LETTER: Educate yourself about candidates

Having reviewed many of the letters to the editor which have been printed on the opinion pages of our area newspapers over the past few weeks of this election cycle, I feel compelled to make some observations about the general nature of their content.

It appears to me that most writers choose to speak out about some matter that may prove to have a positive or negative effect on their wallet or lifestyle, and they hope that their writing will influence readers to agree with their viewpoint.

In my opinion, too many of the letters I read are wrought with unsubstantiated utterances of rumors and hearsay. Too often links to sites on the Internet are referenced to support statements and events. The source and date of the content of these sites may be unreliable. I am most disappointed when I read a letter that is filled with name calling and preposterous misrepresentations of character. The example that comes to mind is a recent letter in which a list of individuals who support the progressive perspective were labeled as “ministers of hate.”

There are certainly many examples of greed and self importance having been motivational, however, I find it difficult to believe that any of the individual proponents of the ultra conservative ideology, or of the liberal, progressive ideology, are disingenuous enough to advocate for the demise of our American way of life, and I see no reason for anyone to make such insinuations. I definitely have no tolerance for denigrating the character of our elected president.

I truly long for a day when “We the People” can have the consideration for one another that it takes to allow ourselves the opportunity to examine history, and determine precisely what really works to stabilize our economy.

As the midterm election day approaches, let us do our best to discover which of the candidates will actually accept the responsibility of their office and work with one another to bring about the best for the rest of us, then go vote.

— Edd Blackler, candidate for Senate District 5