Karl Gaskins: Fretting and frenzies

Regarding J. Peder Zane’s Sept. 28 column “Clinton condemns not the state of our laws, but our souls”: At Zane’s behest, I’ve been pondering what policies Clinton might pursue against the racists, homophobes, xenophobes and Islamaphobes. Wouldn’t her becoming president in and of itself deny these fearful folks the voice and the clout they think they find in Donald Trump? Clinton should, and probably will, pursue policies that would assuage their fears rather than exacerbate them.

Lots of people in recent election cycles have let themselves get whipped into frenzies by stuff that just ain’t true. We probably need a nonpartisan apolitical Department of Stuff to Fret About added to the Cabinet that will sort through all the claims and rumors and make available the 411 on things that should really cause us concern and things that shouldn’t. Lots of people who get their truth from profit-making sources – which feed off their attitudes and pander to their worries – find empowerment in their fear and anger. If you aren’t willing to work to find out what’s really true, maybe you are irredeemable. It must be awful to be mad and scared all the time.

This story was originally published September 28, 2016 at 3:48 PM with the headline "Karl Gaskins: Fretting and frenzies."