Disinformation

by Mary Fahnestock-Thomas Duluth, MN

How do you know? Both sides say the other is lying, so how do you know who’s right? Consider:

1. “Leave it up to the states was also the pro-slavery argument in the 1850s.” 

That’s easy to check on the internet – look up “Leave it to the states” and/or “pro-slavery arguments in the 1850s.” Read through maybe 5 sites on each and see what you think. Would you have wanted to live in a slave state? Do you want to live in a state that imposes its views on women’s rights on everyone?

2. “If you think organic food is expensive, have you priced cancer lately?” 

The implication is that food with additives (like most of us have been consuming for most of our lives) may cause cancer. That makes sense to me, so I increasingly eat organic food, choosing to trust Mother Nature rather than human ingenuity, because sometimes people develop and invent things not because of good will, but simply because it’s interesting and fun..

3. “Trump is trying to scare people with lies. Who wants to live in a constant state of panic? Who votes for that?” 

I have a good brain and know lots of good, thinking people, and so I refuse to be afraid. Besides, when we’re afraid, we generally can’t think straight, and I don’t want anyone to have that power over me. How about you?

4. “Undocumented immigrants commit less crime than Donald Trump.” 

That’s another one that’s easy to check on the internet. Look up “undocumented immigrant crime” and “Donald Trump’s crimes,” read through several on each, and see what you think. 

Basically, if you look at enough sources, you can get a pretty good idea of who is lying, because at least some people on both sides have good intentions and you may find yourself thinking, “Hmm, I never thought about it that way before.”

And finally a quotation from Marcia Rundle, of Florence: “Forty years ago, ‘Montana values’ were succinctly expressed in a campaign slogan for the governor’s office: ‘StraightTalk. Good People.’ The beauty of these words is that they can be applied to all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, the office being sought, or the policy in question.”

You may not think you’re smart enough to understand the issues or exactly what’s going on, but you can look things up and say what you think and listen to what others think, and your gut will tell you who is “Good People.”