How do we discern truth?

John the gospel-writer got it right. “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The problem: What’s true and what’s not?

Another writer, Barbara Kingsolver, gave a recent talk on eating locally. Her fact: in order to eat, each citizen “consumes” 400 gallons of oil per year. Outlandish? A lie? No. Transportation alone accounts for four-fifths of those gallons. The average food item travels 1500 miles to our plates.

She tells in Small Wonders about other crises. Journalist Bill Moyers once asked then Poet Laureate Robert Penn Warren how we might resolve them: decaying cities, a failing health care system, needs for better education and housing. Warren leaned forward to say, “Well, Bill, for [starters], it would be good if we stopped lying to each other.”

Some lies are, to be fair, not seen as such by their tellers. Take for example Roy Spencer’s talk September 22 at the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Business and Conference in Topeka. Spencer, a man with academic credentials and publications, essentially told the assembled group what they no doubt wanted to hear—that present economic activity is not a proven contributor to dramatic climate change and the eventual end of our ag economy. In other words, we can pursue more of the same at full speed.

Spencer specializes in casting doubt on established, juried scientific fact. He is often similarly trotted out to support teaching of “intelligent design” on par with evolution. His most prominent other appearances have been on Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck. The public may draw its own conclusions. If we are in fact at the edge of an ecological cliff, however, it would be only prudent to reject Spencer’s implied advice, and at least touch the brake, not floor the accelerator. More important, we should steer in another direction.

Disturbing as his misguided perceptions are, more disturbing is the published reaction of our 71st District’s present state legislator, Charlie Roth. He said the Chamber’s presentations were “a nice balance to what he’s been hearing in the legislature,” adding “It just added another piece of the puzzle.”

Another piece of the puzzle? Not at all. What’s puzzling is that Spencer was given such a prominent forum for politicians and business leaders—and that our representative bought it. There are other, more fruitful, approaches to exploring and adopting sustainable energy initiatives, and jobs, for our great state, with the U.S’ 3rd highest wind potential. I would urge and cooperate with the Chamber to bring just such voices to the state.

Good teachers once introduced me to Socrates’ revelation that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Years later, I wish the same revelation, and discipline, for all of us. In this culture, though, it is difficult.

As Barbara Ehrenreich puts it, “Positive thinking is endemic to American culture ... and in the last two decades it put down deep roots in the corporate world. Everyone knows you won’t get a job paying more than $15 an hour unless you’re a ‘positive person’—doubt-free, uncritical, and smiling.”

The finance industry is a poster boy for the result. Cheerleaders long ago replaced ball players. Motivational speakers proudly list companies like Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch as clients. Countrywide Mortgage’s former CEO, who arguably precipitated the entire mortgage crisis, was known for “absurdly” congenital optimism.

Perhaps this is what grabbed our representative when he heard reasons to assuage his vote for Kansas irresponsibly producing billions more tons of CO2. The cheerleader in all of us doesn’t like to quarrel with the juggernaut coal train that has provided us power for years. Our addictions to oil or coal don’t yield easily, and we don’t like to talk about sacrifice. But if we are to be real, we have to.

As Ehrenreich asserts, “Negative” is not the only alternative to “positive.” Constant pessimism can be as destructive as congenital optimism. “The alternative to both is realism – seeing the risks, having the courage to bear bad news, and being prepared for famine as well as plenty.” Such preparation brings real security, real community--and real patriotism.

True patriots, says Kingsolver, are willing to be real. “The flag was never meant to be a stand-in for information and good judgment.” Conservation and “growing our own” can be liberating, whether for food or energy. Kingsolver suggests we “take the American flag down from the outlet mall and plant it in the Victory Garden.” Or maybe on victory windmills and solar panels.