How to Spot a Lying Politician

Politicians wield a great deal of power. Their decisions influence our rights and our lives. For this reason, we must always choose leaders with great care. While researching the candidates, it's helpful to pay attention not only to what they're saying about the issues, but also the body language they use. If you can spot a lying politician, you further enable yourself to make the best decision with your vote.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Arm yourself with knowledge about current political concerns. Only by understanding the issues can you spot the difference between a candidate who is being honest and one who is spinning the story.

2. Pay attention to what the politician doesn't say. Omission of information can be just as untruthful as an outright lie. With a working knowledge of the issues, you can learn to read between the lines for misinformation.

3. Listen for contradictions in policy. Often, a deceptive politician will tell different audiences alternate versions of the truth, based on what the audience would most like to hear. Study each candidate's political views to make sure they don't deviate.

4. Attend live speeches whenever possible and watch televised speeches as often as you can. You can more easily spot a lie based on body language than on words alone. Articles are helpful, but visual cues are much more telling.

5. Look for inconsistencies in body language, such as a change of voice inflection or sudden fidgeting. Other telltale signs include shifting from foot to foot, covering the mouth (even partially) and refusing to make eye contact with the person asking the questions.