If your mailbox is anything like mine, it’s starting to fill up with gaudy campaign mailers from politicians who are trying their damnedest to channel Chris LeDoux (and we’ll tip our Stetsons when that name is mentioned) and failing miserably. It’s comical to watch these dudes and dudettes try to cowboy up just to get the voters’ attention!

I don’t own a television, but I’ll bet a dollar to a donut the same stuff is assaulting your eyeballs from the boob tube screen.

Their mailers and ads show politicians standing nervously next to a photogenic horse, forcing smiles through their fear. That’s because there isn’t enough money in the campaign budget to convince them to climb aboard a critter as big and scary as a horse. They wear a sombrero that looks like it was purchased under the stands at Frontier Days, and a brand new pearlsnap shirt with the price tag still attached.

Or they pose in front of a buck n’ rail fence in some rustic Wyoming meadow, clutching a gun with their trigger fingers outside the guard, as the director instructed. You can almost hear the photographer’s voice off-camera suggesting, “Now, try to look tough.”

What we are seeing in our mailboxes and on our screens is the classic Madison Avenue ploy of manufacturing opinion through an appeal, not to the consumer’s logic or reason, but to emotion and attachment to symbols. The American cowboy is one of the most powerful symbols in the propaganda professional’s toolbox, and he gets trotted out to work his magic every election season.

Decades ago, I worked on several Marlboro commercials as a wrangler and background model. The producer, from Leo Burnett advertising company of Chicago, told me that the image of the Marlboro Man was worth several billion dollars a year to the tobacco company, because the cowboy symbol sold cigarettes to folks in countries like Libya and North Korea who hated America but loved cowboys.

Think about that for a moment. One simple image is powerful enough to sell a carcinogenic American product to millions of people who hate America but identify with cowboys. That is the psychological power of advertising symbols.

Edward Bernays, Sigmund Freud’s nephew, is widely regarded as the godfather of modern advertising, public relations and propaganda. Bernays understood, in the early 20th century, how symbolic images and slogans could bypass critical thinking and implant a message directly into the subconscious reptilian part of the human brain, where instinct and emotion rule. When that part of our brain is stimulated, we act instead of think. We just say “ditto!”

That is precisely how political media manipulation works on us.

The political advertisements, resplendent with drugstore cowboy politicians, that bombard us every election are the direct lineal result of Bernays and the public relations/advertising/propaganda machine he created, and it has made vast fortunes and influenced our society for over a century.

The irony is that these mailers and videos never show politicians doing real cowboy stuff — like indulging in a three-fingered dip of Copenhagen, drinking Wild Turkey 101 straight from the bottle or getting bucked off into cactus and rattlesnakes. Images like that aren’t very mythological and won’t gather many votes.

But I digress. Every election season, we become lab rats in an ongoing experiment in politics and psychological manipulation, and the laboratory is our own brains. We are inundated with evocative pictures and slogans intended to short-circuit our intellects and engage our emotions. We are force-fed politicians who wrap themselves in appealing images and focus group-approved slogans that are intended to make us switch off our brains.

We confront Edward Bernays’ ditto-ism machine whenever we open our mailboxes or look at our screens. With every political advertisement, we are invited to suspend our intellects and just go along with the crowd.

A real cowboy would call bullshit on that nonsense.

So, it is critically important that we understand how and why political advertisers try so hard to make us act without thinking. Knowing the forces at work during a political campaign, and how they try to worm their message into our noggins, builds a healthy immune system that can resist manipulation by seductive but meaningless symbols.

A healthy skepticism toward political messaging is a necessary component in a functioning bullshit detector. Here endeth the lesson.

CASPER, Wyo. — On Tuesday, Pete Fox announced his candidacy to represent the residents of Wyoming House District 56 in Casper.

A release from Fox says that he graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and he spent his career within the oil & gas industry, gaining both domestic and international experience.

Fox retired several years ago and returned home to Casper with his wife, Lijuan, who currently works as a substitute teacher in Natrona County schools, as well as their son.

Fox is a longtime Casper resident, husband, father, and the current Natrona County Republican Precinct Committeeman. He said he is running because “Wyoming families need leaders laser-focused on improving and protecting our state.”

“House District 56 deserves strong, balanced representation that reflects the full
breath of our community, not simply the belief system of a district’s
representative,” Fox said. “District 56 is one of the most politically diverse districts in our
State supporting people across our entire social and economic spectrum. They
deserve a representative who listens broadly, works hard and focuses squarely on
solving real problems.

