Lubnau: Beware the conflict merchants
NOVEMBER 02, 2014 11:45 AM •
Casper star tribune
On the third floor of the Capitol, in the lobby outside the House chambers, hang two composites from the 1913 Legislature. The Republicans and the Democrats refused to be in the same photograph. So two composites were created – one for each party. The minority party composite has a three-sided rip through the center of the composite, where the speaker of the House crashed the composite down on the minority leader's head, ripping the photograph. We have been passionate about politics in Wyoming for a long time.
And, although politics in Wyoming has been a rough and-tumble affair at times, you could always count on the integrity and accuracy of the information you receive about a candidate for public office.
A few things have changed recently, which make being an informed voter more difficult. First, the rise of social media has opened up a proliferation claims. However, the information contained on social media may not necessarily be accurate. If the story is too outrageous to be true, it probably is. No one in Wyoming is injecting children with microchips to track their every move, as a recent series of social media posts claimed.
Second, the conflict merchants have invaded Wyoming politics. The conflict merchant’s method of operation is similar in most every case. First, the merchant will tell you that some elected official, elected body or candidate is out to rob you of your rights, tax you into oblivion, steal your birthday or some other outrageous claim. Then, the will tell you that their organization is the only entity standing up for you, and uncovering and stopping these outrageous acts. Finally, (and here is the key), they will ask you to send money to support their cause. Sometimes the claims are true. Mostly, the claims are exaggerated.
Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court has made it possible for a multi-millionaires to finance election propaganda anonymously. They create groups with highfalutin names with words like Republic, Freedom, Honesty and Constitution. Under the cover of the IRS 501(c)(4) name, they fund mailers, commercials and white papers. Without knowing who is trying to buy your vote, these 501(c)(4) entities publish information that back their cause. Some of the information may be accurate, but most of the time it is slanted. Those last-minute mailers tell you to vote a certain way, or some impending doom will happen.
The truth of the matter is the only person who can defend your constitutional rights is you. Sending money to a conflict merchant only means you give your hard-earned dollars to the conflict merchant. You can defend you constitutional rights by becoming an informed voter. If you find something outrageous, pick up the phone and call candidate. Wyoming is small enough that you should know your candidates on a first name basis. Don’t believe rumors, innuendo or outrageous statements without checking them out. People prey on your good intentions and your lack of time to become informed.
So, I ask you to frequent reputable information sources. Dig for the truth. Become informed. More than anything else, vote.
Tom Lubnau is a Gillette attorney, member of the state Legislature for 10 years and currently serves as speaker of the Wyoming House. He is not running for re-election.
