I could appropriately entitle this blog: Don’t Believe Everything You Read. . .Please.
This blog was prompted by an e-mail I received recently blaming Congress for the woes of society. It spewed a few figures about how life has changed since we elected a Democratic congress in 2006, and went on to point out how it is Congress that makes the laws and therefore, this lays the culpability of our less-than-thriving nation on a Democratic Congress rather than on the Republican President. The message was clear: it’s okay to vote for McCain, he can still deliver the change we’re all looking for. It’s not the Republicans’ fault, it’s the Democrats’ fault.
I treated this e-mail the same way I did the last e-mail I received about Barack Obama and his supposed Muslim extremist connections. If you’re not interested in politics, I can assure you that any e-mails you get like this, whether they seem to support your views or not, you can promptly toss. Go somewhere else to make better informed decisions. However, I’m deeply interested in politics so when I get e-mails like this, I check my facts.
The Obama-Muslim Connection
So concerning was the Obama e-mail, that he actually addressed it in a public speech proclaiming his membership to a particular church and claiming that he worships the Judeo-Christian God. (And would it be appropriate here to ask why we care? For a country that claims to separate religion and politics–we are awfully concerned about the church attendance records of our Presidential nominees.) Polls, particularly in the south, showed that voters still believe Obama could be Muslim, and this will influence their vote.
It’s All the Democrats Fault
Another chain e-mail, claiming the woes of our country are all Congresses fault aptly points out that it’s Congress that makes the laws. It uses some numbers about how gas prices have risen, how Americans have lost equity in their homes, how unemployment has risen. . .all this since Democrats have been in Congress. So I went to check it out. Again, the numbers are highly doctored showing only one small part of the picture. It’s only one small picture of “truthiness” and consequently, it’s misrepresented and the effects of having Democrats in congress are stated inaccurately. Not only that, but although Congress makes the laws, the e-mail gives them way too much credit.
Do Me A Favor. . .
By reading this blog, you might assume I’m a Democrat and actually I’m not. But I do have a brain and while I definitely lean towards the conservative end of things–I don’t vote for people based on hyped up chain e-mails. I vote based on whether or not I agree with the candidate’s stance on various issues. I urge you to have a brain and vote the same way too. But you can do me and the world one small favor: don’t forward anything to me.
Valorie Delp shares recipes and kitchen tips in the food blog, and also writes about politics and the occassional movie review. To read more articles by Valorie Delp, click here.
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