[CamperBob2]

If you don't tell people the truth about something like this, they will cheerfully make something up and accept it as truth.

That's not a "necessary function of any civilization," that's dereliction of duty to the people who elected the leaders.

[pixl97]

And if you do tell the truth your enemy has a nice cheap information gathering network at their disposal. Hell, they'll likely just make up their own bullshit and post it online anyway and say our government is lying.

[thrill]

Even if you do tell people the "truth", they'll cheerfully make anything up that gets more clicks.

[pohl]

People do that when you do tell them the truth.

[CamperBob2]

Be that as it may, I don't see how I can be expected to make good decisions as a voter in a democracy without good information.