April Fool's Day Should Be Retired

Causing someone to believe that fake news--the more ridiculous the better--was true used to be a lot easier. People in general used to be more trusting because, IMHO, people were more trustworthy.

April Fool's Day was understood to be a day off from integrity, when one could freely dispense falsehoods without damaging one's reputation. It was a day of lighthearted fun.

The President of the United States has been called to task for his exaggerations, if not outright lies. But every President has lied, and perhaps President Trump will indeed end up to be the worst prevaricator ever to occupy the Oval Office.

What's different this time is that we have found that we cannot trust anyone, even the institutions that are supposed to value truth above furtherance of any cause. Lying is not the only form of deception. News organizations have been proven to leave out key information that doesn't fit the narrative---it's as if a prosecutor doesn't reveal that the defendant had an alibi---in the furtherance of a partisan agenda.

It's time to retire April Fool's Day. It ain't so funny any more.