It’s no secret that politics is getting uglier by the day. We’re all feeling it—neighbors who used to talk over the fence now keep their distance, families split over disagreements, and folks just feeling fed up. It’s hard to know who to trust, especially when our own small-town newspaper runs what looks like news but feels more like an ad for one side. The Salem Times-Register recently published a piece from Congressman Ben Cline that, when you take a closer look, leaves out some key details and paints a picture that might not be as true as it seems. We owe it to ourselves to ask questions and think critically, no matter which party we support.
Is It Really About Decorum?
The article talks a lot about bringing respect and order back to Congress, saying Republicans took action against Rep. Al Green for interrupting President Trump’s speech. But let’s be honest—how many times have we seen Republican lawmakers, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, heckle and interrupt President Biden? Did they get punished for it? No. If we really want “decorum,” shouldn’t it apply to everyone, not just one side?
Questioning the Numbers.
The article claims Trump’s leadership has caused a 94% drop in illegal crossings and that ICE arrests have shot up by 627% in just a month. But where’s the proof? Numbers like these don’t just appear out of thin air, and the government hasn’t released any official reports to back them up. When politicians throw out big numbers without sources, we should all take a step back and ask, Is this real?
Who’s Really Running the Show?
If we want to talk about respect in government, maybe we should be looking at who’s influencing our leaders. Lately, it seems like billionaires are calling more of the shots than the people we actually elect. Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, gave a massive donation to Trump’s campaign and is now involved in political decisions even though he was never elected. That’s something we should all be concerned about, no matter our politics. We hear a lot about draining the swamp, but isn’t letting an unelected billionaire influence our government just another kind of swamp?
We Can Think for Ourselves
This isn’t about being Republican or Democrat. It’s about recognizing that we are being sold a story and that it’s up to us to read between the lines. We deserve honesty, fairness, and leaders who represent us—not just the wealthiest people in the country. It’s okay to question what we’re told. In fact, it’s the most American thing we can do.
It’s time we stop letting politics divide our small town. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we can agree that truth matters. And if we want to fix what’s broken, we have to start by making sure we’re all looking at the full picture—not just the part someone wants us to see.
Your local Neighbor,
Adam Baber
Salem
