When a Lie Becomes the Truth

As we witness the death throes of a struggling Democratic Party, the attacks against the opposing party become more extreme. Lies from the party are something we’ve all become used to—but why? It says the obvious about the liar, but what does it say about those who believe the lie? Is it really that simple, as Joseph Goebbels said, to repeat a lie a thousand times until it becomes the truth?

There is no doubt that millions of Americans believe the “Trump is a Nazi” lie, and it would be easy, or even lazy, to dismiss such people as crazy or uneducated. It’s much more complicated than that. Millions of people across a vast landscape are hard to comprehend and easy to shrug off, but what if it were hundreds of people right here in your own backyard? That makes it a little more personal, doesn’t it?

Back here in our own little Homer Township, the same kind of disgusting smear tactics have been remarkably effective at targeting our township supervisor, Steve Balich. Steve Balich has often been referred to as the “Trump of Homer Township” by people from other townships and villages because of the similarities in perception. For instance…

· They both speak honestly: Sometimes they aren’t careful with the precise wording expected from a typical politician. In other words, Steve doesn’t always use polished language, and Trump sometimes says blunt things. To me, it’s the actions that matter, not the talk.

· They both face vicious attacks: Weaker men would have stepped down long ago due to the relentless lies and accusations, but like Trump, Steve Balich brushes it off and keeps fighting for the people.

· Courage against the establishment: Trump was told he could never go against the “two-state solution,” yet he moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, defying the establishment. Steve Balich was told he could never vote down a road project, but he led the effort to block the 143rd Street expansion, creating a bipartisan rejection of the five-lane highway and the forced seizure of private property along the 143rd Street corridor. This move angered the establishment so much that Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County Executive, allegedly broke the law to veto the effort after receiving substantial campaign contributions, according to sources close to the matter. Steve Balich also led the effort to sue the executive for this injustice on behalf of Homer Township residents. Why does this take courage? Both men put their careers on the line and risked backlash to do the right thing.

· Derangement syndrome: Both men provoke intense dislike in their opponents, who blame them for everything. Everything is Trump’s fault; everything is Steve Balich’s fault, no matter the situation. It’s just strange.

· Tax cuts for the “rich”: Steve Balich has lowered taxes at the township three years in a row and froze the levy this past year. He also reduced the size of township government, costing residents less in taxes. (If a billionaire lived in Homer Township, detractors would claim, “Steve gave his billionaire friend a tax cut!”) Of course, by national standards, most people in Homer Township are considered “rich.”

· “Divider in Chief”: Trump has been, and still is, attacked by Democrats and RINO Republicans alike—the so-called “uni-party.” The uni-party is alive and well in Homer, and just like Trump, Steve Balich is blamed for dividing people. But who is really to blame?

People who pretend to be Republican are more dangerous than Democrats. At least with a Democrat, you know what you’re going to get: high taxes, poor schools, and corruption. When a Democrat pretends to be a Republican, it gives people a false sense of choice. Take Liz Cheney, for example: when the people of Wyoming realized they’d been deceived by “Dizzy Lizzy,” they promptly voted her out of office, with her losing by nearly 40 points—a sign that regular people don’t like being misled.

Like the country, Homer Glen is divided, but who or what is to blame? The uni-party is to blame. Just as there are “Never Trump” Republicans nationally, we have our “Never Steve” Republicans locally. Why? Because if you want to profit as a politician, you need to get rid of those who stand in your way. You must remove the good example of government efficiency. Steve Balich has set a high standard for the township by cutting taxes while expanding services. How can the village justify raising taxes when just a block away, the township is lowering them? It’s a bad look for the village if they’re inclined to increase taxes.

When I say Democrats and Republicans, I’m not talking about voters; I’m talking about politicians and activists. Voters are constantly bombarded with propaganda and lies—they don’t know what to believe. Many have been led to believe that the only true Republicans are in the “Unity Party,” the “Integrity Party,” the “Reset Slate,” or the “Nuht Party.” Why do they need so many names if they’re just grassroots Republicans? Because they’re not. They’re Democrat-funded, artificial “RINOs.” If you fell for this, you got scammed, and people don’t like being scammed.

If enough people tell you a lie, as Goebbels said, it eventually becomes the truth—unless you look beyond the propaganda and do some research. The first thing you look for is actions, not words. The best liars tell you exactly what you want to hear. Steve Balich doesn’t tell people what they want to hear, but like Trump, he does what needs to be done for the taxpayer’s benefit. What has the many-names party or the “Russian Reset Slate” accomplished? For one, they destroyed the H.T.R.O.

The Homer Township Republican Organization once had significant political influence. During the Illinois gubernatorial primary, every candidate running for governor came through Homer Glen—some like Gary Rabine even came two or three times. But the uni-party took over with the support of Christina Neitzske-Troike, the mastermind behind the operation. With Democrat funding and help from her RINO friends, she easily defeated the grassroots Freedom Caucus Republicans. The scam worked, and the people voted. The end.

What can you say about people who believe the lie? It’s not their fault—they’re bombarded with nonstop negative stories and lies on social media, by a powerful force that expertly uses fear and hatred to gain power. Why? Because it works. For example: “You’re going to lose your social security,” “You’re going to lose your healthcare,” “You’re going to lose the pumpkin farm!” Fear works.

So, as we watch the national election unfold, let’s try not to think about the eerie similarities between our little township and the Washington D.C. swamp, because you might eventually conclude that… if the Township Supervisor is the local Trump, then the Village Mayor is the local Liz Cheney. And the question that will keep you up at night will be… how did I fall for this hoax?