Years ago in my travels on Wall Street, there was one standard. Your word was your bond. You could be trading millions of dollar’s worth of securities over the phone. The simple words of “I buy” or “I sell” were sacrosanct. No reneging and no do overs. Fait accompli. 

As I write, I am watching the British Open. Golf is an interesting game. You may have an opponent but it is the one sport where you are completely on your own. Your mind plays tricks. The transition from the driving range to the golf course is often tortuous. A short putt missed or your ball finding the deep blue sea can ruin anyone’s day. 

There are some very intricate and difficult rules to follow as you make your way through 18 holes. You are required to call any misplays on yourself. Maybe your playing partner didn’t notice but you did. It is simple. You broke the rule. You take the penalty. End of discussion.  

As I watch the tournament I pay particular attention to Jon Rahm. The feisty Spaniard is one of the best. I used to like him, I don’t now. A few years back he avowed his allegiance to the PGA Tour during the period when the LIV group of renegades were throwing some serious money at people to bat a little white ball. “I have all the money I need. I want to just play golf in the PGA.” Fast forward a few years and he took the money and ran. That would have been okay if he hadn’t professed his loyalty. To me, he broke his word. How petty of me!

Back in the US, I was watching the Republican convention in Beer Town. Pol after pol from Vance to DeSantis to Nicki Haile, all have castigated His Hairness in the months vying for the nomination. This wasn’t a disagreement of sorts. This was downright hatred. And yet now we are love and unity. Great for getting votes but can I really trust anything you say?

The Dems now have a chance to reboot. Can they come up with someone without the requisite baggage?  Probably not. We all have skeletons in the closet. Can they level with the American people about things like the debt, and infrastructure? I say no. They don’t know how to do that and even if they did we are too deaf to listen.

Enter the fine art of equivocating. Oh, I was just kidding. I didn’t really mean that. It was taken out of context. When asked a question in his Monica Lewinski hearing, Bill Clinton answered “It depends on what the definition of “Is”, is?” Mind-boggling for all to see. Politicians of all sizes stretch credulity. Just give them what they want to hear and truth be damned. 

Trump,Biden et al have rattled off facts that are so outrageously wrong and misleading that we now accept them as the Donald being Donald or Biden is so old he just forgets. We now have fact checkers of every statement. Some are nitpickers but some are pointing out some really egregious falsehoods. Not to worry,it is not done in real time so the public doesn’t know or probably doesn’t care. 

I am continually amazed by the commentary of this or that celebrity on matters far afield from their stardom. It is as if they have been endowed with some sort of wisdom far beyond their years or capabilities. Years ago I listened to Famous Amos of cookie fame, opine on the deeper meaning of life.  Brother, you are entitled to any opinion you want but a savant you ain’t. 

As I write I might be considered guilty of the same sin. Over all these years I have espoused views on many different subjects. I would be shocked and dismayed if any of you took it as Gospel truth. I try as best I can to get my facts right but I  want it as a jumping off point for your own thought. 

Unfortunately we have to do our homework. We have to consider a lot of different sides to a premise. We have to deeply form our opinions and at the same time be open to change. In our instantaneous world we are not prone to do so. We listen to sound bytes. We read one paragraph summaries and think we have it. We do so at our own peril. I give you my word. 

As always 

Ted The Great 

Factoids:

An average person lies once or twice a day. Politicians at least once every five minutes during a debate. 80% of women lie to their partners about their spending habits. 

Lying can have negative effects on mental health. Research has found that individuals who frequently lie experience more anxiety, depression, and stress than those who are more honest.

Lying can be a coping mechanism as well as a personality trait. Narcissists are pros at altering reality.   Over time we can become numb to falsehoods and consider them part of the landscape. 

People lie to avoid punishment, to gain an advantage, to protect themselves or others, or to fit in socially.  Trust me….Ha!

There are shallow and deep thinkers. Which one are you?