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If it already wasn’t difficult to listen to the news media about all of the various issues that the United States is facing, it is getting even more difficult as the hypocrisy is getting so much worse. There are so many examples, from how we are handling the influx of immigrants from Haiti and Central and South America, to the denial of the seriousness of the January insurrection, to anti-vaxxers, to voter suppression laws, and to outrageous legislation being passed to ban abortions, just to name a few.

On the one hand, there are those who demand their freedom to choose (e.g. anti-vaxxers) while at the same time deny others such freedom (e.g. women’s right to choose). The same people who downplay the January takeover of the Capitol call for stiff punishment of Black Lives Matter protestors or someone like Colin Kaepernick, who peacefully takes a knee. The insurrectionists are called “patriots,” while the International Olympic Committee banned the wearing of Black Lives Matter apparel and petitions had to be signed so as not to punish Olympians for showing support for social justice issues. The so-called “law and order” party has no problem defying the law by blatantly ignoring subpoenas. 

The same people who downplay the January takeover of the Capitol call for stiff punishment of Black Lives Matter protestors or someone like Colin Kaepernick, who peacefully takes a knee. Click To Tweet

As a democracy we say we want government to stay out of private sector business, but governors like Greg Abbott in Texas have banned private companies from requiring that their employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. Our Constitution purports to be “for the people,” but the current For the People Act, legislation that addresses voter suppression and other key issues, is stalled in Congress with no Republican support.

Our Constitution purports to be 'for the people,' but the current For the People Act, legislation that addresses voter suppression and other key issues, is stalled in Congress with no Republican support. Click To Tweet

We need to stop being hypocritical about our standing on the world stage by continuing to say that the United States is the best country on the planet. Sure, there are some areas where we excel, but there are so many more, especially related to programs that help all people, where we rank at the bottom or close to it.

I was listening to Steve Rattner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Willett Advisors LLC and economic analyst on MSNBC, the other morning on Morning Joe and he shared that the U.S. ranks low among the other G7 countries on social spending (see graphs below). He said, “Amidst all the wrangling over whether the Build Back Better plan should be $1.5 trillion or $3.5 trillion or somewhere in between, it’s easy to lose sight of why a major increase in spending on pressing social needs is of paramount importance. No matter how you analyze the numbers, our support for everyday Americans falls appallingly short.” 

On the one hand, where most major countries offer paid maternity leave, such as the United Kingdom at almost 40 weeks, there is no mandated paid leave in the U.S. On the other hand, those who want to ban abortions are also against programs that would support children and families. The hypocrisy of it all! 

Those who want to ban abortions are also against programs that would support children and families. The hypocrisy of it all! Click To Tweet

Let’s continue to call out the lies and the hypocrisy that are being normalized while the truth is being weaponized. We need to stop purporting to be the best nation on the planet. We need a lot more humility where we talk about “striving to do better” rather than touting our superiority. Superior in whose eyes? Our so-called democracy is in deep trouble, and at this juncture the fifty–some percent of us who are committed to living up to what the Constitution has yet to make good on need to speak up, communicate with our elected officials, vote, and in any other way possible, change this dangerous trajectory.

Let’s continue to call out the lies and the hypocrisy that are being normalized while the truth is being weaponized. Click To Tweet