Vote today, citizens

It’s Election Day, which involves very important decisions. I encourage you to make them. Allow me, however, to share some ideas that you might well consider as you prepare to vote:

* Believe only sources of factual information. Campaign ads and Internet forwards from either side most definitely do not qualify.  Stick to public debates refereed by responsible parties  and to interviews by actual professional journalists as reported in the newspapers.

* Do not place much weight on simple speeches. Those are good for drawing voters’ attention but not great on providing honest, factual and substantive information.  

* When comparing two candidates, look at details of what they say, not just the sound of it (which is really your own ideological filter talking rather than anything the candidate actually says). Look for names, numbers and other specifics. If you do not see specific proposals with actual figures and details, then you’re in danger of falling prey to slogans and ideology, not pragmatic solutions. Better to choose the candidate with substantive ideas than the sloganeer. Ideologies and slogans historically make very bad public policy, such as happened in the former communist world.  

In my book, looking at candidates with those three concerns in mind trumps any possible politics, be they the candidate’s or yours. What you are looking for is an honest, thoughtful person with truly substantive ideas who will do right by you.

Gary W. Johnson, McGregor

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Monday’s editorial cartoon was ironic. It depicts two parents extolling the values of education and asking their boy if he’s done his homework. He is holding a “Voter’s Guide” and asking his parents if they have done their homework prior to today’s midterm election.

This seems odd, especially since Texas does not publish or send to all registered voters a voter’s guide. I don’t understand why the state doesn’t do this. We need to know what is on the ballot.

I would guess that many wait until they’re in the voting booth to even see what or who they can vote for.

I’ve brought this up with the Tribune-Herald before. I went to the newspaper and brought examples of voter guides from Arizona, California and Nevada, which listed not only all races on the ballot but also arguments, pro and con, for each proposition.

Our votes will have far-reaching consequences. We deserve to be able to study prior to Election Day. We deserve a pictured voter guide, as shown in the cartoon.

Doug McVicker, Riesel

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It’s our responsibility to vote today. Please know who you are voting for prior to casting a ballot. We need statesmen doing right for those they serve.

Grady Yankie, Mount Calm

Polite trick-or-treaters

In this time of incivility and rudeness, I want to commend the parents of young children in the city of Abbott. This Halloween we had some of the most well-mannered and well-behaved children come to our door. They waited their turn; they said “thank you” and “Happy Halloween”; and were extremely pleasant to be around. Keep up the good work, Abbott parents!

Debbie Robertson, Abbott