I don’t know. That used to be an honorable answer to a question. To hear someone admit that they didn’t know, rather than making up something, or offering an unsubstantiated opinion, was refreshing. I’ve said it myself, not often to be sure, but I have said it.
How did such a simple declarative sentence of professed ignorance get turned into an accusative declaration of implied threat or wrong doing. The easiest way to pull it off is to preface it with a rhetorical question: “Is the president a secret Muslim? I don’t know.” “Is building a mosque near Ground Zero a good idea? I don’t know.” “Is reforming health care right for the nation? I don’t know.”
As soon as you hear anyone preface “I don’t know” with a rhetorical question, run for safety to the nearest place of reason and sanity, if you can find one. They are becoming quite rare. There are only one or two within thirty miles of DC, and they’re kept secret. There are none in the vicinity of Tea Party affiliated candidates. Those in the vicinity of other candidates are very hard to find. I know of a couple of bars that show promise. The key is their ability to make a terrific Grey Goose martini well shaken; not everyone can. I also know a coffee shop in an old shack out by the airport, but I’ll say no more about that. Too many reasonably sane people jammed in there as it is.
\”I don't know\” is now the catch-all abdication of responsibility. I don't have to be responsible or take ownership of what I say if I can put the \”I don't know\” suffix on it.