Why Politicians Attack Instead of Govern: Money, Gerrymandering & Career Politicians

Ronald Reagan's legendary rhetorical skills earned him the title The Great Communicator.

But many of his so-called facts simply weren't true.

Trees do not cause more pollution than automobiles.

The Mount St. Helens eruption did not release more sulfur dioxide than 10 years of automobile emission.

The amount equaled about three weeks of automobile emissions.

And he did not shrink the federal budget in total dollars.

Federal spending increased 69% nominally from 1981 to 1989.

He did not present Congress with balanced budgets.

The national debt actually tripled.

And his economic policies did not provide a tide that lifted all boats.

In fact, during his time in office, the top 1% of income earners' share of the national income went from 10% to 15%, while the share of the bottom 20% fell from about 6% to about 4%.

That's a familiar saga.

Given what we're talking about today, it's not surprising that Reagan remains in the pantheon of conservative voices.

Effective storytelling and the facts be damned.

And now we have Donald Trump to contend with.

No one will ever accuse him of being a gifted speaker.

At times, he's hardly articulate.

But like Reagan, Trump ignores facts and will say one thing and do another.

He did not win three presidential elections, did not stop endless wars, and has not rebuilt U.S. manufacturing.

And his tariffs are not paid for by other countries.

Right.

I mean, during his time, inflation has not been the lowest in 10 years, not by a long shot.

It has stayed stubbornly above the target rate.

And his big, beautiful bill was not the largest tax cut in history, though it did help his wealthy friends.

Recently, he made six statements regarding his personal role in the tragic events of 9-11. that are either clearly false or they lack any supporting evidence at all.