The real question isn’t whether democracy can survive lies. It’s whether citizens can still recognize when they’re being lied to, and whether institutions reward that recognition or punish it.
— Johan
Professor of Behavioral Economics & Applied Cognitive Theory
Interesting comment. I mostly agree with the second part but not so sure about the first part. Trump's core will always believe his lies. Other than them I don't think most people believe the lies. These are the folks who are active opponents, or the people who think government is broken and don't care, or the people who are intimidated and/or are out for their own interests. It is the third category that will determine whether or not the institutions hold. And it is not that they believe the lies - its that they lack the necessary integrity and courage.
Appreciate the engagement. You’re right that belief isn’t always the issue, it’s compliance. The third category you name is critical, but I’d argue their behavior isn’t just about lacking integrity or courage. It’s about incentives. People don’t need to believe the lie to act as if it’s true. They just need to see that truth-telling carries risk, and silence pays off.
This is where behavioral economics meets political philosophy. As Nietzsche warned, “Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.” But even conviction isn’t required. Just enough ambiguity, fear, or self-interest to keep people from intervening. Arendt called this the banality of evil—-not monstrous belief, but ordinary complicity.
Institutions don’t collapse because everyone believes the lie. They collapse because too few are willing to challenge it when it’s inconvenient. That’s why I focus on recognition and reward. If citizens recognize deception but see that whistleblowers are punished, they’ll adapt accordingly. Not because they’re cowards, but because they’re rational. That’s the key part…and, I’ve seen this happen firsthand.
So yes, the third group matters. But they’re not a moral failure, they’re a design challenge. If we want institutions to hold, we have to make integrity less costly and courage more contagious.
I too enjoy the interaction. This is what the internet should be. To your point. I would argue that cowardness is rational - self preservation, but that it is a moral failure. A failure to support your family, your friends, your fellow co-workers, your comrades in arms, and your country. Doing the right thing often comes with a price. I have seen too many brave people, both in my time in the military and in the civilian world to excuse those who fold when so much is at stake.
I like that comment above as well. It makes me think, especially the reference to institutions. Who are we talking about here? Government or Industry. Is it just Mother Market talking to her Consumers?
As to people who don’t believe the lies but don’t rally against the corruption?
Folks are overwhelmed with the world and the mad push of their everyday lives. They’ve seen relative prosperity and hope shrivel on the vine. For the first time in many years kids coming up will not only not surpass their parents level of affluence, they will fall below it.
We’re at an inflection point for our species and planet. The ultra rich are taking gross advantage of the poor.
Voting got us here. Politics got us here. And now we don’t even know what we read, hear or see is real. People care though, they are not indifferent, they feel trapped
The New Republic posted an article(https://bit.ly/4nmwxPf) that the MSM(Mainstream Media) failed to report on but should have
It involves Colombian President Gustavo Petro addressing the UN General Assembly(UNGA) and likening the US president Cheeto as an international criminal who is governing his country like Hitler did in the 1930’s Petro signaled to the UNGA that Cheeto’s deadly attacks on boats in the Carribean and his complicity with the Gaza genocide marks him as an international war criminal like Netanyahu And Cheeto’s use of a government Gestapo to round up innocent migrants, destroying the climate change initiatives, taking the power of the purse away from Congress, and his attack on free speech make him a Hitlerian dictator
Time for MSM to wake up and cover the important comments made by world leaders and how they view America and its fascist government
"[Democrats] should find allies wherever they can. Those Republicans who have not been fully initiated into the crime ring must be given an off ramp. Anyone whose worst offense was indifference or quiet acquiescence should still be welcome in the pro-freedom coalition because it will only take a few defectors to tip the balance in the House." Sad we have to come to this, but it's true. Are there potential allies left among the Republicans? Are there Republicans whose fear of Trump can be replaced by fear of justice?
