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Does your government lie?
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:54 pmby The Imperial Federacy
Just as the title says. Does your nation's government ever lie to your populace? Or maybe withhold secrets from the public? Or even falsify reports or scapegoat minority groups? If so, is it for the greater good or to bend the public's will to your leader's iron fist?
The government of the Imperial Federacy believes that if there is no danger to national security in the disclosure of information, then there is no reason to withhold or distort it. The public has the right to knowledge! (Within reason, of course).
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:56 pmby Realm of the End
Nope, no reason to, were literally 100% truthful because we care.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:57 pmby The Celestial Flame
To withhold confidential or classified information from ones populous is not actually lying.
They have no need to know the actual capabilities of our armed forces.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:57 pmby Dizyntk
The Imperial Federacy wrote:Just as the title says. Does your nation's government ever lie to your populace? Or maybe withhold secrets from the public? Or even falsify reports or scapegoat minority groups? If so, is it for the greater good or to bend the public's will to your leader's iron fist?
The government of the Imperial Federacy believes that if there is no danger to national security in the disclosure of information, then there is no reason to withhold or distort it. The public has the right to knowledge! (Within reason, of course).
"Which means that the answer to your own question is, yes, your government lies to its populace. All governments withhold information from the general public. There are just some things that need to be kept secret at times."
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:08 pmby Rejaina
Now what Government doesn't lie, If a government on here says they don't lie then they are lying right there.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:11 pmby Realm of the End
Rejaina wrote:Now what Government doesn't lie, If a government on here says they don't lie then they are lying right there.
Gabriel doesn't like it when he is accused of such distaste.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:24 pmby Nate Land
Nate Land's government lies when they say that they treat everyone equal, when in fact Islamic citizens are treated poorly in the nation. This is due to the extremist groups giving Islam a bad reputation. Also, the Natish government lied when they said that "A real UFO landed in the desert!!!". But in reality, nothing landed in the desert, and the tourist attraction was created just for money. The citizens still think that a UFO landed there though.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:28 pmby Aquitayne
Does a bear shit in the woods?
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:29 pmby The Merchant Republics
The Mercatorum Governments are held to strict standards of public disclosure by the Celestial Council, outright lies, those which prove detrimental to the liberties and safety of their citizenry at large will bring punishment, particularly egregious actions might even be punished with expulsion. Though in practice that is both unlikely and unheard of, simply because few lies could become so large and harmful without good justification or at the very least some exposure.
Freedom of Information, regarding state secrets and public records is entrenched in the constitution, all citizens of a Republic are entitled to know it's finances, it's policies in full, the recordings of all meetings of their ruling bodies and some basic details of public investigation, espionage and military action. That said, the specifics of this clause have been generally narrowed, so that only citizens who can prove themselves trust-worthy, and who themselves promise to keep said secrets may ask and with some vetting must be allowed to view any classified document that the Republic is privy too.
That said the act of asking for such documents without a due cause is potential grounds under Senatorial law for espionage, so asking for documents that are sensitive in nature, may lead to you being branded a spy, which would of course, mean that you must surrender your citizenship, which in turn means that you no longer hold any right to the information of a Republic. So the system generally weeds out the spies from the genuinely curious and right-thinking.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:30 pmby Volmachtia
Often, but likely no more or less than other governments.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:31 pmby The Celestial Flame
Aquitayne wrote:Does a bear shit in the woods?
Not if a nation has driven them to extinction within their area of occupation.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:31 pmby Patria
Yep.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:31 pmby Hirai
Does your government lie?
Not at all.
*Coughs*
It is an accepted fact of life in Hirai that the government will not always be honest with everybody about everything. We do make it a policy not to lie to our own people when we can realistically avoid it, instead merely refusing to give any answers at all if necessary, but we do lie when it serves us.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:32 pmby Malshan
Aquitayne wrote:Does a bear shit in the woods?
No. Not possible.
Yes. Every government lies. Because governments are typically made up of numerous people. If one of them lie, then the government itself lies. One bad apple spoils the bunch.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:32 pmby Armedland
The public doesn't have the privilege of knowing most of their leader's names.
Does that sum it up?
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:32 pmby Wazkyraque
No for the most part; Our government is rather open about everything.
Aquitayne wrote:Does a bear shit in the woods?
