“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it” – Marcus Aurelius

Tragically, these days the practice of is not a high priority with most politicians and in reality seems to be avoided or at the very least, watered down to keep deniability an option.

The phrase third rail, as defined by Wikipedia, is a metaphor to denote an idea or topic that is so “charged” and “untouchable” that any politician or public official who dares broach the subject would invariably suffer politically.

The third rail in a train system is the exposed electrical conductor that carries high voltage power and would electrocute anyone that touches it!

Today’s politics and politicians are so focused on winning and protecting the interests of people and groups that get them elected and will help them get re-elected that the end justifies the means.

…..and if honesty and telling the truth suffers, then so be it because self preservation is the ultimate goal to be achieved at all costs

As for the analogy of honesty being the third rail, there has been much disagreement over whether a specific issue is a third rail issue.

Some of the more traditional issues considered to be political suicide (third rail) are: social security, raising taxes or gun control to name a few.

It is my contention that even though those issues are important and certainly in need of serious attention, a core issue like honesty, if improved, would have a greater positive effect on our system of democracy in the long run.