My Congressman, Republican Mike Turner, is considered to be a moderate. Although he has been a pplublic supporter of Ukraine, he has never voted in opposition to the goals of the Republican party or the wishes of President Trump, even when he was holding up military aid to Ukraine during the last two years of the Biden administration. Along with every other Republican in the House, he has also refused to vote for the release of the Epstein files, among other Republican priorities. So, no, I am not optimistic that any Republicans have the principles or the courage to stand up to the actions of the Trump administration.
Trump is a bad version of a 1970’s police drama villain. His thinking is rooted in the NY Mafia Don’s he would have heard about as a young boy. The Mafia were likely able to ‘lean’ on his father, and that sort of power for a weakling would have been irresistible.
To save the US from further damage, the Democrats will have to pass the torch to the youngsters like AOC. The old Democrats cannot respond to the pace of change or the nature of the change. The GOP’s financiers have been planning the current coup d’etat for the last 40 to 50 years, and with the Mandate for Leadership, the GOP have allowed the Trumpists to utterly destroy the US government. It now functions as a Mafia state.
So now the US needs to come together to resist this Trumpist Mafia and take back control of the Congress and Senate. It will take decades to rebuild what the Trumpists have destroyed in a few months. And treating the oligarchs as part of this mafia will be one of the biggest steps forward.
This assumes that there will be a US in another 6 months.
I agree completely. However, Don Corleone would have had Trump for lunch.
The real question isn’t whether democracy can survive lies. It’s whether citizens can still recognize when they’re being lied to, and whether institutions reward that recognition or punish it.
— Johan
Professor of Behavioral Economics & Applied Cognitive Theory
Former Foreign Service Officer
Interesting comment. I mostly agree with the second part but not so sure about the first part. Trump's core will always believe his lies. Other than them I don't think most people believe the lies. These are the folks who are active opponents, or the people who think government is broken and don't care, or the people who are intimidated and/or are out for their own interests. It is the third category that will determine whether or not the institutions hold. And it is not that they believe the lies - its that they lack the necessary integrity and courage.
Appreciate the engagement. You’re right that belief isn’t always the issue, it’s compliance. The third category you name is critical, but I’d argue their behavior isn’t just about lacking integrity or courage. It’s about incentives. People don’t need to believe the lie to act as if it’s true. They just need to see that truth-telling carries risk, and silence pays off.
This is where behavioral economics meets political philosophy. As Nietzsche warned, “Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.” But even conviction isn’t required. Just enough ambiguity, fear, or self-interest to keep people from intervening. Arendt called this the banality of evil—-not monstrous belief, but ordinary complicity.
Institutions don’t collapse because everyone believes the lie. They collapse because too few are willing to challenge it when it’s inconvenient. That’s why I focus on recognition and reward. If citizens recognize deception but see that whistleblowers are punished, they’ll adapt accordingly. Not because they’re cowards, but because they’re rational. That’s the key part…and, I’ve seen this happen firsthand.
So yes, the third group matters. But they’re not a moral failure, they’re a design challenge. If we want institutions to hold, we have to make integrity less costly and courage more contagious.
I too enjoy the interaction. This is what the internet should be. To your point. I would argue that cowardness is rational - self preservation, but that it is a moral failure. A failure to support your family, your friends, your fellow co-workers, your comrades in arms, and your country. Doing the right thing often comes with a price. I have seen too many brave people, both in my time in the military and in the civilian world to excuse those who fold when so much is at stake.
I like that comment above as well. It makes me think, especially the reference to institutions. Who are we talking about here? Government or Industry. Is it just Mother Market talking to her Consumers?
As to people who don’t believe the lies but don’t rally against the corruption?
Folks are overwhelmed with the world and the mad push of their everyday lives. They’ve seen relative prosperity and hope shrivel on the vine. For the first time in many years kids coming up will not only not surpass their parents level of affluence, they will fall below it.
We’re at an inflection point for our species and planet. The ultra rich are taking gross advantage of the poor.
