We must all do our part to break cycle of disinformation

By Carol Lenz

Low wages, high prices, and income inequality have impacted us for decades. Recent progress has not been enough. People rightfully demand better.

We live hectic lives. Many aren’t tuned into politics and may not know that Wisconsin’s Congressional Republicans voted against every bill that lowered costs and created good-paying jobs. Now they say they are ‘for you.’ What? Will their actions finally match their words? Watch what they do, not what they say.

Which leads to the fundamental problem: disinformation.

Unrelentless deceptive ads convinced people to fear things that were not real. Some candidates distorted the truth knowing people wouldn’t verify. Information silos reinforced only what the powerful wanted you to hear. People are conditioned to mistrust legitimate sources. Untruths fueled fear, anger, and hate.

How do we break the disinformation cycle?

People understandably voted for the promise to improve their pocketbooks. Unfortunately, the millionaires and billionaires who profited from this very system of corporate dominance, labor exploitation, and inequality convinced voters that they will now ‘fix it.’ With the billionaire oligarchs in control what could possibly go wrong?

Unregulated corporate power creates risks to the environment, public health, consumers and our children’s education. Individual rights are in jeopardy. The stresses on the Constitution and the Rule of Law will be great. Expect more hate, chaos, division, and, yes, cruelty, because fearful, angry people are easily manipulated.

Knowledge is power. The responsibility falls to us, and especially the media, to break the cycle of disinformation. Do we accept the challenge?