Be skeptical but not cynical

We are in a difficult and unsettling era in American History, primarily driven by disinformation in the media, on the Internet, and by word-of-mouth. The assertion that President Biden was the “worst” President or that President Trump is the “best” President displays a shocking lack of both perspective and knowledge of American History, which encompasses forty-seven presidential administrations over almost 250 years. Some presidents were genuinely great; others were base scoundrels, and many were mediocre. Only with history will we know where they rank. I have opinions on who the “best” and “worst” presidents were, but since they are just opinions, I will leave them unexpressed in this letter.

Politics should not be a tribal endeavor. The parties exist to attract people of similar, but not lockstep, viewpoints around a slate of candidates, with the idea being that you can vote for a Republican for one position and a Democrat for another, not adhering to some ridiculous concept of unthinking party loyalty. 

As citizens, we need to take our responsibility for voting seriously. That means being genuinely informed (researching means more than randomly googling or reading something on Facebook) and realizing there is no candidate out there who will align with your values 100% of the time. If that is what you require, then run for office yourself.

If you read or hear something that seems infuriating or outrageous, realize that the source may be attempting to manipulate you by appealing to your emotions and/or your human decency, so look for confirmation from other sources before spreading the story. Be skeptical but not cynical. Understand the difference between news and editorial. Ask questions, but don’t be afraid or defensive if your views are challenged. Know that maturity is different than age. 

Don’t be afraid or dismissive of politics. As the old saying goes, “If you’re not at the table, you’re probably on the menu.”

Dan Langdon