For weeks I've been collecting information on candidates vying for a number of elected positions come Tuesday, November 8. Once again I'm reminded of how very hard it is to separate fact and fiction, truth and lies, straightforward statements from sleight-of-hand misdirection. Ferreting out the actual source of specific information or the money trail lurking behind political candidacies and corporate involvement prove most difficult. Retractions and confusion multiply.
In our age of nonstop sound bites and instant electronic blasts, there's no shortage of "information." Responsibility for assessing the accuracy of a news report or a politician's track record falls to each of us. With the elections upon us, I hearken back to a warning issued by revolutionary Brazilian educator Paulo Freire to his students and readers: "There is always something left untold to be brought out into the open" (Learning to Question). Complementing Freire, an experienced newsman insists that one seek out a variety of sources to build a personal knowledge base: Radio—NPR, BBC, English translations of international broadcasts. Television—flip stations! Blogs—be aware of the author's background and affiliations. Newsfeeds—check out who is doing the feeding. Books— read and read.
