A long time ago I had this friend that was, let’s just say, oh, always in search of a good disagreement. Which could be annoying, because sometimes you just want to say something without being challenged about whatever it is you’re talking about. Politics, religion, the economy.

Like that.

But that didn’t work with this person. They had the art of the argument down to a science. Well read, very inquisitive, and quick to point out any discrepancies in your critical thinking. Having any form of discussion with them kept me on my toes, that’s for sure.

My friend has long since moved away, but what I learned from having that person in my life has stuck with me to this day.

And that is, don’t say it unless you can back it up. With facts mind you, not anecdotes or feelings or by spouting the party line.

I wish some of our elected officials had met my friend.

For example, Claudia Tenney, R-24 of Cleveland, Oswego County, was quoted as saying that because of President Biden, “dangerous and costly wars are breaking out across the globe.”

And? What kind of statement is that? Is there a point there somewhere?

War in the Middle East has been going on for 90 years; this is nothing new.

Russia invaded Ukraine. And? Trump would somehow have prevented that?

How? By sucking up to Putin?

She then goes on to say Trump would return us to prosperity. Ms. Tenney must not read the economic reports because unemployment is at record lows and the stock market is at record highs.

She then goes on to say the inflation we’ve experienced in the past several years is this administration’s fault. She should read her own government’s reports sometimes.

The article by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “What caused the U.S pandemic-era inflation?” is a fascinating read and outlines what covid-related factors led to the inflation we’ve experienced.

My friend would have had a field day with Ms. Tenney.

I understand that you have to play to your audience, and that Ms. Tenney is more than likely just telling her crowd what they want to hear.

I mean, she couldn’t believe that, could she?

By the way, those not in office but hoping to be elected could also have used a good dose of my old friend.

Mario Fratto said, among other things, that when Trump was president we were respected around the world. He must have missed the United Nations speech that Trump gave on Sept. 25, 2018, where the entire general assembly laughed in his face. That’s 193 countries that thought he was a joke.

See, these are the kinds of examples that my friend lived for, the argument that was based on reason and proof and all of that jazz.

And my friend had it down to an art.

Pete Mitchell’s “In America” column appears every other Monday. He lives in Geneva. Contact him at peteinamerica@yahoo.com.