As 2018 draws to a close many people will breathe a sigh of relief while hoping for a better new year.

            We live in a world where social media creates mood swings for many with the speed of "logging on for the latest info."  Trouble is, it's getting harder and harder to tell the difference between truth and fiction.  The truth is just that; fiction can be shaped to match what you want to read or hear.

            People have a tendency to read and understand what they want to, regardless of the source of the information.  And, anyone can post without any fact-checking or editorial standards to govern the information.  Legal responsibility for posting misinformation is almost non-existing.

            We all need to be more responsible when we share "the truth" on social media.  We all need to do our own due-diligence before we accept what was posted as truth and not opinion.

            That holds true for our elected officials as well.

            The fear that our elected federal government officials will be even more divisive in 2019 than 2018 leaves little hope that much will be accomplished at that level, outside of an official hearing or a courtroom.

            The social media pundits will be pecking away at their keyboards basing their "facts" on the first "tweets" that hit the "twittersphere."

            It will be up to the people to maintain a semblance of calm, understanding, decorum, and most important adult-like behavior when "it" hits the fan – and it will, according to announcements from our elected officials.

            It will be up to the people to keep from being sucked-up into the vacuum of hate that talking-heads will try and pull us into.

            It will be up to the people to read, listen to, and study the reports from all sides of responsible journalists before formulating their own opinions.

            Our opinions can differ.  Differing opinions, and the civil discussion that should result from them can lead to better problem solutions and better government.  Take the time to work things out.  Outright attacks by the elected, based on personality conflicts, don't set a good example for the electors and doesn't lead to good government.

            Remember, it's "a social media," not "asocial media."

            It will be up to us to set a proper example for our elected officials.

            Let's all hope for a happy and productive New Year.