Ron's Rant

Everything faded into mist. The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten. The lie became the truth. - George Orwell

What is the real truth? Where do we go to find it? And when we find it is it really the truth or just a fabrication? The world seems to be spinning in all directions these days and finding out what is really happening without the propaganda, spin and gloss is difficult.

Depending upon which side of the world you live in, or which side you are on, the messages you are receiving can be poles apart. For example, if you are living in Russia, what are the messages you would be getting about the activities in the Ukraine? Would they be the same messages as we are hearing here in Australia or a twisted version of the truth that whitewashes and justifies Russia’s actions to placate and rally their people?

Is the same happening on our side of the fence but with differing messages? Is what you are led to believe simply what information “they” feed you? And who are... “They”?

How many beautiful young men over the ages have been marched off to war based on the manipulation of the truth. Is this happening again? Are the politicians, spin doctors and faceless men pulling the strings again? Are they contorting the truth, blurring the lines, and manipulating the facts to rally the misinformed masses?

A lie based on the truth can be twisted and manipulated to create different messages and outcomes. I can remember 9/11 and there being a white powder incident in the US where some sort of deadly powdery substance was being posted all over the place. The news media first reported it was related to the terrorist attack of 9/11 but then after being analysed was found to be anthrax which came from a US military laboratory and then the story simply vaporised into nothingness with no further mention on any media thereafter. I felt myself wondering whether I had just dreamed or imagined the incident and was confused as to why an American agency would send poison letters to its own people and why this issue was not adequately raised.

More recently in our own backyard, we have seen the truth clumsily twisted by politicians and bureaucrats regarding our COVID-19 and vaccine rollout disasters. “Bull Shit” excuses were rolled in glitter to placate the public into thinking that our politicians and bureaucrats had been on top of the Delta pandemic, when the reality was that the bureaucrats had been so far behind the ballgame they were constantly playing catch up. These over-paid bureaucrats that are meant to advise our "here today, gone tomorrow” politicians, stuffed up time and time again. Yet no heads rolled, no one was made accountable, no one lost their job. Our untouchable Public Service have the power to alter the truth and get away with it. Too much power with no accountability.

In our own City of Port Phillip, the manipulation of the truth is thriving with constant sham community consultation processes "shaping" the direction of how our overtaxed ratepayer funds are spent. He who controls the research controls the outcome.

In a recent deliberative consultation, participants were asked to consider changes to the rating system and the introduction of a separate charge for kerbside waste collection. Participants said they were cynical and distrusting of the Council’s motives for the proposed changes. They were concerned that the proposed initiatives would be implemented despite the lack of consensus. In a recent Council push polling survey, participants were asked about rates. The options offered were to cut services or increase rates to maintain services. There was no option to freeze or reduce rates while maintaining services, or freeze or reduce rates by reducing corporate overheads. An objective survey would have put all options on the table.

People today seem to think that there are different levels of truth. “My truth” is how they perceive the truth, through their eyes with their biases and beliefs. So, twisting the truth to their way of thinking is easy. But this type of truth is totally wrong, there is only one real and honest truth. Finding it and keeping it pure will always be the challenge. Greater honesty, vigilance and less complacency from ourselves, our media and people in power will help keep us stay free from the blurring of the truth over the passage of time. 

We the people need to stay on guard to protect ourselves from the powerful that seek to gain from their manipulation turning lies into truths using all forms of media to spin their gossamer webs of deceit.