More important, is the equation "Lying = Success" more dominant in the public mind than it used to be? If so, why?

We've had scurrilous politicians and lying slimebags for President before, so it is no news that the halls are power are halls of corruption, is it?

It feels to me like a serious decline has set in but it may be no more degraded than it has been for decades. What's your take on the Truth Factor?

A