People on opposite political sides always seem to accuse the other of the inability to see things from their perspective. But usually, these differences are based on facts and interpretation of facts. This is no longer the case. Since 1981, the right wing in this country has just lost it. The biggest political flip-flop in US history was Ronald Reagan. Reagan excoriated Democrat and Repblican alike for 16 years, railing against deficit spending. He ran for president on a platform of a balanced budget. Once in office, he immediately betrayed his biggest campaign promise and went on to create massive deficits we have not recovered from.

The next biggest flip-flop is happening now: George W. Bush's lies before invading Iraq and ever-changing story since those lies were exposed. He gets to spew new lies, which are largely unchallenged by a cowed media.

Cognitive Dissonance rules. Believing one lie leads to believing a whole set of lies. Two generations of blatant lies have ruined a once-proud political party: To be a Republican these days, one must believe lies and not believe the truth.

Here are a few plain truths that no Republican will ever accept. They will rant and rave and clinch their sphincter in shame while they spin more lies, but that doesn't change the facts. Political labels and fads may change, but at some point basic human decency needs to reassert itself. It's time for the Heartland of America to reclaim the high road, to reestablish the moral compass that made this country great.

It's time to return to some semblance of reality. I'm not going to list cites: These statements are simple, obvious and well documented. Anyone who wants more information can do a Google search. Ranting by the conservative news media and right-wing bloggers doesn't count.

The Heartland Project
Simple truths: A preliminary list

• Cutting taxes and spending more money won't balance the Federal Budget.
This is one of the issues you can say unequivocally:
Democrats are right and Republicans are wrong.
• Global Warming is a serious threat to human life on Earth, and we've known this for decades.
This is one of those issues you can say unequivocally:
Liberals are right and conservatives are wrong.
• There were no WMD in Iraq.
• Bush and most of the people around him knew there were no WMD in Iraq.
• Before the invasion, Saddam Hussein granted UN Weapons Inspectors unrestricted access to suspected sites in Iraq.
• John Kerry is a war hero.
• George W. Bush went AWOL.
• Al Gore served honorably in Vietnam.
• Evolution is the only science that currently explains the world.
• The Reagan/Bush administration was the dirtiest in US History, though the Bush/Cheney administration is making a strong push to out-sleaze Reagan.
• The Clinton administration was squeaky-clean.
• The US news media is not only conservative, it's very conservative.
• Bush lied about not knowing Katrina would be serious.
• Bush lied about not knowing Osama bin Laden was planning a serious attack on the US.
• Criticizing political leaders is not the same thing as criticizing the military.
• Criticizing military decisions is not the same thing as criticizing the military.
• A soldier can fight honorably in a dishonorable war.
• The company founded by George W. Bush's great-grandfather and managed by his grandfather had very close ties to Nazi Germany even while we were at war with them.
• The Jack Abramoff scandal is a uniquely Republican scandal that shows the sordid inside mechanism of Republican corruption since 1994.
• The Bush family has very close ties to Red China.
• The Bush family has very close ties to the Saudi royal family.
• Public health insurance achieves equal or better health care at much lower costs.
• Michael Moore makes documentaries; Mel Gibson does not.
• 9/11 brought home an important point: The conviction of misplaced faith is as strong or stronger than the conviction of faith. Merely believing in your G-d does not make you a better person.

Some anticipated responses and how to handle them.

Any additions? The basic concept is to make a list of things that are politically incorrect in today's ultra-conservative environment. Simple statements of fact that are true and easily demonstrated to be true that are the exact opposite of what the Bush administration, right-wing commentators and hate radio are saying. E-mail Baron Dave. Keep it simple, polite and perhaps a cite or two.