not have the values that I expect a president to have.  In the same regard, presidential candidate President Barack Obama should agree to release his birth and college records.

Some voters, however, might suggest that the presidential candidates like any other American citizens have a certain amount of privacy, and areas such as the candidate’s tax returns are not relevant to the race and can be withheld from the public.  These people may be absolutists in nature, or they just strongly agree with the philosophy of the Republican Party (as this issue is currently with the Republican candidate).

The answer to the transparency question for the ethical agents such as news media would more than likely be found in the context.  These decisions if the news media actually had Mitt Romney’s tax returns and President Obama’s birth records might be unique to this dilemma in that these men are not running for a local mayoral race or even congressional seat. They are running for the highest office in the United States.  This makes it a situational ethical decision most notable from the Russell and Dewey philosophical idea (progressivism).  What does our culture say about this?  I believe it is split.  I believe that this matter will work itself out in the media.  This most recently, puts Mitt Romney in a position to be transparent or potentially no one will listen to him or vote for him.  This can cause a whole new ethical dilemma, but ultimately the public will decide how much transparency they will require of each candidate.

 

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