Voting got us here. Politics got us here. And now we don’t even know what we read, hear or see is real. People care though, they are not indifferent, they feel trapped
'The Royal Navy protects the UK 24/7 to monitor Russian movements, ensuring the security of our waters and undersea cables.
'Russian warships are increasingly transiting through the English Channel,' defence minister Luke Pollard today warned.
New Republic Reports Cheeto As Hitler
The New Republic posted an article(https://bit.ly/4nmwxPf) that the MSM(Mainstream Media) failed to report on but should have
It involves Colombian President Gustavo Petro addressing the UN General Assembly(UNGA) and likening the US president Cheeto as an international criminal who is governing his country like Hitler did in the 1930’s Petro signaled to the UNGA that Cheeto’s deadly attacks on boats in the Carribean and his complicity with the Gaza genocide marks him as an international war criminal like Netanyahu And Cheeto’s use of a government Gestapo to round up innocent migrants, destroying the climate change initiatives, taking the power of the purse away from Congress, and his attack on free speech make him a Hitlerian dictator
Time for MSM to wake up and cover the important comments made by world leaders and how they view America and its fascist government
Too much money in MSM to not only report the truth, but to even acknowledge it.
Yup.
"[Democrats] should find allies wherever they can. Those Republicans who have not been fully initiated into the crime ring must be given an off ramp. Anyone whose worst offense was indifference or quiet acquiescence should still be welcome in the pro-freedom coalition because it will only take a few defectors to tip the balance in the House." Sad we have to come to this, but it's true. Are there potential allies left among the Republicans? Are there Republicans whose fear of Trump can be replaced by fear of justice?
My Congressman, Republican Mike Turner, is considered to be a moderate. Although he has been a pplublic supporter of Ukraine, he has never voted in opposition to the goals of the Republican party or the wishes of President Trump, even when he was holding up military aid to Ukraine during the last two years of the Biden administration. Along with every other Republican in the House, he has also refused to vote for the release of the Epstein files, among other Republican priorities. So, no, I am not optimistic that any Republicans have the principles or the courage to stand up to the actions of the Trump administration.
Is it any surprise to see this style of so-called “governance” from men with such visibly fragile egos? https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-the-fragile-tough-guy
Even the mafia had too much self respect to hang out with tRUMP.
https://open.substack.com/pub/mnpul8r/p/james-comeys-chickens-have-come-to?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Trump is a bad version of a 1970’s police drama villain. His thinking is rooted in the NY Mafia Don’s he would have heard about as a young boy. The Mafia were likely able to ‘lean’ on his father, and that sort of power for a weakling would have been irresistible.
To save the US from further damage, the Democrats will have to pass the torch to the youngsters like AOC. The old Democrats cannot respond to the pace of change or the nature of the change. The GOP’s financiers have been planning the current coup d’etat for the last 40 to 50 years, and with the Mandate for Leadership, the GOP have allowed the Trumpists to utterly destroy the US government. It now functions as a Mafia state.
So now the US needs to come together to resist this Trumpist Mafia and take back control of the Congress and Senate. It will take decades to rebuild what the Trumpists have destroyed in a few months. And treating the oligarchs as part of this mafia will be one of the biggest steps forward.
This assumes that there will be a US in another 6 months.
🎯
Let me make a modest proposal, namely, that we call him Don Don.
No surprise from OWH: https://open.substack.com/pub/thetimetravellers/p/comey-indicted-holmess-ghost-passes?r=69wi1d&utm_medium=ios
It’s been clear for months now that Comey committed perjury. Why is he above the law?
No
https://www.emptywheel.net/2025/09/26/will-ted-cruz-go-to-prison-for-the-lies-he-told-as-part-of-the-jim-comey-indictment/
You’re a cunt
His lardship is the law , the constitution and of course right about everything . 🙄
“Made man”—very appropriate.
Timor mortis eos non perturbat is their mistake.