Don’t be swayed by dirty politics

Submitted by Joyce Borcher Ruward
Posted 8/6/24

Dear editor, people of Powell:

I am not a political person; in fact, I generally try to avoid political conversations. In my home, you can talk about almost anything — but no politics. I …

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Don’t be swayed by dirty politics

Posted

Dear editor, people of Powell:

I am not a political person; in fact, I generally try to avoid political conversations. In my home, you can talk about almost anything — but no politics. I have always believed that we should transcend party politics. Instead of dividing ourselves into Republicans and Democrats, we should focus on being Americans.

More and more political groups are emerging, each with their own agenda. What I find intriguing as an outsider is that these groups are attempting to impose their beliefs on everyone else in the community, county, state, and country.

There was a time when I would watch the Montana races and think that at least Wyoming politicians didn’t resort to bashing each other or spreading falsehoods. They ran on their principles and beliefs. However, in recent years, Wyoming seems to have adopted some of the dirty politics seen elsewhere.

If a campaign resorts to such tactics, what are they hiding? A clean campaign is a sign of a candidate's integrity. If they use underhanded methods to win votes, it suggests they might use similar tactics in office.

If a group sends out cards recommending candidates for you to vote for, does it imply that they believe you lack the insight or intellect to make your own decisions? To me, it signals a lack of confidence in the voters' ability to research and choose wisely.

In response, I plan to take their mailing to the polls only to deliberately avoid voting for anyone on their list. It’s clear they underestimate the ability of Park County’s residents to make informed choices.

I urge the people of Wyoming, especially in Park County and my hometown of Powell, not to be swayed by these tactics. Take the time to research who you are voting for and what you are voting on, especially in these divisive times.

I was born and raised in Powell, and the current state of affairs is not reflective of the Wyoming way. Let’s restore integrity, tolerance, and positivity; show the rest of the country what can be achieved when we come together, undivided by political parties and special interest groups.

Joyce Borcher Ruward

Powell

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