Tri-County News

Beware the fear-mongers


Jean Matua “From the Heart”

We are in the opening act of a presidential campaign season that I dare say none of us has seen (or could even imagine).

It used to be that it was pretty much left to the candidates and a few spokespersons to do the mud-slinging on their behalf. As spectators of this quadrennial debacle, we might rarely have a tiny bit of mud come our way. No big deal, though, really.

Today we’re just shy of 13 months away from the 2020 presidential election, and already it seems that all the weapons are already out. It’s way beyond mud-slinging already. Figuratively speaking, we’re already up to nuclear bombs it seems. I shudder to think how much worse it will get before it’s all over. And the problem is that today, we’re all being dragged into the fray, and none of us can escape undirtied.

Regardless of how engaged you choose to be in the coming political season, I have one word of warning: Beware the fear-mongers. Fear is the cheapest and lowest – and most effective – weapon in this new war for votes and influence. If you can make voters fear something, you can control them. This weapon can be wielded by any side, at any time. Fear is already being used everywhere, not just to persuade but to control. Don’t let it control you. And don’t blindly be a carrier.

Always consider the source. Verify both the source (and their motives) and the message. Check PolitFact.com, FactCheck.org, Snopes.com, or your preferred fact-checking site before passing something on. Please?

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