Most people agree that politicians lie, so why do many people accept the political classes version of History?
959291
because they are programed from schools not to question what authorities teach them! Thanksgiving was originally a clebration of a massacure by the Pilgrams of Indian people! You wont find that in the history books, nor that Custer was tresppassing and in violation of the treaty of 1868 when he invaded a foregion country known as The Great Sioux Nation. So we dressed him up in a fine arrow shirt! I think he got the point! His body contrairy to popular belief was not left alone he was cut up in to pieces and scattered! He died at the hands of those he loved to kill, our women and children finished him off! Just a little known fact.
401303
The same reason ALL big-time politicians are dishonest and corrupt..  because they HAVE to be in order to get elected by the CITIZENS of this country!\n\nAn honest person will NEVER make it out of local city politics because the first time they admit to ever being HUMAN and making MISTAKES like adultery, lying, using drugs in their youth, having an alcohol problem, ever needing psychotropic medication for depression... seeing a therapist, being late on bills, liking porn, masturbating, wanting to hit someone, picking their nose in public or changing their mind about anything... we, the people of the USA will jump on the *Hang them out to dry* media bandwagon and their careers will be over.\n\nSo ya... if we want honest politicians we are gonna have to stop picking them apart and stay the phuck out of their personal lives.  Otherwise we end up with what we have now.. which is lobby-wh*r*s and partisan puppets with no opinions that haven't been previously approved by DC pollsters.
1019367
Everyone wants to be right. They think if they say it loud enough or often enough, every else will agree with them. Politics are based on our beliefs not our knowledge.
655547
Many people don't understand how politics shapes everything in their lives.  They find it confusing, or boring, and watch AMERICAN IDOL or FEAR FACTOR or FOX News or other bogus "reality" shows instead.  Some are convinced that nobody but the rich can ever have any effect on government; so why bother?
948609
Because people are not ready to accept the facts what is happening in their real life. Having so much of desire beyond their limits and they want to get it by crooked way, and sometimes coincidentally it happens they started believing it strongly.
434889
Because politicians are human, just like you. Why can't you be honest and truthful? Who said they weren't honest or truthful. Is everything they say a lie?
802483
Because man are full of wickedness and not consistent.\nExample can you trust politician.?
136321
It is so obviously true that I wonder why you bothered to ask.\n\nWorld leaders -- politicians -- are like the artist who used to live next to me, who said that the truth had no particular appeal for him over an interesting or useful lie.\n\nWe've gotten to the point where there is simply no value placed on truth, honesty, integrity, by those who wield power.  I have long and tedious theories as to why this is so, but suffice to say that as long as we continue to permit them to behave this way, and vote for them anyway, we may deserve our fate.  In any case, those of us who HAVE a vote, whether we bother to use it or not, must share in the blame for dishonesty in our elected leaders.
992185
What a fantastic question.\nThe politicians are definitely dividing, because most of the American public straddles smack dab down the middle of just about every issue facing America today.  That means that most of us are fairly reasonable and mindful of the complexities that face us locally and nationally; daily and life long. But because of this phenomenon, politicians have to initiate a polarization in order to pull people off of the proverbial fence. How can you have a debate if most people agree? The challenge then, is to package an argument (no matter how seemingly insignificant) to inflame  so that people will start to choose sides. This model makes it easy to hide other real issues that won't be addressed due to the smokescreen created by the subsequent brou ha ha.
812976
Why can't you see that all politicians are hypocrites?
1048068
In addition to the answer I posted on your other version of this question, I am also curious about the strength of the general population's belief that there is a strong distinction/line between commercial and government interests. Likewise, I'm interested in their mild interest in the congressional corruption scandals and the campagin finance legislation.  Yesteryears political paradigm is I think marketed by the parties of today to distract from the value empty activities the engage in today.
589066
good question and reason we (older americans) are buying old history books for our grandkids....\n\nIMHO, because the "Politically Correct" is been taken to the extreme!  Instructors/writers want to re-write history - instead of remembering that we should LEARN from History (or past mistakes, from the good, bad and ugly).  It is a sad commentary on today.
586341
politics is a popularity contest at the end of the day and in order to win this contest they have to create ideals and even unreasonable promises. Politicians are groomed to be liars from an early age when the have to win popularity contests in school and college. Unfortunately most of the population falls for such promises of better life and things, but in truth they are just decieving us.\n\nPs: I thingk youre HOT as hell.
1177446
I believe your hypothesis is flawed. Do you watch the news, read the newspaper, read blogs, political books,etc? Yep, you must believe what you are hearing. Where do you live? Do you think that the news might be biased where you are? When have you last heard a BBC newscast, or watched Al-Jazzerah? \nWhat is your definition of Progressive? If it is the Teddy Roosevelt definition, then you adhere to a more classical conservative approach. If you are comparing yourself to modern liberals, then you just need to call yourself that.\nU.S. politics is not divided, just people don't care about the close similarities they share. Even most Political Scientists believe there is an increased volatility in the world democracies, but they ain't asking the right questions. \nInstead of trying to label yourself, why not ask yourself why you believe what you do, and how important those beliefs are.\nIf your definition is hoping for change, then no, conservatives and pregressives are exactly the same. why do you believe conservatives don't question thier leaders? Who do you think are conservatives leaders anyway? Do you think people currently in elected positions are conservative?\nI am not trying to be insulting, just when labels start getting thrown around, it narrows the scope of a question beyond any redeemable answer, and just becomes an opportunity to posture. If you really want to find answers, open up a bit more.
583464
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your History Textbook Got Wrong, by James W. Loewen, is a critical review of the gulf between the best evidence available to historians and the evidence presented to American high school students in the twelve most popular history textbooks. It is the winner of the 1996 American Book Award and the Oliver Cromwell Cox Award for Distinguished Anti-Racist Scholarship.\n\nLoewen proposes that when history teachers elevate American historical figures to the status of heroes, they unintentionally give students the impression that these figures were part of an unattainable past. In other words, the history-as-myth method teaches students that America's greatest days are behind it. If textbooks and teachers were honest about historical controversies and the flaws of our nation's heroes, Loewen proposes that students would be left with the impression that America is a nation forever learning and improving and that our best days are ahead of us.\n\nThe work is unusual among books written for a popular audience in that it is very well sourced and actively encourages readers to explore the social science of history by reading the source material themselves. The book is now cited and recommended by a large number of American History professors.[
773702
Coragryph is right. And I think that by today's definitions of each party, Thomas Jefferson would have been a Democrat. He was a humanitarian, and disliked aristocratic attitudes in government. Interesting man- I always enjoyed reading about his philosophy- he is definitely one of my favorite wise men in American history.\n\nI just read the 2nd part to your question, about the textbooks--OMG!! My 17 year old stepson (yes, Texas) told me some things that were in his history textbooks as well, asking why they would make kids believe one thing, only to have to relearn the truth later on. At least he is inquisitive enough to want to do so. Some kids will never learn the truth. When will these far right people realize that you cannot rewrite history to your liking? I do not understand the mentality that only Republicans are good people, or moral, or Christian. I'm a Christian- a lover and seeker of the Truth. It is just not right to imply that one political party is the steward and dictator of what truth is- especially when they lie.
944955
Well he does lie like a politician so why not.