LETTER: The campaign ad influx

LETTER: The campaign ad influx Ken Gutstein Henderson September 20, 2026 - 9:00 pm They’re off almost immediately—within 30 seconds of the “first call,”—as a flood of government‑sponsored advertisements spills onto television, radio and print. Candidates from neither side will ever tell you what they intend to do if elected; instead they try to frighten you into thinking their rivals will ruin the city, the state, the state again, and—yes—even the world. The amusing part is that as soon as one advertisement about an individual finishes, the opponent’s spot follows immediately. It feels like a ping‑pong match at times—who can land the harder blow? There have always been negative ads, but there were also figures who discussed their plans and visions—even though we knew much of it was merely talk. That talk was uplifting, unlike the dread we are now being served. I wish I could vote early, which would automatically spare me from this nonsense.