School board candidate speaks out

Biases, good or bad?

The simple answer is yes – and no. It depends on what the bias actually is. Just remember, biases are everywhere around us Let me offer some examples:

I like vanilla ice cream. In fact, I often say that there are only two kinds of ice cream. When it comes to ice cream flavors as far as I am concerned, there are only two: Vanilla and polluted.

Now, is this a good bias, or a bad bias? It depends on someone’s point of view regarding the particular topic being discussed. If you ask me, the flavor of ice cream is a good bias, and those that disagree with me are well, just wrong. Now, I grant, others may have a different opinion, even if they are wrong. Just ask me, I will tell you all about why my opinion is the correct one. But, it depends entirely on who is being asked the question.

My point is, we all have biases. All of us. Each and every one of us. We all are creatures of our upbringing and environment. Some of these biases turn out to have positive impacts, and some turn out to have negative impacts on our surroundings. And some are better thought out than others.

I love kids. I delight in seeing them grow and mature. It delights me to be able to help them form their own attitudes, feelings, and opinions about the life they get to live and hopefully be happy with. Teaching them to have respect and compassion for others is paramount for society and hopefully will be for them as well. Teaching them to think for themselves is essential. Even if they form different ideas about what flavor of ice cream is the best!

I do want them to understand that there are flip sides to just about everything. This is why I am presently a candidate for my local school board.

In 1913 we passed the 17th Amendment removing the selection of Senators from State Legislatures and decided to have them elected by the general public instead. The flip side is that the states, via State Legislatures, lost their representation in Congress. Before you think through this one, ask yourself ...Would our country be in debt for well over $38 trillion if State Legislatures had been involved?

Teaching our future generations how to think for themselves, to be good citizens, is why I am running for the School Board in Columbia Falls. This is another of my good biases! I would appreciate your vote when election time comes around.

Russell Sias

Columbia Falls

Candidate for Columbia Falls School District