Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” That old adage was shown true in the results of the midterm elections. After hundreds of negative propaganda political ads containing many lies and half-truths — President Trump’s warning of imminent invasion on the southern border, nationalism and fear mongering — the people spoke and, in many places, a blue wave changed the political landscape.

My family did not condone lying/cheating. The saying was “winners do not lie and liars do not win.” My church believed that all the Ten Commandments were to be followed, including “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” — Exodus 20:2-17. Sunday school lessons focused on being truthful.

They are called the Ten Commandments, not the Ten Suggestions.

The U.S. Constitution’s 1st Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press and free speech remains the best defense against lies. The press is not the enemy of the people, but blatant liars, who wrap themselves in the cloak of “fake news,” are a danger to democracy.

Walter Cronkite said “Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.” Thomas Jefferson said “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” Benjamin Franklin said “Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.”

Think about it.

Crystal Ward, Lewiston