SOUND THE FOGHORN

Press, 10 March 1984, Page 16

SOUND THE FOGHORN

By

WHIM WHAM

“I think from time to time it is in the interests of governments and the saving of lives to push some fog content out.” — Alexander Haig, former U.S. Secretary of State, in British television series “Terror and State”. Governments that lied to the media, even though lives might be saved, lost credibility. “We do not believe them next time around and thousands will be lost ...” — Harold Evans, former editor of “The Times”, same series. What Situation justifies A Government in telling Lies? Most Governments do — But unlike Ours, their Lies are true! That is, professionally designed To satisfy the Public Mind, And (hopefully) tq stick, as long As History takes to prove Them wrong, Or plausible enough to last Until the next Election’s past. Keep Truth well corked, and covered close — Do Not Exceed the Stated Dose! If Governments, at Times, are Liars, It’s what the Common Good requires — And what’s the Common Good, but our Support for Governments in Power? A prudent Government supplies “Fog Content” — and what’s That but Lies? Fog Content — stupefying Stuff, Dangerous, when you breathe Enough. * Millions have died of It, in War, Famine, and Pestilence, and More Than likely, More have yet to die Befogged, because of some such Lie. When will Governments ever dare Replace Fog Content with Fresh Air? One Puff of Truth, that Fog to scatter, And if choked Them — would it iiiatter?