Every election is important, and we often feel barraged by news commentaries, commercials, and e-mails intended to sway our vote. Sadly, much of that information is slanted, exaggerated, or just plain wrong. How do we know what to believe?
The Internet offers two excellent political fact-checking sites, both worth checking regularly. Politifact.com won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for its clear coverage of issues in the 2008 election. This unbiased site from the Tampa Bay Times uses a “Truth-O-Meter” to evaluate the level of truth in messages from politicians and commercials. You can download a “Truth-O-Meter” app for your smartphone or sign up for their e-mail list.
Factcheck.org is another excellent site, sponsored by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. It’s organized like a newspaper page with recent information featured on the home page. You can search for particular topics and/or sign up to be on their e-mail list.
I often get e-mails forwarded from friends about various topics, and I make it a point to check them out before forwarding them on. I’ve often used a site called snopes.com, which has been around for years. It checks the reliability of e-mail messages floating around the Internet and explains exactly what is true and untrue about these messages, including the sources of their research.
I’ve sent replies back to all the recipients of many erroneous messages, like how Coke dissolves your teeth, how coughing will cure a heart attack, and how drinking cold water after meals can cause cancer— all false.
I recently received a message warning that the Affordable Health Care Act includes a 3.8% tax on future home sales. Scary! When I checked it out on Snopes, I found that this tax is applied only to profits over the capital gains threshold, which affects just the wealthiest 3%. In fact, few homes are selling for a profit these days anyway.
We owe it to ourselves, our communities, and our country to be informed voters. Don’t be duped by exaggerated and false information— check your facts.
Ann Mershon, retired English teacher
Grand Marais
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