Popular Opinion: American journalists are far too reluctant to grill politicians, especially when it's obvious they're lying about something.
Unpopular Opinion: British journalists are far too quick to grill politicians as though they were obviously lying, even when they're not.
Unpopular Opinion: British journalists are far too quick to grill politicians as though they were obviously lying, even when they're not.
I remember being on the BBC right after the Minister for International Development once. The interview was about landmines.
"We've reduced the number of the world's landmines by 50% over the past two decades," the minister said.
"Why not by 100%?" the interviewer snarled.
"We've reduced the number of the world's landmines by 50% over the past two decades," the minister said.
"Why not by 100%?" the interviewer snarled.
Holding politicians accountable for lies or evasions builds trust: it assures people that elites won't get away with pulling wool over their eyes.
But treating every politician as though they are lying all of the time, even when they're not, erodes trust and breeds cynicism.
But treating every politician as though they are lying all of the time, even when they're not, erodes trust and breeds cynicism.
