The truth is not only cheap, it is distasteful. The truth is so, distasteful people pay a lot of money to hear something else instead. Human nature causes us all to think highly of ourselves, so much so that important ingredients are left out economic models where the goodness of people in general might be challenged. In economics, the assumption is made that given the choice, people will be productive and with freedom are competitive and goal driven. The truth is that work is a second choice and if given the opportunity almost everyone would choose to live off of the efforts of others, although, nearly 100% will claim otherwise. Only a small portion of any population is voluntarily industrious. In politics, it is assumed that Americans are independent minded and freedom loving. The truth is just the opposite. An academics conversation is all of the nature of what we like to hear about ourselves. It is no wonder that political and economic models are always inaccurate.