I see many letters in the opinion section decrying the state of our economy as a “disaster.” This seems to be at odds with the actual news reporting section of the paper, which has stories of record low unemployment, record holiday retail sales, record wage increases , record airline travel and local communities flush with money for infrastructure projects.

While I realize inflation has raised prices, apparently that hasn’t stopped consumers from spending and boosting the economy.

I also realize there’s a section of our population who would benefit politically if the perception of a failing economy was most people’s opinion, so it would behoove certain groups to loudly declaim the state of the nation’s economic policies to attempt to influence voters, regardless of the facts about the real state of our economy.

I served as the PAC fund treasurer for 11 years for Teamsters Local 30, and I would remind my fellow union members to “vote with your eyes, not your ears” and try to provide them with the tools to research candidates, laws, economy, voting records and positions.

I’d like to remind voters now that there are many “talking heads” in the media who seem to have a vested interest in convincing people of how the current administration is failing, despite evidence to the contrary.

Trying to sway public opinion through overheated emotions that are scarce on facts is a tactic as old as politics itself. Yet many people still fall for the hyperbole, and vote accordingly.

To paraphrase Groucho Marx: “Who are you going to believe? Me, or your lying eyes?”

Thomas Nacey Jr.

Delmont

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