October: President's Corner

By Mathew Mingrone, President/CEO, Visalia Chamber of Commerce

I know the last thing you want to read about is politics! Well, it’s the last topic I want to write about, but we need to discuss it. I promise I won’t delve into individual office races—local, state, or federal. However, I do believe that every voter MUST be informed.

We face quite a challenge in this country. There are just too many outlets for information. You can find a website, podcast, or even a print publication that caters to every opinion. Knowledge is power, but depending on where you get your information, it may dictate how you vote. We all want to be on the right side of every argument, but does it have to be an argument? We’re inundated with so much information that it becomes overwhelming at times. Who is telling the truth? Which site is exaggerating?

I want to share some advice I received a couple of years ago: listen to everyone, but scrutinize everything. Look for sites or news outlets that present both sides of each topic or race. Do your research using the voter information guide that each of us receives in the mail before voting. Start as soon as you get it. I know it’s tempting to wait until the last minute and just vote along party lines or based on the last TV commercial you saw, but we NEED to do better.

Let’s return to conversations and respectful debates based on facts and research. Ask your local politician, whether or not they’re running in November, about their stance on each proposition and why. Ask friends and family for their opinions, especially if they disagree with each other or with you. Look for publications, podcasts, or TV shows that present both sides of each issue or race, or that host Q&A sessions with candidates. I like to search many of the larger newspapers and websites to compare their opinions. I always try to find opposing takes on each issue or candidate. One site I often check is CalMatters.org. FYI—there are 10 state propositions on the ballot this November. It’s our responsibility to understand what each one means. How will it affect your family, our businesses, and our community? Does it hurt anyone? Does it help anyone?

Every election season, my mother would remind me of the responsibility that comes with voting. She also talked about “doing the hard work” of being a voter. Her other piece of advice was that if you don’t do your homework, vote blindly, or worse yet, don’t vote at all, you have no right to complain about the outcome.