The Problem with Caring

At what point does embellishment become a lie?  For the hard-core ethicsists, it's at the point of any embellishment.  For most of us, it's a sliding scale - that 10 pound fish becomes a 12 pounder, the 3 point buck becomes a 5 point.

From Breitbart comes word of our VA Secretary, Robert McDonald:

In a statement released Monday by the VA, McDonald said: “While I was in Los Angeles, engaging a homeless individual to determine his veteran status, I asked the man where he had served in the military. He responded that he had served in special forces. I incorrectly stated that I had been in special forces. That was inaccurate and I apologize to anyone that was offended by my misstatement.”

Inaccurate?  How about flat out false?  Turns out that McDonald served in the 82nd Airborne Division.  Now, not to say that the 82nd isn't a fine outfit, but it's a far cry from "Special Forces".

Note the circumstances of this lie.  The VA secretary was talking with a homeless veteran who was SF.  Then he says that he too was SF.  This isn't something you just mistake.  I can only conclude that this was some attempt at compassion towards the vet.  But that's the problem.

Modern civilian progressives along with politicians of all stripes have made caring the standard.  If we care, that's what matters.  Not if we do anything, not if we accomplish, but did we care.  And the rush is to care more than the next guy.  Does it matter if throwing millions (or billions) of tax dollars at a "problem" are wasted?  Nope...it goes to show we care.  Projects over budget and behind schedule?  Doesn't matter because the goal is not to accomplish anything but to show we care.

Stop caring.  Start real, concrete action.  McDonald could show that by resigning right now.

But we know that won't happen - because he "cares" about our vets.