Letter: Voters easily manipulated by emotion-based ads

The survival of a healthy republic requires the electorate to take the time to inform itself.

Voters easily manipulated
by emotion-based ads

Re: “Are Democrats worse than Russian election-meddling?” (Letter to the editor, June 30):

Amid the concern about the validity of our election process, much has been written about Russia’s attempt to influence the 2016 election. Judging by the tone of these articles, we seem to have a collective memory loss about the questions that arose around Russian money that found its way to the Clinton Foundation from 2009-2013.

The takeaway from all of this is not to argue which political party is unduly influenced by money and power, whether domestic or foreign. The takeaway is this: The survival of a healthy republic requires the electorate to take the time and effort to inform itself and vote thoughtfully. Voters swayed by emotion-based political ads and social media posts, and who listen to only one side of an issue, are easily manipulated by those who would erode our democracy.

Esther Holst
Los Gatos

 

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