Get your facts

The upcoming election should not be a contest of red/blue, conservative/progressive, Republican/Democrat. It should be fact versus fallacy. The crux is how to tell the difference.

This responsibility falls to the media and its investigative reporting which, unfortunately, is falling victim to monetary constraints and budget cuts.

Just because you don’t like a story doesn’t make it “fake.” Just because someone says a thing or repeats something, no matter who they are or what office they hold, does not necessarily make it true.

Freedom may be your right but that doesn’t mean it is a gift. It must be fought for and earned.

Read your paper. It does a credible job of presenting a variety of opinions. And don’t stop there. Go to the library and read several papers. If you glean your news and opinions from television, don’t limit yourself to one station or one voice. Watch multiple stations even ones that might take a different view of events than you.

Vote. Keep an open mind. As the saying goes, “The Truth is Out There.” Go find it. The representative you get is the one you deserve.

Tim Gardner

Colbert