Fact Checkers

A string of recent political snafus have got me thinking: who’s responsible for checking facts?

As writers, it’s considered part of our job to do research. Sure, we’re allowed to stretch the truth or bend things to fit our stories, but basic things need to be true. (I’m excusing fantasy & sci-fi from this.) As with the general rules of writing, you have to know a rule, or truth, before you can break it.

So color me surprised when one political figure after another completely screws up facts that most middle-school children know. As much as it pains me, I can stomach the fact that people can’t know everything, but these politicians have advisors and staffers. In theory, someone on that staff is a fact checker.

Telling an audience that the founders of our country abolished slavery is inexcusable, especially given how easy it is to find the truth.

Thoughts? Are my expectations too high?