“If I can make Willie Horton a household name, we’ll win the election.”

Lee Atwater and his dark arts were featured prominently in an excellent New York Times piece today. This story is a signal reminder to all of us: politicians go negative because it works; In fact, it works like a hot damn. You should consciously and deliberately try to resist.

Keep this in mind this Fall as you join people across North America and head to the ballot box in upcoming provincial, civic and potentially national elections. Make your best effort to engage candidates with nuance. Find out what they think. Find out why. Find out where they differ from you and find out why. Look at platforms, look at policies. Try to embrace those who share your values. Try to understand those who don’t.  Avoid letting someone else define a candidate for you.

Do your best to resist the inevitable ad hominem attacks if you can and try to engage at a deeper level. We’ll all be the better for it.