It’s the stretch run for our 100-plus candidates running for school board trustee, municipal councillor and mayor in Chatham-Kent.
Chances are, many of us have already voted, be it online or in the advanced polls.
For those who did, we thank you for taking part in the democratic process.
For those who plan on voting Oct. 26, you have our thanks as well.
As do every person who threw their hat into the proverbial ring.
Running for office is never an easy thing to do. These days, your skin has to be tougher than ever.
The best piece of advice we ever heard from one retiring politician to a new candidate this year was to stay off Facebook. Unfortunately, that candidate didn’t listen.
Social media is a sewer of opinion and misinformation; an online schoolground of bullying and confrontation with no true moderation.
While traditional media outlets have to answer to standards, and most of us have overseeing bodies who will moderate disputes a reader, listener or view may have with an outlet, there is no such thing in the social media cesspool.
If someone believes everything they see on such platforms, they’ll soon be scammed out of their lifesavings and will gargle with Ivermectin as soon as they get a sore throat.
Social media is where scientific facts go to be cast aside, replaced by, “I heard this from a friend…”
The earth is flat. There are no life-threatening pathogens in unpasteurized cow’s milk. Causation and correlation are one in the same.
Social media has devolved from when you could log on and just catch up with old friends and family. Today, you are bombarded with misinformation.
At the municipal election level, a deluge of material bubbled up daily on social media. Arguing politics on Facebook is akin to yelling at a wall. There is no point, and there are no ears to listen.
Traditional media is not perfect. Yet we at least have guidelines to operate within.
And one thing you will never see from The Chatham Voice is us telling you who to vote for. We try to provide our readers with information to help them make an informed decision. It’s up to you from there.
That’s democracy. Your vote matters.
