Tuesday, November 15, 2022 A7
REDMOND SPOKESMAN
Write to us: news@redmondspokesman.com
GUEST COLUMN
Living in the
‘post-truth’
world today
BY STEVE TROTTER
I
came across a new term recently. Or, I
thought it was new. Turns out I’m late
as usual.
The term has been around since 1992, where
it first appeared in an essay. In 2016 the folks
who produce the Oxford Dictionary gave it the
Trotter
title “Word of the Year.” How did I miss that?
Some days I feel like I’ve got a grocery bag, the
old, brown, paper grocery bag, firmly planted on my head. I fail to
notice what’s right in front of me.
So there I am, reacting to a “new” term that isn’t new at all. Per-
haps it’s only new to me, discovered on a rare adventure outside
the grocery bag with blinders off. The term?
“Post-truth.”
When I read it I was puzzled. “What the heck does that mean?”
I wondered. I asked friends to give me their definition. Many said
they had no idea.
Might it be an extensive expose on the things we put in a pasture
to hold barbed wire taut? Probably not.
Here’s what the source of all wisdom, aka the internet, provided
after a quick search: ”relating to a situation in which people are more
likely to accept an argument based on their emotions and beliefs,
rather than one based on facts.” Or, i want to add, “evidence.”
Now I get it. It’s another one of the mental shortcuts I’ve been
exploring with you over the last couple months. That’s what the
psychologists call a “cognitive bias” and I label a “shortcut.”
“Shortcut” here means going from A to E without bothering to
consider B, C, or D. Sometimes such shortcuts are helpful. Visiting
a major city, I glance skyward and notice a piano dropping rapidly
through the air soon to land exactly where I stand. Shortcut says
“Move it, big guy! NOW!” Without another thought — without B,
C, or D — I jump to one side and stay unimpressed by heavy mu-
sic. Thank god for shortcuts.
I didn’t wait to consider if the piano is a concert grand or some
other size. Is it a Yamaha or a Bösendorfer? In tune or going flat?
Falling piano? “Get out of the way!” my brain quickly tells me.
Love those shortcuts.
“Post-truth” is like that shortcut. It moves me rapidly from a
considered, carefully thought out and reasoned, based-on-evi-
dence conclusion regarding X, to a conclusion based solely on how
I feel about X or what I already believe about X.
I learned about this in high school, I just didn’t know the term.
I joined the school’s debate team and discovered what “post-truth”
means. In debate we dealt with solid arguments and supportive
evidence. I don’t know if it’s still this way, but then we had to be
prepared to argue either side of a proposition. “Resolved: The state
sales tax is regressive and should be abolished.” (I was in a state
with a sales tax while in high school.)
My partners and I gathered evidence, reading text and journals,
consulting periodicals and scanning expert commentary — all
this long before personal computers and the internet. We recorded
each piece of information on a 3x5 card and soon amassed a hefty
pile, each carefully cataloged for quick access. The proposition has
good evidence on both sides. Pro and con each held strong pos-
sibilities for making a decision. We would be judged on both the
quality of our evidence and the quality of our presentation.
Imagine I offered information from an expert: Donald Duck or
Dumbo the Elephant. “Mr. Duck, who teaches at Stanford, has writ-
ten extensively on the effect of a sales tax on the poor. He states ...”
I’d be laughed out of the room, rightfully so.
Imagine I offered this instead: “I think a sales tax is dumb. I
don’t agree with it. It’s just a bad idea. It makes me angry just think-
ing about it.”
I’d be laughed out of the room for that sort of “reasoning,” too.
But that’s the reasoning that is meant by the term “post-truth.”
No longer concerned with qualified sources or verifiable evidence,
post-truth decisions grow from emotions or long held — and most
likely not well examined or questioned — opinion.
Evidence? Post-truth reasoning doesn’t want it. Factual informa-
tion? Information with verification and support? Post-truth rea-
soning says: “Who needs it? I already know what’s right.”
If I brought post-truth “reasoning” to the room for a high
school debate, I wouldn’t last very long. Nor should I.
Imagine going to the doctor and hearing that you have a heart
condition which, with care and surgery, along with changes in diet
and exercise, will allow you to lead a full and active life.
“How do you know?” you ask your doctor.
“It’s how I feel,” she says. “I know I’m right.”
Post-truth “reasoning.” Look for a new doctor.
Recently I called a good friend in Montana who’s a wizard with
all things cars. My clutch was acting up. He diagnosed it over the
phone and told me what to do. I did it. Clutch is now working
great.
He asked me many questions, he formulated his opinion not on
the condition of his gut or the words of some celebrity or the guid-
ance of a Greek goddess, but on his long experience repairing cars
and his knowledge of how they operate. I provided evidence and
he made a decision based on that evidence. Rational. Considered.
Thorough. Nothing knee-jerk about it. Not a decision based on
emotion. Or indigestion.
Nothing “post-truth” about it.
We don’t see eye-to-eye on some issues. That didn’t change any-
thing either. Nope. He used his noggin, not his emotions. His rec-
ommendation was based on the truth of the evidence I provided,
nothing post-truth going on.
We’re living in a time which can accurately be called “post-
truth.” It’s more than a little bit frightening. It doesn’t lead to a
thoughtful, careful future. “Post-truth” almost guarantees strife
and misunderstanding as we rely only on our emotions or spuri-
ous information from a social media site to make decisions — de-
cisions which could well have serious effect on us all.
█
Steve Trotter, with his wife Bonnie, has lived in many places before settling
in Redmond for retirement. His last for-pay job was teaching at a small
university in Central Washington.