Maybe...
A Panda May shit on Leaves
A Black Bear may shit in a tree or even a city
A polar bear may shit on ice or snow.
A Circus bear may shit it's pants while riding a unicycle
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:33 pmby Condunum
I lulz at you, Aq.
Given that my nation is increasingly egalitarian, information is more open, and less restricted. Yes, we lie. But only about our super secret super powerful moon cannon. All governments lie. It's called politics.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:34 pmby Ruridova
The Imperial Federacy wrote:Just as the title says. Does your nation's government ever lie to your populace? Or maybe withhold secrets from the public? Or even falsify reports or scapegoat minority groups? If so, is it for the greater good or to bend the public's will to your leader's iron fist?
The government of the Imperial Federacy believes that if there is no danger to national security in the disclosure of information, then there is no reason to withhold or distort it. The public has the right to knowledge! (Within reason, of course).
Very very rarely. And it doesn't stay hidden for long anyways.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:35 pmby Barefoot Lands
We do not lie. We judiciously disseminate that which the government believes, in its wisdom, to be appropriate and necessary for its citizens.
At times, we must withhold some of the truth to preserve order and the stability of the Dominion.
If your scientists knew a massive asteroid was to hit and obliterate your nation in 30 days, would you tell your citizens?
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:36 pmby Tekrepolis
The Imperial Federacy wrote:Just as the title says. Does your nation's government ever lie to your populace? Or maybe withhold secrets from the public? Or even falsify reports or scapegoat minority groups? If so, is it for the greater good or to bend the public's will to your leader's iron fist?
The government of the Imperial Federacy believes that if there is no danger to national security in the disclosure of information, then there is no reason to withhold or distort it. The public has the right to knowledge! (Within reason, of course).
Lies: rampant.
Secrets: abound.
Falsify?:you betcha.
Scapegoat:if they're not Coptic, yes.
Will-bending:commonplace.
Iron fists:yep!
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:36 pmby Realm of the End
Barefoot Lands wrote:We do not lie. We judiciously disseminate that which the government believes, in its wisdom, to be appropriate and necessary for its citizens.
At times, we must withhold some of the truth to preserve order and the stability of the Dominion.
If your scientists knew a massive asteroid was to hit and obliterate your nation in 30 days, would you tell your citizens?
yes
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:38 pmby Judea City States Ally
Considering the Goverment controls the media, we are a Military Dictatorship. Foreign Reporters in our country must give their stories to our Goverment News Agency, to make sure they are stories we approve of. If they refuse, they are killed on the spot or if they fled the country, told that should they return they will be shot on sight.
What do you think?
Of course we lie, just ask AQ
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:40 pmby Barefoot Lands
Realm of the End wrote:Barefoot Lands wrote:We do not lie. We judiciously disseminate that which the government believes, in its wisdom, to be appropriate and necessary for its citizens.
At times, we must withhold some of the truth to preserve order and the stability of the Dominion.
If your scientists knew a massive asteroid was to hit and obliterate your nation in 30 days, would you tell your citizens?
yes
And risk panic, hysteria, collapse of the social order? Never. It can collapse when the asteroid hits, thank you very much! (plus, what if it does not hit?)
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:42 pmby Realm of the End
Barefoot Lands wrote:Realm of the End wrote:yes
And risk panic, hysteria, collapse of the social order? Never. It can collapse when the asteroid hits, thank you very much! (plus, what if it does not hit?)
No one cares if one came because the ED will just turn it into scrap, that is if the End doesn't just prevent it from falling and make sit float, in the over world it may be a issue however.
Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:42 pmby Allrule
Government response:
No, we never lie to our glorious people. The Revolution of 13th October has transformed our nation into a glorious state of the people, and a government which serves the people cannot lie to them, as that would contradict its purpose.
~Foreign Minister Horace Clark
Actual facts response:
Originally, Allrule was a relatively stable democracy, with high levels of press freedom and freedom of speech for all. However, after the military coup on October 13, led by Harold Smith, Smith immediately began to tighten his grip on power. Press freedom was quickly curtailed, and the Allrule People's News Network (APNN), the new state TV channel, became the dominant provider of news. A few private media outlets still exist, but they mostly provide stories from the outside and other stuff, preferring to stay away from the topic of Smith's government.