I don't agree with everything Ralph Nader stands for, but he's right about a troubling trend in American politics: political language pollution by what he calls "linguistic swindling." That means using confusing language to hide the real nature of something.
Political strategist Frank Lentz said, "If we talk about 'pain,' we lose. We invoke a 'better future,' we win." An example is what Congress named the "Common Sense Product Liability Reforms Act," but Nader calls it the "Death to Americans Act."
You see, telling the truth is important to God. God frowned on warping words in the Old Testament and the New Testament. When you attempt to fool people with words — talking in double-speak or putting the spin on something or using political rhetoric or whatever — that's called lying. Even if we don't see it when politicians use it, even if others miss it when we do it, and even when others pull it and we miss it, God hears it and takes it seriously.
Jesus said it this way: "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No;’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37 TNIV).
And in case we forget, James reminds us again: "All you need to say is a simple 'Yes' or 'No.' Otherwise you will be condemned" (James 5:12).
So let's be people of the truth!