Ridgeview student wins
LWVDC essay contest
BY TIM TRAINOR
Redmond Spokesman
Gabby Bale of Ridgeview
High was named the first win-
ner of the 2022 Y-Essay Con-
test sponsored by the League
of Women Voters of Deschutes
County.
LWVDC initiated the contest
this year, open to all high school
seniors in Deschutes County.
The contest invited seniors to
submit an original essay that
answered the question “Why
Vote?”
Essays were blind judged by
Deschutes County community
members, including members
of the media and educators.
Once read, each essay was as-
signed a score using a rubric
and scoring tool created by the
LWVDC Y-Essay Contest team.
Bale, a senior at Ridgeview,
was declared the winner. As the
winner, she received an award
certificate and a check for $500.
According to LWVDC, the
organization received several es-
says with strong messages about
the responsibility of citizens to
be informed voters.
“Gabby’s essay was particu-
larly persuasive as she focused
on the importance of individual
votes, collectively, as essential
for citizen participation in how
our country is run.”
LWVDC said they plan to
continue the contest next year.
█
Courtesy photo
Winning essayist Gabby Bale, at left, accepts a check with her mother
Susan Kernutt, center, awarded by LWVDC Carol Loesche.
Reporter: ttrainor@
redmondspokesman.com
WINNING ESSAY
Why vote? Your voice matters
W
hy vote? It’s only one vote and
that’s not going to tip the scales,
so what’s the point? The point
is that you are a part of this republic and
you deserve to voice your opinion.
It may not always seem like your voice is
heard, but you have a better chance if you
vote. If everyone has this mindset, then we
can make a difference together.
Imagine if everyone you have ever met
decided not to vote. That’s hundreds, maybe
even thousands of people opting to let deci-
sions that directly affect them be made with-
out their opinion on the matter. That has the
potential to change policies.
We need to look at the bigger picture in-
stead of thinking about it as just one vote.
Because if everyone with just one vote de-
cided not to vote, then that’s a lot of people
giving up their power in the government.
Think about the history of the United
States. Our Founding Fathers designed this
government to better benefit the people than
the English Monarchy ever did. They were
unfairly taxed — among other things — and
without representation, they couldn’t say
anything about it. They believed that all peo-
ple were born with natural rights: life, liberty,
and property. These rights were being op-
pressed by the King, so they chose to form
their own government with their own rules.
Even though this took place centuries ago, it
is important to remember the blood, sweat,
and tears our ancestors put into this country
for us. Voting is the best way to honor their
sacrifice and the best way to protect your
rights.
In order for a large republic to function
properly, as many people need to vote as
possible. We will get better representation
for our needs if we choose to participate. The
government is more likely to listen if more
people support an idea. Things like educa-
tion, healthcare, infrastructure, economy,
immigration, etc. are all affected by our vote.
Remember that voting doesn’t only affect
you; it could affect your friends, family, and
millions of other people around the United
State. Plus, you will pay taxes in the future if
you don’t already, and voting allows you to
help decide where your money will be spent.
Almost anything you can think of in your
life is affected by government decisions. By
choosing not to vote, you are choosing not
to take control of your life. As Mahatma
Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish
to see in the world.”
Vote for the things you believe in. Vote for
the people you love. Vote for the change you
want to see.
█
Gabby Bale is a senior at Ridgeview High School.
This essay won top prize in a League of Women
Voters of Deschutes County contest.
CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Redmond
Mayor George Endicott: George.endicott@
redmondoregon.gov, 541-948-3219
Deschutes County
County Commission Chair Patti Adair: Patti.adair@
deschutes.org, 541-388-6567
County Commission Vice Chair Tony DeBone: Tony.
debone@deschutes.org, 541-388-6568
County Commissioner Phil Chang: Phil.Chang@
deschutes.org, 541-388-6569
Your Legislators
Rep. Jack Zika (District 53): 503-986-1453; 900
Court st. Ne, H-387, salem, or 97301, rep.JackZika@
oregonlegislature.gov
Sen. Tim Knopp (District 27): 503-986-1727; 900
Court st. Ne, s-425, salem, or 97301, sen.TimKnopp@
oregonlegislature.gov
State
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: 254 state Capitol, salem,
or 97310; 503-378-3111; www.governor.oregon.gov.
Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read: oregon.
treasurer@ost.state.or.us; 350 Winter st. Ne, suite 100,
salem or 97301-3896; 503-378-4000.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum:
Justice building, salem, or 97301-4096; 503-378-4400.
Oregon Legislature: Legislative documents and
information are available online at www.leg.state.or.us.
Federal
President Joe Biden: The White House, 1600
Pennsylvania ave., Washington, d.C. 20500; 202-456-
1111; to send comments, go to www.whitehouse.gov.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley: d.C. office: 313 Hart senate
office building, u.s. senate, Washington, d.C., 20510;
202-224-3753; fax 202-228-3997. Portland office: one
World Trade Center, 121 s.W. salmon st. suite 1250,
Portland, or 97204; 503-326-3386; fax 503-326-2900.
baker City office, 1705 main st., suite 504, 541-278-
1129; merkley.senate.gov.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden: d.C. office: 221 dirksen senate
office building, Washington, d.C., 20510; 202-224-
5244; fax 202-228-2717. La Grande office: 105 Fir st.,
No. 210, La Grande, or 97850; 541-962-7691; fax, 541-
963-0885; wyden.senate.gov.
U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (2nd District): d.C. office: 1239
Longworth House office building, Washington, d.C.,
20515, 202-225-6730; fax 202-225-5774. medford
office: 14 N. Central avenue suite 112, medford, or
97850; Phone: 541-776-4646; fax: 541-779-0204;
ontario office: 2430 s.W. Fourth ave., No. 2, ontario, or
97914; Phone: 541-709-2040. bentz.house.gov.
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