Is a little pretense justified in an effort to protect my neighbors?

This past Saturday, the last Saturday before election day, a very nice man of the opposite political persuasion knocked on my door. He earnestly endeavored to convince me of the relative merits of the leading candidates of his party.

I listened with rapt attention, always asking another question when it looked as if he might run out of steam. He made his appeal for competence in government, he rhapsodized on tax policy, and decried cronyism. He diligently made his appeal for at least twenty minutes or more. At last, seemingly exhausted by my questions, he was ready to move on. I thanked him for his valuable information. I suspect that he departed my doorway confident that he had secured another vote for his party.

Now, for the purpose of full disclosure, there was and is absolutely a zero percent chance that I would vote for his chosen candidates or anyone of his party for that matter.

I justify (rationalize?) this little deception with the notion that I was only protecting my unsuspecting and likely less informed neighbors from this man’s smooth talking ways. Since I used up 20-25 minutes of his time, I conclude that that was at least two or three houses that he did not get to because of my feigned interest.

Honestly, I do not know if I should be congratulating myself on my cleverness or I should be confessing this to a priest. Frankly, if I should be confessing this episode I need to further examine my conscience as I still chuckle when I think about it.