Our flesh is forever seeking satisfaction without cost, but delight pursued without limit inevitably leads to destruction. The childish, self-centered aspect of our nature is quite defensive when free access to indulgence is threatened either explicitly or implicitly. If we interfere with another's fun, or allow others to do so, our own potential amusement may be hindered. This message is infinitely appealing to the egotistic nature, which resides within every person. And it follows that deception is often the unavoidable by-product of an unrestrained appetite.
Lies are frequently the vehicles that advance the pursuit of pleasure that our latent child craves.
The effect upon an individual, and yes, even a country, is corrosive. A leader who presents a self-indulgent standard to a nation offers a pathological path toward a cultural breakdown. At a time when self-control is needed more than ever, this is nothing short of a tragedy. Premarital sex, teen pregnancy, underachievement, and drug abuse severely harm our youth. The display of adults capriciously yielding to appetites or impulses is the antithesis of what is required today.