The Culture of Lies
Two weeks ago I met a married couple while paragliding in Big Sur. Both of them appeared to be in their late 50s and both worked for the U.S. Government in different capacities. While we sat around the campfire after a great day of flying, I listened to what this couple had to say about their many years in government service.
The husband talked about his work at a lab in the 1970s. He told an amusing story about a janitor who cleaned up a radioactive spill with a mop and bucket. His wife would only say that she had recently retired after a lifetime as a “bureaucrat,” but would not elaborate. She said very little, but the quote I remember most was “If you tell the truth, you’re out.”
What she offered in explanation was that everyone from the President down to the lowliest brass doorknob-polisher in the Pentagon are never inclined to be truthful about anything having to do with their jobs. If they dare to do so, they could be fired, laid off, passed over for promotions, ostracized, etc. Of course, most people would say that this should be obvious. From her careful choice of words I inferred that the lying is deep, rampant and probably dangerous, and considered almost nonchalantly as a hazard of the territory.
Many people get by quite well never telling the whole truth in the course of their work, but those in the private sector do not have the same onus on them to be truthful, since they are not paid by the public. The culture of lying in the Government has unfortunately been raised to a rare art. It may be said that these lies actually grease the wheels of government, providing a means by which the greater good may often be served by silencing the squeaks of bureaucracy and red tape.
When an issue of public policy is at stake or lying covers up crimes it becomes intolerable. This is also obvious to most people.
What those interested in government secrecy on the UFO subject sometimes forget is that they are asking questions of people who are used to withholding information and are so good at it that they may often believe their own falsehoods. What is worse is that the information is probably compromised even before it gets to the secretary, PR person or military officer whom the researcher has contacted. Many of the “holy grail”-type documents retrieved through FOIA may be subject to this culture of lying as well.
I have noticed that retired (and sometimes active) military or intelligence people will answer questions indirectly, but you have to be paying attention, and remember all of your questions. Sometimes they’ll answer days, weeks, or months later. Some of these people are very sharp.
The upshot is that researchers need to develop their search and interview skills to surf the treacherous waters of the government culture of lying. Patience, good note-taking and a willingness to play the game by their rules is essential. Even then, success is not guaranteed, but when a story starts to fall together, it makes the game worth it.
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May 21 2009 
May 21st, 2009 at 6:31 am
Greg,
What if someone told you he could prove to you that UFOs are a real phenomenon, but you could never tell anyone what he told you?
Would you choose having the knowledge over the ability to disclose it?
Let’s say you accept his deal, but several hours, days, months, or years later, you change your mind. You’re dying to tell someone. How would you let someone know the truth without officially breaking your agreement. What would you do?
May 21st, 2009 at 7:24 am
He would change his name to George Adamski!
May 21st, 2009 at 8:17 am
Euphemystic —
lol!
May 22nd, 2009 at 3:56 am
I’d ask him first if he could prove it to anyone with the same method. If so, I’d choose knowledge.
You don’t have to tell others something directly. You can give clues.
If I was shown something (like Jamie Shandra claimed) that would be harder. He asked me to guess what it was because he couldn’t tell me. I never got it right.
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 am
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
On the Shandera issue… so you havent spoken to him since 98?
Whats the chances he was pulling your leg?
Why couldnt he just tell you?
(Ive heard you talk about this before, and its always fascinated me)
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:30 am
Never mind, I read the comments in the Shandera article which covers those questions.
Still fascinating to think you (or presumably no one?) has seen him since 98?