I was blessed to live in Haverhill for 36 years, including 12 years when I represented the area in the state legislator. My wife and I moved to Lebanon three years to be closer to our son and grandson, but I still love reading the Bridge Weekly every week.

I very much appreciated Joshua Smith’s Op-Ed on the Joy of Missing Out. In addition to the mental health aspects he explains well, social media is driving division in our country. Social media companies make more money by using algorithms designed to get us upset and angry (so we stay online longer and see more ads).

We are all being manipulated by conflict entrepreneurs who exploit division for money and power.

I also encourage people to check out the free information and workshops by Braver Angels (https://braverangels.org/), the national citizens movement that brings Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. We envision an America with respectful embrace of political disagreements, where civic friendship flourishes and competing perspectives strengthen our nation. Embracing values of respect, humility, honesty, and responsible citizenship, our goal is not to change people’s views of issues, but to change their views of each other.

 

Doug Teschner

West Lebanon, NH

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