LETTER: Loss of citizen confidence?

Most know of Abe Lincoln. Some know his various thoughts and homilies. Many know the last portion of the following sentiment attributed to him, but without knowing the first part, no one knows the full intent and meaning. I hope to clear that up...  

“If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time. You can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”  

Says a lot in just three sentences. I believe this expresses the general sentiment of Americans re: the U.S. government and all political parties today. Certainly expresses mine... Are you better off seven years later? —Benj Scout, Bigfork