Wicker: Call for a better political climate in DeSoto County
By Chad Wicker
The recent special Senate campaign in our area was one of the ugliest and most divisive I’ve seen in local politics. What should have been a spirited debate over issues and ideas too often descended into personal attacks, mischaracterizations, and a winner-take-all mentality that left our community more fractured than before. It’s no surprise that this climate contributed to only about 8% of voters showing up to the polls. When campaigns focus more on tearing opponents down than lifting ideas up, people tune out, and our democracy suffers.
The truth is, we will never agree on every single issue. Nor should we. Healthy disagreement is at the heart of a vibrant democracy. Our community is made stronger when we bring different perspectives to the table, listen to one another, and find common ground where we can. Respectful debate leads to better solutions. But when disagreement turns into demonization, everyone loses.
Social media has made this problem worse. It is a powerful tool for sharing ideas, but it is also an amplifier for outrage. Too often, a 10-second video or a half-true meme gets more attention than a thoughtful, good-faith discussion. This creates a distorted picture of reality, one where the loudest voices drown out the reasonable ones, and where the goal is “winning the argument” rather than solving the problem. The algorithms reward conflict, not consensus.
When we allow social media posts and political soundbites to define how we see one another, we stop talking face-to-face. We forget that our neighbors, even those we disagree with, care about this community just as much as we do. It becomes easier to label someone as “the enemy” than to remember they are often just a friend, a fellow parent, or a coworker who sees the world from a different angle.
Hernando and DeSoto County have always been places where people look out for one another. I believe we can bring that spirit back to our politics. It starts with refusing to take the bait of online drama, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and engaging with one another directly and respectfully. We can disagree without being disagreeable. We can debate without destroying relationships.
If we want to leave a stronger, more united community for the next generation, we must change the tone now. The work won’t happen overnight, but it begins with each of us choosing to be part of the solution. Politics should be about building up our community, not tearing one another down.
Note: Chad Wicker is a Hernando alderman. This column represents his opinion and is not necessarily that of this publication.
