The Death Of Facts In An Age Of "Truthiness"

[FightForChange]

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/29/151646558/if-a-fact-dies-in-the-forest-will-anyone-believe-it

"According to columnist Rex Huppke, there was a recent death that you might have missed. It wasn't an actor, musician or famous politician, but facts.

In a piece for the Chicago Tribune, Huppke says facts – things we know to be true – are now dead.

Huppke says the final blow came on Wednesday, April 18, when Republican Rep. Allen West of Florida declared that about 80 members of the Democratic Party in Congress are members of the Communist Party.

"That was the death-blow for facts," Huppke tells weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz.

One call to the Communist Party USA confirmed that this was, in fact, not true. According to them, no one in the U.S. House of Representatives is a member of the Communist Party. Days later, Allen West stood by his comments.

So that led Huppke to the idea that if someone of any political party can say something so patently untrue and stand by it — which seems to happen more and more often, he says — then facts must be meaningless and dead.

"[Facts are] survived by rumor and innuendo, two brothers, and then a sister, emphatic assertion," he says. "They're all grieving right now, but we wish the best for them."

There's another sibling that may be too busy thriving to grieve. Comedian Stephen Colbert coined the term "truthiness" as the notion that truth doesn't lie in books and facts but rather, in your gut. If Huppke is right and facts are indeed dead, perhaps Colbert's satire is our reality. Where does that leave those of us seeking the truth?"

Score one for Colbert. He announced the death of facts and it has come. It's a sad day for intelligent beings around the world.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. 155 Republicans in the House are members of the American Nazi Party.

Most of the rest belong to the Klan, and 80 hold membership in both organizations.

G'wan and prove me wrong.

[freshwest]

6. Damned straight, Jack! I'm with you 110%! I know it's true, and that's a fact! See how easy it is?

I know how I feel, and that's a fact, and it's all the fact I'll ever need.

Damned Nazi Swine! But wait, I'm not kidding! But that really is the truth! I know it in my heart! If you just think a minute, you'll know it's true!

Okay, we are emotional beings, the limbic systems lays down the memories, something repeated over and over again is the truth, even if it starts as a lie.

Maybe the lie is the truth and the truth was a lie. And what I just said was always the truth, until I change my mind. I'll quit the mental masturbation now...

[LASlibinSC]

2. Proof?

That's to close to truth, so you must be right on point. Sounds right to me!

[Ikonoklast]

3. 'Allen West' is actually seventy weasels wearing a human skin suit.

They make it say insane things in order to scare stupid people into voting for them.

[5X]

4. It must be true,

I read it on the internet.

[freshwest]

7. Yup, I believe it. And they're all being remotely controlled by the Devil, too! See him dance!

[Festivito]

5. Truth is: Throw mud at a man and some of it will stick. /nt

[freshwest]

9. Unless he's Teflon like Reagan and the rest of the GOP. Media perception is everything.

[Starry Messenger]

8. k&r