In order to prevent destruction of cities, Japan, after WWII, built huge seawalls. The tsunami in northeast Japen earlier this year in Fukushima proved that they didn't work. First the earthquake, then the tsunami, then the collapse of the seawall, or dike, and then the meltdown of the nuclear reactors erected behind them.
The Japanese have a reputation for being intelligent, right? Right; but they are also known for being human, which means that they have their share of stupidity, not to mention the cruelty they put on display during WWII.
Now, Japan is set to rebuild their seawall, no doubt to exclamations that this time it will be different; this time the dike will hold, come the next tsunami, which is only a matter of time.
Why would they want to repeat this mistake?
Why not, instead, erect a series of strong pylons, side-by-side, next to each other in a string along the coast. This time, if they say that this wall of pilings will prevent the next tsunami from destroying the town behind the wall, and the inhabitants, the people will know it's not true. Build a solid wall and they believe the deception. Neighboring pylons will contain the seeds of warning that such assurances are not true. Not only that, they may serve to break up the force of the next tsunami.
How do I know?
I don't, but I do expect that those who hear the assurance will not be so credulous as to what the authorities say.
In this case, partial lies will serve better than the big ones.
On the theory that we're our own worst enemy, we must take care not to deceive ourselves, repeatedly.
The article that inspies this is here.
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