Democracy needs an informed electorate. How informed are we? Recently, I watched the president’s speech on the CBS 6:30 p.m. news. It started with a rush of mini-news bites of the coming main stories; then commercials; next, 30 seconds of Biden’s opening speech and quick summation of the contents; next, two weather reports; then, three commercials; next the resignation of the head of the NRA; then five commercials; next, the death of David Soul (formerly “Hutch”); then, a new bite that “On the Road” was coming; then, nine commercials, finally, “On the Road,” a nice story. How informed can we be if commercials are given more time than the news? We need to be informed voters. Quick bites don’t give us time to think before they’re gone. We are being drowned in propaganda. Written words keep us informed. Buy and read a paper or two.

Eva Aldrich

Mystic