Think, then act
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Editor,
A recent letter reflects the problem with our local and national politics and shows the writers guilty of the problem they decry. They urge, “Let the debates be the venue for educating the public.” This assumes the debaters always speak the truth.
In my circle of friends, which includes members of three or four political affiliations, it remains consistent that their favorite spoke the truth and won, and the other guy lied. Do most of my friends do any independent research to verify stated facts? Nope. Do they listen to their party’s radio program and verify information? Nope. Do they listen to that same program and accept statements as fact? Yup. Like the advertisements touting information for a product or candidate, the intent is to either win over the listener or have them reject the competitor.
If people use their brains and available resources rather than their bias, the more likely truth can be discovered. Advertisements, no matter how slick or costly may peak one’s interest in exploration, but if it by itself sells a product or candidate, it is the individual's fault alone. Enough misinformed individuals who continue to support and vote, failing to also view the other side of an issue is what keeps our political system going as it is. The writers of the letter say we should stay away from nasty exchanges, insults and demonization. Yet they use a comment made by one person in 1944 as proof and to evoke a negative image of the opposite party. They also suggest adding that label to the opposite party’s name while giving their own party a patriotic image name. Really, the "Republican/Constitution Party.”
Let me know when the conservative element of your party wants to uphold the Constitution’s freedoms granted to people with alternate lifestyles and/or non-Christian religious beliefs. I don’t think marriage, contraception, or many other social agenda items are mentioned there, nor do I think the Constitution Party itself would appreciate your appropriation of their name. Don’t just listen to people and ads; think and act with the ability God gave you.
Rich Bell
Polson
