Lessons learned from voting

I’ve voted in every election for the past 50 years, and here’s what I’ve learned:

Only bullies use fear. Candidates project fear when they don’t want you to know about their inadequacies, failures, and crimes. When you see mugshots and hear the candidate blaming imagined scapegoats, that person can’t articulate his positive vision of the future. Stand up to the bully by voting against him.

Who’s paying? The red lights should be flashing if the candidate has taken over 90 percent of his cash from out-of-state interests. If you think the person taking these bribes is going to represent you, I want to show you a bridge for sale in Brooklyn.

Finally, check to see if the candidate’s pants are on fire. Liars don’t deserve votes. Only scoundrels: 1. Believe the results only when they win and 2. Want to change the rules so they win all the time.

It was Churchill who said, “Democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.” We Americans have had a pretty good thing going for the past 246 years. Vote for those who believe in a thriving democracy.

Jeffrey J. Smith

Polson