Most politicians work hard to disprove this but, sadly, in the Scottish Government's case the accusation appears true.
Last week a secret document, which was only meant to be seen by the Scottish Government's top ministers, was leaked – and its contents were devastating. It was written by Finance Secretary John Swinney and revealed the SNP's analysis of what could happen to Scotland's economy if the country voted for Independence in 2014.
The document showed what many people have been saying all along; that under the SNP's plans for independence it is planning cuts to pensions, welfare, public sector pay and the Armed Forces.
What is also really striking about the document is the gulf between the SNP's public bluster and its private acknowledgement of what its plans would mean.
The SNP has advocated leaving the UK on the strength of oil revenues, that Scotland could spend its way out of all its problems on the back of oil money.
Privately, the SNP makes a very different assessment.
Oil prices are notoriously volatile and the Scottish Government's own assessment admits prices are to decline in coming years.
Behind closed doors John Swinney has advised his colleagues that a falling oil price would necessitate public spending cuts.
Yet, publically, the Scottish people are told 'don't worry, oil will pay for everything'.
Public sector job cuts, cuts to old age pensions and less cash on defence are real options already being considered by a Scottish Government, where increased pressures from an ageing population put risks on existing Scottish welfare; risks that are currently shared across the whole UK.
Put simply, in public the SNP joins the Labour Party in opposing the UK Government's attack on the Welfare State but, in private, the SNP has its best minds looking for cuts to pay for its independence obsession.
While leading the cry for independence, the SNP wants the rest of the UK's Central Bank to act as lender of last resort and for the Bank Of England to set the mortgage rates for millions of Scots mortgages without any input from Scotland. That is not more power, it's less.
In the document John Swinney admits the rest of the UK will have a veto over Scottish spending. That is not more power, it is less.
The SNP is now in the ridiculous position of having fought all its political life to offer the Scottish people independence, but now plans to make Scotland more dependent on the UK but with less of a say in how the UK runs. That is not moreindependence, it is less.
In public the SNP tells us independence will pay for everything, but in private officials fear it will create a black hole in Scotland's finances that will only be widened with plans to slash taxes for big business at the expense of public services.
It is time the SNP was honest. The people of Scotland deserve nothing less.
