Thread by @AndersonBooz

1/ A Short Thread About Civility and Calling Politicians Liars.

Nice people are sometimes uncomfortable that I call some politicians "liar". And I don't apologize for it.

But I don't call every politician "liar". Only the ones who deliberately tell provable lies and do so

2/ repeatedly. A lie is different from an accidental misstatement. For example, when @michaelaglasgo lied about her church's carbon tax, it could have been a genuine mistake. But she doubled down by telling other lies. And has since been caught in more.

#cdnpoli #abpoli #ableg

3/ When @KayceeMaduYEG is caught lying, he doesn't do the right thing. He just plows ahead. As if lying doesn't matter.

So which is more uncivil: calling out people who lie a lot OR being in a position of public trust and lying to people in the first place?

4/ I think it's important that once a politician is found to lie repeatedly, like @jkenney , we never forget that anything they say could be a lie. We need to always weigh it. Look for lies of omission.

Civil discourse cannot survive if politicians lie all the time. It can't.

5/ So as rude as it might be, when members of @UCPCaucus tell lies, we should be calling them "liar" every time. As long as they think they're getting away with it, they won't stop. So shame them.

If the politician is a lawyer, report their behaviour to the Law Society.

6/ If tgey belong to any regilated peofession and their lies violate a Code of Conduct/Ethics, report the lie. Make it clear that there are consequences for lying.

@jkenney famously, and ironically, booted Fildebrandt from caucus for lying to him. But we are inundated with lies

7/ from @UCPCaucus members and their staff. Outright lies and lies of omission.

It is these "bad actors" who are being uncivil.

When they trot out their chirch affiliations, ask what their church's stance is on lying. When they trot out their kids for photo ops, ask if

8/ they think lying sets a good example for their kids.

Because the decision to lie or to spread the lies of others IS personal. It is not a party decision.

And if someone wants to lose the label of Liar, they need to take several steps if they hope to regain public trust.

8/ First, they have to admit they've been liars.
Second, they have to apologize to the people they serve - and mean it.
Third, they should thank the people who have been fighting to make them honest.
Fourth, they should make both public and private commitments to stop lying.

9/ I have seen people in the publuc eye make real changes in direction, and I admire them for it.

It will be hard to do in @UCPCaucus
because the party was formed through lies and corruption. But it is possible.

The ones who don't change need to be denied nominations.

10/ We can't afford the chaos of the political establishment's current addiction to lying.

And that means refusing to countenance it.

That's not uncivil. It's a blatant bid for civility to be restored. /end

6a/ If they belong to any regulated profession and their lies violate a Code of Conduct/Ethics, report the lie. Make it clear that there are consequences for lying.

@jkenney famously, and ironically, booted Fildebrandt from caucus for lying to him. But we are inundated with lies