To the editor:

The article “GOP slams Congress over budget vote” on April 28 sets the stage for how voters can be manipulated as campaigns become intense. Hearing something enough times, we may begin to believe it is true regardless of the facts. Democrats are “tax and spend”; Republicans are “politics based on fear.” Another effort will be to focus on issues where there is strong emotional response though absence of facts, like irrational fear of terrorists. There will be distrust created by stereotyping based on sex, religion, race, and such. The point is to base voting decisions on factual information, not simply campaign rhetoric.

Votes on bills help us evaluate the candidates. Who stands to benefit from the passage or defeat of a bill? How will the national debt and national priorities be affected? Where is the accountability with both military and domestic spending? These are questions sometimes not even asked. The article with references helps me place my support with Reps. Boyda and Moore. I would see that the budget resolution, while not changing the tax code does shift support from upper socioeconomic classes to middle classes where I think it is needed. Hopefully, others will make their decisions based on their own best thinking and listen critically to political rhetoric. I think the future of our country and our children is worth the extra effort. Providing of factual information is a vital role of journalism in preserving our democracy.

Jim Hasselle,
Lawrence