To the editor:

Joe Scarborough said that many of us look to news for affirmation, not information. This struck me, because I’m afraid we only believe what we want to believe, and we only hear what we want to hear.  This could be dangerous, if we accept misinformation and lies to bolster what we want to hear.

President Trump lied to us, over and over. The storming of the Capitol Building in D.C. was incited by the president telling his supporters that they had the power to overturn the election. hey don’t. He told his supporters in Georgia that V.P. Pence could refuse to accept the electoral college vote.  He could not. If people had read or understood the Constitution, they would realize that. Unfortunately, they’d rather believe the lies.  Choosing to believe a lie doesn’t make it the truth.  

Citizens, please educate yourself. Read history. Be skeptical. Talk to people who may have different views than yours.  Above all, protect and cherish our democracy. The next authoritarian leader may be smarter and more cunning than Trump.  Stay away from what I call “Nutjob News.” Conspiracy theories, QAnon, all that is garbage for the brain.  

We are all on edge because of the pandemic, but the vaccine is here and we have some hope.  A new administration will take over soon, and my fervent hope is that all citizens will give this new president a chance.  Here’s hoping for a happier new year.