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Health & Fitness

Local Pol Target of Negative Campaigning

Voters should be sick and tired of negative campaigning by now, since we are the ones paying the price.

I recently read a letter to the editor (subscription required) from NYS Assemblyman George Latimer.  It was about negative campaigning.  Specifically, it denounced an anonymous robo-call targeted at Mr. Latimer.  The assemblyman is sick and tired of anonymous lies.  I can’t say that I blame him. 

When was the last time you saw an election campaign based on issues?  When was the last time that you knew exactly what all the candidates stood for after listening to them for yourselves?  Both the media and the candidates themselves do a poor job of discussing the issues.

You often hear the refrain, “That’s why good people don’t go into politics.”  When a decent person is on the receiving end of personal attacks, mostly they figure that it’s just not worth it.  That’s what their opponents are counting on actually.  Either the decent person will drop out, or alternatively, the lies will work as unsuspecting voters accept them as truthful.

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The good news is that voters are finally catching on.  The negative attacks are angering voters and either keeping them from the polls or getting them to do some homework to see what’s true and what’s false.  That used to be the job of journalists.  Unfortunately, the media isn’t so into journalism anymore — it’s more about ratings, circulation, and eyeballs.  Good for us we now have the internet.  A voter with a little bit of initiative and a computer can find out a lot.

With elections coming up this year, it will be a good idea to do your homework.  It’s a cliche, but your vote counts, and you will get the government that you deserve.  Please make it a good one!

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