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Honesty is the Worst Policy

Domenick J. Maglio, Ph.D. Neo-Traditionalist

The days of honesty being the best policy appear to be gone. Our culture continues to teach us that straight talk is bad for your future. Telling the truth or even honest discussion on many subjects is becoming illegal in our politically correct nation.

The Board of Medicine of New Hampshire asked the attorney general to investigate Terry Bennett, M.D. for insulting his patient by stating the obvious. He told her; she was obese, explaining this condition is medically associated with heart disease, diabetes, gastroesophogal reflex and stroke. He is in jeopardy of losing his medical license for being too blunt in presenting the seriousness of her condition and labeling it as obesity. His offense was he was too insensitive even though he was correct in his diagnosis.

Lawrence Sumner committed a similar sin. As president of Harvard University he noted in a seminar that differences in the brains between females and males partially account for the differences in their abilities in mathematics. He had forty years of scientific research to document this statement. The irrational reaction of the feminist segment of the audience to this innocuous observation almost cost him his position as the head of the most prestigious university in the United States.

The comedian, Bill Cosby, had a rude awakening that his heartfelt concern for black children could be disastrous to his career. In a speech to a black audience he scolded them to emphasize the importance of setting correct family priorities. His humanitarian effort to assist his fellow African-American people to raise healthier children was shortly rewarded with a long past date rape accusation. His reputation as an African-American icon has been vilified. He is now portrayed as a despicable abuser of innocent women. He has virtually disappeared from the national scene.

William Bennett, former United States education secretary, on his radio show made an abstract remark to a caller’s comment on social security This caller noted that social security would be more viable if abortion was illegal for there would be more people paying into the system therefore there would be more money for the fund.

Mr. Bennett countered his listener’s speculative argument by tweaking an argument made in Freakonomics, a book written by Levitt and Deubner. In the book they posited that legalized abortion has reduced crime. This Freakonomic notion was broadcast throughout the media without an iota of controversy. Being aware of this concept, Mr. Bennett stated you can abort every black baby in this country and the crime rate will go down,” immediately added that such a thing would be “an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do.”

African-Americans make up 45% of the prison population according to the July 2003 justice department report. This knowledge makes Mr. Bennett’s hypothetical statement more rational, logical and understandable although naïve in this world of “gotcha” politics. Again, even using an analogy to make a point of an issue in today’s America can be a hazard to one’s reputation.

It’s not only medical doctors, university professors, comedians and politicians but all Americans that are being bullied into self-censorship of expressing their honest thoughts. This path of self-censorship will lead to alienation, mediocrity and immorality for our civilization.

Imagine a world where parents are frightened to discipline their children. Teachers are unable to give failing grades. Ministers can no longer even mention biblical condemnation of homosexuality due to hate crime laws. Coaches would be required to play every child irrespective of training or talent. Employers would have no right to reject applicants who are poorly groomed and covered in tattoos and piercings. Citizens would be prohibited from celebrating Christmas. Counselors would be too intimidated to inform their patients that having an affair with the wife’s sister would be destructive to the marriage. College professors would be prohibited from discussing true American heroes and America in a positive light.

To a large degree we have entered a world where these behaviors have become or are becoming commonplace. We cannot continue kill the messenger of honesty without destroying the social fabric of our society. Our nation needs people with the courage to speak the truth to insure a free exchange of realistic ideas to keep our nation on a healthy course. We will halt the moral decay only when we discard the counter culture’s beloved political correctness. Our present cultural tendency to make honesty the worst policy must return to honesty is the best policy. This is the only way to preserve our freedom.