Can anyone tell the whole truth?

We are in such a forgiving nation. Too forgiving in many respects. Yet, it seems in every public case where veracity is important, no one is able to tell the whole truth. Even when there isn't a threat of jail or further punishment, it seems some other psychological need compel public figures to misrepresent at least part of the truth.

The latest example is Alex Rodriguez who clearly is not telling the whole truth about using steroids. In fact, he admitted to using "a banned substance" but not which, how, and all of those details. The information available from reports is that he used mutiple drugs, and at least one was not widely available in the United States. This contradicts his assertion and disposition of not knowing what was going on. In addition he made statements about a sports reporter that seem to be demonstably untrue.

Rodriguez lied to Katie Couric last year, and he lied at points yesterday. This in my mind puts every assertion he made yesterday into question also; including whether his steroid use was limited to 2001 - 2003, and his denials concerning Jose Canseco. We all fall down in one way or another, yet we as individuals and a society need to start dealing with our failures in a more dignified manner with respect for our culture.

It would be refreshing to start a new trend of telling the whole truth. Especially when the issue is not whether they are going to jail but more so their reputation. Eventually we should get to a point where all honorable people tell the truth, and accept the consequences of their behavior. I'm not asking people to indict themselves, but we should expect ownership when the entire episode resides in civil society.