Our country is changing. We have left logic behind and have embraced instant information whether it is fact based or just plain wrong. We have allowed public figures to get away with misleading the populace with half-truths and flat out lies.

Unfortunately, this is in many ways not for the better. The United States has never been perfectly organized or operated since its beginning. Our own high ideals of free speech, liberty for all, and freedom of action has backfired and created a growing virus that has been gaining momentum since Donald Trump took the office of the President of the United States in 2016. Though it has not been solely his doing. What he has done is make it seem that rebelling with incorrect and fake news to influence uninformed people to be politically and physically against our operating democracy that was built over the past 250 years is being patriotic! 

Donald Trump’s followers have taken up the mantra that what is good for the narrow-minded white minority must be enforced on all citizens through out the country.

Nationally, the tides turned when Trump encouraged and now attempts to obscure his blatant claim and approval of the “Big Election Lie” Even before the election was being counted he sowed seeds that it was stolen from him. His claim before any results were in was if he lost it was because the election was rigged against him. Of course, he had to have some influential followers to support his “Fake” information which was provided by FOX News.

Our democracy that was crafted in the 1700’s included free speech giving each person a vote has now been turned against our very own democratic principles. The vitriolic lies and misinformation have jaded our society to the point where many people haven’t a clue as to what is true and what is false.

In addition, our lives have been increasing in speed in so many ways that many people have lacked the time to research what news they hear as to its truthfulness and/or authenticity. Democracy is only as good as we make it. If we have politicians and/or influential public figures trashing the reality for their own fake reality then we all have a problem.

This in turn precipitates poor decisions being made by people at all levels of government thus causing erroneous decisions thereby solidifying their own and other peoples beliefs based on unsubstantiated information just because Donald Trump said it and FOX News reported.

Democracy is for people who can think, understand basic information, and support facts, not fiction.

It is time we all took a look at what really is happening.

We all can do a better job of deciphering fact from fiction, of reality from bluster, and most of all truth from lies. Now is the time to pay attention and vote.