"The Walking Dead" are inundating the political landscape.
The popular AMC television series focuses on the survivors of a zombie apocalypse. Among the program's many themes is how humans react in a climate of fear.
The recent election campaign reflects that theme, with candidates and advocates attempting to capitalize on fear of the opposition.
Candidates who emphasize an opponent's shortcomings rather than their own virtues are nothing new in politics. But attacks abound with no signs of abating.
And spreading fear perpetuates divisiveness in government and is becoming tiresome for voters.
Fear-mongering in elections is most apparent in campaigns funded by what has become known as "dark money," defined by Wikipedia as "a term that refers to funds used to pay for an election campaign that are not disclosed to voters prior to voting."
And - as Cole County voters are acutely aware - dark money from the Republican State Leadership Committee, based in Washington, D.C, was funneled to Central Missouri in a failed effort to unseat an incumbent Democratic circuit judge.
A series of direct mail fliers attempted to scare voters from re-electing a candidate who: "sided with radical environmentalists;" "has a consistent liberal streak;" and "favored wasting taxpayer dollars."
Curbing the power of dark money is not unlike the defenses used against "Walking Dead" zombies - called "walkers" - who can be dispatched only by a mortal - or would it be immortal? - injury to the brain.
Among the alternatives:
• Limiting or eliminating dark money, like shooting a walker, has consequences. Just as the sound of gunshots attracts more walkers, so restrictions on campaign contributions are incompatible with constitutional protections of free speech.
• More specific identification of dark money donors, like a blow to a zombie's head with a blunt or sharp object, is effective. Campaign finance disclosure reports now identify donors who contribute to a pool of money, which then is dispersed. What is not revealed is a direct link between specific donors and specific campaigns.
• Educating voters to recognize and renounce dark money campaigns, like corralling walkers within structures or fences, is both practical and practiced.
As evidenced by the November election, many Cole County voters recognized the dark money campaign was neither fair nor factual. Even the judge's challenger attempted to distance himself from the negative campaign and some of his supporters deplored it.
We commend Cole County voters for rejecting a climate of fear and for vanquishing it with their votes. They have sent a message that walkers bringing dark money are not welcome here.