Ed Fare: As a voter, your responsibility is to be informed

I have written several pieces during my tenure as an elected official about being educated, considering all factors and doing your own research to develop a well-rounded understanding of any issue.

It was actually very much a part of my 40 years as a teacher: Learn to think and reason, not just memorize or recite facts. Certainly do not believe everything you hear.

In our day-to-day lives, we’re bombarded with information from many sources: news outlets (many not reporting the news, but giving their personal opinions on the day’s events), social media, newspapers, radio and, finally, conversations with parents, teachers, family and friends.

When questionable social media posts become your only source of information, you’re in jeopardy of being manipulated. I like to scour multiple sources on any given topic, especially opinions that vastly differ from my own. We all have the ability to change and grow, despite some of the conspiracy theories out there.

Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and Gen Z (1997-2012) believe more than half of what they see and hear from sources that are uninformed, misinformed, disinformed and disingenuous. Some folks actually get their “news” from memes and GIFs — hard to believe! And AI is making it difficult to believe our own eyes. Hate speech is often disguised as sarcasm or a joke. Trust me, true sentiments are said in jest, and hate speech is never funny.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and the First Amendment guarantees free speech. But hate speech and propaganda are different entities altogether. Most of us older folks, Baby Boomers (1946-1965) and Gen X (1965-1980), have or learned some critical-thinking skills. I hope more people can cut through the noise and rhetoric, particularly when it comes to elections and campaign promises.

As long as we have elections, there will be those who twist the truth for their own nefarious purposes, and the partisanship continues to escalate. We all want to believe in our candidates, but the truth can be hard to sort out, and inflammatory rhetoric further confuses the real issues.

Again, go to multiple sources to find facts and filter out biased opinions. Above all, endeavor to reject hateful and divisive speech in all its toxic forms.

People nationwide are discussing the actions of our representatives in Washington. Sadly, it has become a political minefield in some families. Conversations are avoided, and in some cases, friendships are lost.

We just had a special village election to fill the unexpired term of a departing trustee. Uneducated sources claimed voter suppression. The fact is that the state passed laws allowing early mail-in ballots, which means that any registered voter can vote from any place at any time, as easily as ordering merchandise on Amazon.

Absentee ballots still exist, but they’re specifically for ill, infirm or traveling voters. Now, actually going to a polling place is like going to the mall — a choice. Many of us still like voting and shopping in person, but we have options if for some reason we can’t, or would rather not, leave home to do so.

The new laws allow for changing voting habits, especially for younger generations. To know this, of course, means educating yourself.

We all saw countless media posts claiming that it’s becoming harder to vote. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s easier and more convenient to vote than ever. The numbers don’t lie.

More than 60 percent of voters are taking advantage of early mail-in ballots. That number is sure to increase. Don’t take my word for it; do your own research and draw your own conclusions.
When state and national issues get mixed in with local elections, it’s a grave mistake. Here in the village, we have no authority over the school system, although, again, social media would have you believe differently. We can’t address national security or the national debt. Let others in higher office worry about wars overseas and inflation.

In the village we can pick up your garbage, plow the snow, maintain streets, offer parks and recreation services, and address day-to-day quality-of-life issues closest to the people. We never ask whom you voted for, what party you’re registered to or whom you support in the village, town, county, state or federal governments. We’re all Valley Streamers, and in village government we’re here to help people, not determine voter registration rolls.

Be smart. Do your own thinking. Make informed, conscientious decisions on their own merits. Trusting what clowns post on the internet is a big mistake.

Ed Fare is the mayor of Valley Stream.