Political language

It will be interesting to check the number of times the phrase “plans are far advanced” and the other one “it is in the pipeline” appear in responses of politicians to questions from their constituents and their public releases. 

It appears they are taught this in special classes organised for them in how to respond to questions during public interactions like town hall meetings etc.  Whenever you hear someone speaking on TV or Radio and using such phrases, the probability of him or her being a politician, a government spokesman or an official of some sort is very high. 

They know they are lying to you but they will still use such language to make you believe that the issues that are of concern to you are being addressed. The worst of them are those with the title Government Spokesman. They will tell you lies with a straight face and attempt to defend the indefensible.

It reminds me of a cartoon someone sent to me.  It showed a woman seriously admonishing his little boy and saying to him “If you do not stop this lying, you will grow up to become a Government Spokesman.” 

A very interesting observation from the lady but it is a factual statement.  How many times have we not heard statements from government spokesmen, only for us to realise as they say, a few moments later, that they were a pack of lies or to be charitable, a pack of misleading statements.

 This attitude is so entrenched in our society, irrespective of the government in power.  What worries me is that, these persons, would still go to church on Sundays and mosques on Fridays.  They may even be leaders in those churches and mosques.  How they are able to live with their conscience, is something worth researching into.

We may have to design a system that will compel politicians to be transparent so that these political statements that seek to deceive the public, can be reduced if not completely eradicated.  The funny thing is that, they never say how long the pipe is.  All they say is that, it is in the pipeline. 

The integrity of the political leaders, must be evident for people to trust in the democratic experiment we have embarked on in this Fourth Republic.  The culture in other places is that, leaders who are found to have lied, resign voluntarily.

This is where we have to become deliberate in pushing for such a culture to be adopted and entrenched in our society for good governance to thrive.

Let our political discourse be shaped by language that projects truth and transparency.  This is the only way, the citizens will begin to have faith that they have lost in the democracy we are practicing.

Let us do all we can, as a people, to make values of integrity and accountability become part of the values we cherish as a nation, to compel our leaders to aspire to live by them to help all of us. 

This is because, should democracy fail in this fourth republic, the consequences will be disastrous.  Let us pray for leaders as the Bible instructs so that the deceitful phrases of it is in the pipeline and plans are far advanced, when those declaring them know they are lying, will be a thing of the past.  God bless.

By Laud Kissi-Mensah