Petition: Make It Illegal to Lie or Mislead the American Public
Purpose: Demand a policy to hold government officials, corporations, and other influential entities accountable for deception and misinformation targeting the public. It’s time to make deliberate, harmful dishonesty illegal.
Background: American citizens deserve accurate, honest information, especially when it comes to decisions that impact health, safety, and democracy. Unfortunately, recent history reveals that misinformation has been weaponized to influence public opinion, skew election results, and erode trust in government and institutions. A policy to make intentional deception illegal would protect the American public from being manipulated by those in power.
Key Examples of Public Deception:
- Iraq War Intelligence: In 2003, the U.S. government justified the invasion of Iraq by asserting that Saddam Hussein held weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Years later, it became clear that this was based on faulty intelligence and speculation, costing countless lives and creating long-term regional and economic repercussions. Public trust was severely damaged, and the need for truth in matters of national security remains a pressing issue
.
2. Watergate Scandal: The Watergate scandal is another key example, exposing deep corruption and cover-ups at the highest levels of government. This led to President Nixon’s resignation and showed the American public how deception in government erodes democratic foundations and accountability
.
3. Misinformation During the Affordable Care Act Debate: False claims of “death panels” deciding who received care during healthcare reform debates in 2009 fueled fear and confusion. Though unsubstantiated, this myth influenced public sentiment and hindered productive policy discussions on healthcare, showing how misinformation harms meaningful debate and policy
Demands:
- Mandate Transparency and Honesty: Require full transparency and verifiable sources when providing information to the public, particularly on issues that impact health, safety, and policy.
- Legal Consequences for Deception: Impose penalties for individuals, officials, and corporations who knowingly spread false information that could harm the public or sway elections.
- Third-Party Oversight: Establish independent bodies to review statements and information shared by public officials, ensuring that citizens receive accurate information.
- Protection Against Corporate Misinformation: Require corporations, especially those in critical sectors like pharmaceuticals, energy, and water, to disclose potential health or environmental risks transparently and accurately.
Conclusion: The public deserves honesty and accountability. Cases like the Iraq War, Watergate, and repeated election misinformation reveal the urgent need to enforce truthfulness. It’s time to create policies that make it illegal to mislead or lie to the American public.
Call to Action: Join this petition to advocate for transparency, accountability, and the right to reliable information. Stand with us to demand integrity in our democracy.