The foulest damage to our political life comes not from the 'secrets' which they hide from us, but from the little bits of half-truth and disinformation which they do tell us. These are already pre-digested, and then are sicked up as little gobbits of authorised spew. The columns of defense correspondents in the establishment sheets serve as the spittoons.
Interpretation
The biggest threat to politics comes from the misleading information given to us rather than hidden secrets.
E. P. Thompson highlights the dangers posed by incomplete truths and misinformation that are presented to the public. He argues that the real harm is not merely in the secrets that are kept from the citizens, but in the selective and often twisted information that is shared, which can mislead and manipulate public opinion. This suggests that a lack of transparency and honesty in political communication can be more harmful than outright deception.
In practice
In a political debate about misinformation, this quote could highlight the dangers of manipulated truths.
Any time, every time, you can damn the Prime Minister and so long as it is not a lie and a criminal lie, nothing happens to you. You can say a lot of things. You can write books about him, damning him. So long as it is not a libel, go ahead.
No sooner does an American president take his oath of office than the speculation begins: Will he be reelected in four years' time? If not, who will succeed him? A member of his own party? The other party?
To think that our political organisation is immutable is the best way to hand the country over to the extremes.
The happiness of society is the end of government.
We have already given in example one effectual check to the dog of war by transferring the power of letting him loose from the Executive to the Legislative body
I get asked a lot about getting into politics. I say, 'Take a look at politics. You tell me what seems appealing about that.'
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