Tell Me Lies, Tell Me Sweet Little Lies

What We Get Wrong About America: Nine Common Myths—and the Truths That Matter

Many of my writing ideas come from reading a misconception (or three) on social media. In this case, a Facebook poster made the remark that

”Our founding fathers created a two-party system where republican, and democrats live together.”

As discussed below, that is simply false.

For a country that prides itself on how smart we are, Americans often have a surprisingly shaky understanding of how their government and our institutions of power actually work.

It’s not necessarily our fault—many of these misunderstandings come from what we were taught (or weren’t taught) in school, what we read or hear in the media, what we see on social media, and what we repeat without question.

But knowing the truth matters. Because if we want to improve our country, we have to start by understanding it.

Here are nine of the most common misconceptions Americans hold about our country—and the facts that set the record straight.

1. MYTH: The Founding Fathers created a two-party system.
TRUTH: In fact, they strongly opposed the idea. George Washington warned against political factions in his farewell address, fearing they would divide the country. James Madison and others echoed those concerns. The two-party system we have today evolved over time, not by design, but through historical developments and political convenience.

2. MYTH: America is a democracy.
TRUTH: Technically, the United States is a constitutional republic with democratic principles. But it’s not a direct democracy—and in many ways, it’s structurally tilted away from majority rule. The Electoral College, the U.S. Senate (where small states have disproportionate power), and lifetime Supreme Court appointments are just a few examples that complicate the idea of “one person, one vote.”

3. MYTH: The Constitution guarantees your rights.
TRUTH: The Constitution enumerates rights, but it doesn’t guarantee how they’ll be upheld in practice. The government’s interpretation of your rights can change over time, depending on court rulings, legislation, and enforcement. Civil rights, privacy, and free speech protections have all evolved—and sometimes been rolled back—through judicial decisions and public pressure.

4. MYTH: The U.S. has the best healthcare system in the world.
TRUTH: While we lead in medical innovation and have many excellent doctors and hospitals, the overall system ranks poorly in access, affordability, and health outcomes compared to other developed countries. Many Americans face medical debt, and preventable diseases continue to rise. Other nations provide MUCH better care for far less money.

5. MYTH: The Civil War was about “states’ rights.”
TRUTH: The historical record is clear: the central issue was slavery. Southern states explicitly cited the preservation of slavery in their secession documents. The “states’ rights” argument was largely a post-war narrative used to reframe the conflict in less morally fraught terms.

6. MYTH: Voting is enough to create change.
TRUTH: Voting is crucial, but it’s just one part of civic engagement. Real change often requires organizing, advocacy, public pressure, and sustained involvement beyond Election Day. Local politics, community action, and legislative participation all matter as much—if not more—than casting a ballot every few years.

7. MYTH: The media keeps the government in check.
TRUTH: Ideally, yes. But the reality is more complicated. Many major news outlets are owned by large corporations and shaped by business models that prioritize clicks and ratings. That doesn’t mean journalism can’t hold power accountable—it sometimes does—but media literacy is essential to separate fact from spin. And don’t even get me started on how pharmaceutical advertising on television (we’re one of only two countries that allows it) influences how our “health care” system operates (or doesn’t).

8. MYTH: The American Dream is alive and well.
TRUTH: For some, it still exists—but for many, economic mobility has declined. Today, a person’s financial future is often tied more to the circumstances of their birth than their effort. Rising costs, wage stagnation, and barriers to education have made upward mobility harder than it was for previous generations. Meanwhile, the gap between rich and poor continues to grow, and something like 60 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.

9. MYTH: The military protects our freedoms.
TRUTH: Members of the military make great personal sacrifices, and their service should be respected. But many of our post-World War II military actions—Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan—were not directly related to defending constitutional freedoms at home. It’s important to honor service while also critically examining foreign policy decisions. Refer to some of my previous essays for a more in-depth discussion of this. But for now I will say this: Eisenhower was right when he warned us about the military industrial complex.

Understanding is Empowering

These myths aren’t just harmless misunderstandings—they shape how we see our country and what we expect from it. When we believe in simplified, inaccurate versions of our history and government, we’re less equipped to face the challenges of today.

Civic literacy isn’t about cynicism. It’s about clarity. It’s about knowing enough to ask the right questions, hold our leaders accountable, and contribute to something better. Because loving your country doesn’t mean pretending it’s perfect—it means caring enough to learn how it works, and doing your part to improve it.

A cautionary note: complaining on social media about how things are doesn’t help a bit. It’s an echo chamber. And it doesn’t change anyone’s mind. Doing your part means becoming an active participant, not a passive observer.

What other misconceptions about this country did I leave out?