Jo says: "Read, read, read"

Writing in her FoxPolitics blog, Jo Egelhoff notes:

Yeah. Ignorance is not bliss

Or “Making a difference – keep at it.” Today’s title is nabbed from a MacIver Institute piece yesterday by Brett Healy:

Keeping informed … is more labor intensive than the days when everyone skimmed their jam-packed daily newspaper in the morning, perhaps another one in the afternoon, watched a half hour of network news before dinner and kept an eye on the local TV news before Johnny Carson came on.

But an informed citizenry is a vital component for a healthy democracy. It can be done. One now just has to work a little harder to come by the information.

That has “FoxPolitics News” written all over it! (Of course, I’m completely biased – but if you’re not a subscriber – it’s free! – subscribe here.)...

... in an atmosphere of more and more government intrusion, change (and hope?) can’t come fast enough. Stay informed. It’s our line of first defense – on which we must base our constant, never-let-up actions for change.

Then she adds in the comments:

'Stay informed' means read, read, read. Listen and watch too. Access credible, well-researched and reported news. Local, state, federal. Listen and question. Read, read, read.

Right on, Jo! I would only add that FoxPolitics News is indeed free, and worthwhile reading, but this freedom is limited to those with computers and Internet connections. For those who don't have their own, I'd suggest reading this and other sources, on- and off-line, at your local library.

It matters less what changes you want than that you take the time to get informed. "Read, read, read." Get a variety of sources and viewpoints, those that bolster you and those that challenge you. Take the time to learn, and decide for yourself.

This is exactly why free public libraries are essential to decision-making in a democracy. Jo and I may differ on some things, but it would appear that we would both agree with some of our nation's founders:

A democratic society depends upon an informed and educated citizenry.
- Thomas Jefferson

Information is the currency of democracy.
- Thomas Jefferson

A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
- James Madison

We must each take responsibility for our own informed decisions, if we are to govern ourselves responsibly. Read, read, read!