Pointlessness and harm in negative campaigning

Like all voters over the last couple months, I've been inundated with campaign commercials, mailers, newspaper opinions, letters to the editor, emails and social media posts from friends, families and candidates.

If I'm being honest with myself, I can't think of one instance where one of those opinions actually changed my view of a candidate or an issue. If anything, they reinforced my existing view or repulsed me further from the opposing view. I suspect I represent the vast majority of people.

I think everyone - candidates and voters - should keep this in mind when dedicating so much of time, effort and money into this stuff.

Todd Scalzo

Wheaton