Peter Hoss, Scam of the Month: Detecting, deflecting political scams

A s elections on a national and local level approach, we seniors can anticipate possible outright scams, or tactics similar to those used by scammers. We owe it to the future of our democratic nation to cast votes reflecting our best judgment, based on as accurate information as we can obtain.

We live in uncertain times, and difficult issues confront us. However, our generation has survived the Great Depression of the 1930s, World War II, the Korean War, the assassination of a president and a presidential candidate, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and the protests accompanying it, the 9/11 attack by al-Qaida,10 years of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, the current real estate crash, and a current period of low employment.

Truly the world we live in has changed dramatically from the world in which we grew up.

We seniors have experienced different styles of leadership. We have seen some policies succeed and some fail. Some programs that we now take for granted were unpopular at the time they were enacted. We have seen mistakes and hopefully can learn from them.

At a recent Panetta series lecture, two respected historians reviewed the accomplishments of presidents during our lifetime, summarizing what they left with us. They noted that all presidents face events they cannot control, which can limit their accomplishments. Both historians noted that presidents we now consider great had the ability to inspire and create optimism.

They also agreed that the influence of money on political campaigns, and how it is spent, is not a positive development. Elections should not be decided by who can raise the most money. All this leads to a conclusion that having lived through a great deal of history, seniors can exercise some mature judgment, but we should not allow political scams to misguide us.

We are awash in current problems, more divided politically than I have ever seen. Congress has degenerated into an ideological debating society, more interested in slavishly adhering to the party line than governance by compromise. Polarization places obstacles in the path of dealing with the most important problems facing us, creating more jobs, stimulating the economy, health care, immigration, the deficit, environmental concerns and defense, among others.

The public is understandably angry and frustrated. Most of us lean toward one party or the other, but many people have adopted positions so hardened that it is pointless to debate the issues.

In this atmosphere we will be receiving telephone calls and mailings asking for money, as well as our vote. Here are a few suggestions on how to avoid falling for or subsidizing the half truths, spin and outward lies that comprise political scams, which we may anticipate in abundance as the election drones on.

1. Negative ads are deplored but practiced because they work. Vote for, rather than against.

2. Be wary of labels, such as liberal, socialist, conservative, reactionary or fascist.

3. If your vote is to throw the bums out, be sure you are not voting for a worse bum.

4. Consider where the money is coming from for a TV ad. Be suspicious of an ad that is not authenticated by a party or candidate.

5. Ignore ads that are no more than personal attacks or generalities. A claim that a candidate has "failed" or is "weak" or that policies have been a "disaster" is worth little if it is not explained with specifics.

6. Consider whether you are satisfied with what an incumbent has accomplished and consider what a challenger would do differently.

7. Don't be a single-issue voter. Consider the broad picture.

8. Some issues particularly impact seniors, notably Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

If you can, try to discern what actions (not words) the candidates will follow.

Above all, do the best you can to understand what you are voting for, and, like combating all other scams, consult a source you trust if in doubt.

Peter T. Hoss is a retired lawyer and an adviser to Legal Services for Seniors.

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