Deceit is rampant in our society. Cheating in school has become almost the norm, and no one cheats more than business students, according to some studies. (And journalism students come in second in this dubious 'contest'.) Resume falsification is routine. Our politicians and our government deceive us all the time, from their Enron style accounting of our deficits and national debt, to phony inflation numbers, to false claims that we 'knew' where all those WMDs in Iraq were at. How many Americans cheat on their income taxes? Who really knows? Even priests cheat on their celibacy vows. Corporations routinely deceive us as to the effectiveness and/or safety of their products.

No one seems to really value honesty anymore.

Honesty seems to be for chumps.

The US is claimed to be the World's most religious developed country. Maybe the safety net of confession and repentance is counterproductive. Maybe people should be left to feel guilty about whatever they do that is destructive to others

Note that I am revealing my own position somewhat by using the term "destructive" rather than, say, "offensive". On the other hand, I believe that to be a more realistic orientation.

USA people kind of redefine "honesty" as something to do with Jesus. Those who go far that way seem to view dishonesty as perhaps worse than murder, which various churches can absolve via confession or mere belief in Jesus as Savior. However, if you are DISHONEST, your chances of getting forgiven suddenly vanish: how could Jesus TRUST you and your faith.

I've developed this "subversive" after many years of wondering about people in our culture.

Another "capital crime" to these people is "second guessing." Until age 25, I had never heard the term.

What you talk about as "honesty" seems to have become a badge of honor and salvation. Some who are violently DIShonest proclaim their honesty loudest. They are PURE in their (Christian) honesty hence they are self-hypnotized that ANYTHING they do is holy. Hence Charles Keating and Ken Lay -- both paragons of Christian honesty and (I'd guess) enemies of falling victim to temptation esp from little boys or pole-dancers.

You see, "honesty" excludes business and politics -- both realms of Satanic dominance.

Requires lots of wild thought!

little victories