A free people who find lies acceptable will not remain free for long!
Why won’t anyone say it? Is it American sacrilege to suggest that “government of the people, by the people” may no longer be possible? The masses are being herded and corralled by those who always find the means to seek advantage, even in a system of government designed to strip them of advantage.
Is it not obvious that modern political tools can drive us emotionally? Like a Gamma Knife, they drill into that spot in our brains to stimulate a passion and overwhelm our ability to think logically. Without any means or time to independently research, investigate and analyze for ourselves, we adhere to anyone that empathizes and confirms the rightness of our view on one or two issues of concern. Thus, we are rounded-up and herded into one camp or the other.
Most citizens have intense feelings about one issue or another -- abortion, guns, religion or a handful of others. We are attracted to news sources that agree, applaud and value our grasp of what we see as important and virtuous. Who would not be vulnerable to those that commend and give voice to the rightness of our view, who soothe and encourage us on this or that?
You may not have thought much about other issues, but you now know who thinks like you on your most important concern. Thus, the lure is set and your newfound guide sits in the catbird seat and tells you about the economy, foreign policy or innumerable issues one has not considered but can now be led. After all, they think like you, they are family.
You’re off on an effortless ride that makes it easy and thoughtless to find your stand on almost anything. No study, time, or good sense required. Hungry? Eat a Big Mac and then have some satisfying fries that fill you up with their vision -- painless, effortless and satisfying, an affirmation that you know what you are doing on a glut of things.
Through such means citizens are bundled, tied and readied for delivery into a voting booth or to their neighborhood soap box.
The new data-rich sources political operatives now have, to know every citizen’s nature through the personal behavior each exposes by what they buy, say or just look at over cell phones and computers, gives access to what makes you, you.
Add to that alternative facts and accepted, unpunishable lies, and all that is left is who can bundle the greatest number of the now dependent dead.
At Vote Smart a young group of hundreds are building what may be America’s last best chance to turn citizens back to the facts --- facts that our struggle to self-govern is so dependent upon.
With little pay, or more often no pay at all, they are building a Voter’s Self-Defense System that gives any citizen instant access to abundant, relevant facts on those who govern or those hoping to replace those who do:
Every position taken
Every statement made
Every vote documented
Every dollar received
Every special interest rating
Every biographical detail
On thousands of national and state politicians.
So accurate and comprehensive is this group that even Google and Bing use their data. But they are also under attack and have been threatened by candidates of both parties for documenting their public records.
They need you to have their backs. They are what every thinking American should stand up and defend. Please review what they do at VoteSmart.org Use one of the powerful tools they have created like ISPY where you can simply enter a politician’s name and then open the files that give you direct access to there backgrounds, public records, who they are and what they’re likely to do for you or to you if elected.
Or try VoteEasy which allows you to compare candidates for the Presidency or Congress on any issue you select.
What these young students and staff are doing is just a beginning – and its free to every American. You do NOT need to support them, to use their work, but if you are one of those who can, they surely could use the help.
Richard Kimball
Vote Smart President
𝑉𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑅𝑖𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐾𝑖𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑜𝑡𝑒 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑡.