Lying remains illegal... the federal False Statements Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2), and a number of other laws make it illegal to KNOWINGLY and fraudulently to make false statements... other laws such as perjury, and a whole series of crimes that are generally categorized as fraud... especially, those that rely on misrepresentations (lies)... are illegal.
Generally... If you lie in a sworn affidavit, provide false information to the police, file a police report that is fraudulent, commit perjury in a court proceeding, omit information that is fraudulent in nature (i.e. failing to disclose material defects in a house that you are selling or lying on medical questionnaires about your health to obtain an insurance policy), those are all offenses that are punishable by law. As for telling a friend a lie or fibbing your way out of everyday situations, they are unlikely a crime as they don't result in monetary or physical damages.
The problem is enforcement... our legal system and specifically its professionals... lawyers, prosecutors, judges, and courts have become so corrupt that they rarely prosecute lies... including perjury, this is especially true in civil and family law where lying has become an art form, often suggested by officers of the court, as they attempt to achieve favorable settlements.
A general disregard for the truth in our courts and government institutions has bled over into society... lying has become acceptable, permitted conduct, where it once was not permitted at all... one went to jail, lost their job, and became a pubic pariah in the '50s for lying. I can tell you this: As a young man lying was not tolerated... it resulted in being seriously ostracized. As a child, strong disciplinary punishment by one's family, school authorities, and peer group was routine. Boy Scouts took an oath and pledge to 'live morally straight'... a concept totally lost on our public schools and government institutions today.
Today, lying rarely raises one's eyebrows and cheating (a form of lying) on tests, commercial and social contracts, has become expected and those engaging it are often lauded as being a shrewd character... leveraging the truth for profit. At one time quibbling, spinning or omitting portions of the truth were considered lying... today they are seen as the acts of wise men and politicians.
No, we have many criminal laws, state and federal, which make lying a crime... the problem is our prosecutors no longer prosecute lying and our society basically encourages lying... lying has become a tool to leverage one's success in life. Lying, however, is a deadly sin... It leads to the total corruption of one's soul and when practiced in government ... it leads to massive abuses in the administration of power and government. Lying should be abhorred in our society.. there is no HONOR where lying is acceptable.
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