“This race is not about personalities—it’s about effective representation. After
watching the direction of the Legislature and reviewing the issues facing Wyoming
families, I believe our district needs a representative employing a wide-angle lens,
focused on practical solutions, fiscal responsibility, and smart long-term economic
growth.

“I’m a republican, easily earning the party’s new endorsement monogram
standing for 80% of the party platform. More importantly, I’ll vote in the
Legislature as a moderate. Voting at either side’s extremes misrepresents
District 56 and disenfranchises the majority of our constituents.”
“The middle class and younger generations really need help.”

To address these concerns, Fox says his campaign will focus on three major priorities: protecting Wyoming citizens, growing Wyoming jobs and opportunities, and protecting Wyoming’s resources and future.

Fox highlighted affordability challenges, healthcare costs and disparate property tax issues being among the various drivers increasing pressure on working people, families, retirees, and young parents.

“Too many residents feel like they’re working harder just to keep their heads
above water,” Fox said. “One remedy is enacting policies that help Wyoming citizens keep
more of what they earn.”

Additionally Fox believes that another remedy is to aggressively pursue new economic opportunities while protecting legacy industries and world-class natural treasures.

“With trillions of dollars in mainstreet manufacturing and business investment
now pouring back into our country, Wyoming should be aggressively competing
for those jobs while jealously protecting our one-of-a-kind statewide beauty,” he said.
“We need SMART growth that strengthens our middle class and creates
opportunities that entice our children and grandchildren to stay here.”

With decades of experience in the energy industry, Fox says that Wyoming must carefully manage growing demands on water and power infrastructure.

“We have tremendous opportunities ahead, but we must ensure growth
benefits Wyoming residents without placing unnecessary burdens on our
communities, resources, or pristine environment,” Fox said. “I’m running because I believe Wyoming’s best days are calling. Capturing success requires serious leadership and thoughtful planning from both the government and private sectors. I’m prepared to serve and ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”

Fox said he plans on meeting directly with voters during his campaign through community events. town halls, and direct outreach across House District 56.

For more information, visit PeteFoxHD56.com or follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/Pete.Fox.HD56.

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SHIPPENSBURG —  Athletes from Wyoming Valley West and Valley View competing in the Unified Champion Schools track and field championships had rewarding performances at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

Wyoming Valley West finished third in the team competition with 48 points, and Valley View had 40 points to finish sixth among the nine teams at the event. East Stroudsburg North won the team title with 63 points; Spring Grove was second with 55.

Unified track and field teams are made up of a proportional number of students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities who practice and compete together as equal peers.

Athletes in the UCS program compete in divisions based on similar abilities to earn team points toward the team championship.

Valley View’s Jeffrey Wasilchak finished first overall in the Mixed Unified 400-meter run in 57.53 seconds and was second in the Mixed Unified shot put with a distance of 13.82 meters, which was more than 45 feet. He also competed with Eli Szydlowski, James Terrance and John Mulkerin, who had a time of 1:02.66 and finished seventh overall.

Wyoming Valley West’s Raheem Blanton finished first in the Mixed Unified 100-meter dash in 12.21 seconds, and was part of the Mixed Unified 400 relay team that included Dierra Wade, Chelsea Hummel and Kaylah Sewell and finished in 1:00.66, and in fifth place.

Valley View’s Tyson Sisen had two second-place finishes. He was second in the Mixed Unified 800 in 2:31.57 and second in the Mixed Unified Mini Javelin with a mark of 90-3.

Other Valley View finishes overall included Jack Loftus (100, seventh, 13.70); Aubree Black (100, 16.30, 25th, Shot, 5.72 meters, 22nd); Ava Kielar (100, 22.35, 46th); Miranda Troue (100, 22.48, 47th, Shot, 3.54 meters, 28th); Sophia Davies (100, 24.95, 48th, Shot, 4.27 meters, 25th); John Mulkerin (400, 1:23.48, 19th, Shot, 8.13 meters, 11th); Gregory Davis (400, 1:31.45, 27th, Mini Javelin, 45-0, 19th); and James Terrance (800, 3:19.61, 15th).

Wyoming Valley West finishers overall included, Hummel (100, 14.54, 12th, Mini Javelin, 66-10, sixth); Sewell (100, 16.30, 24th); Wade (100, 16.74, 29th, Mini Javelin, 31-3, 32nd); Billy Bell (400, 1:03.95, fourth, Mini Javelin, 46-3, 17th); Gavin Burridge (400, 1:18.66, 15th, Mini Javelin, 39-10, 26th); Lilly Eckstein (800, 2:59.69, 11th, Mini Javelin, 53-9, 12th); Meghan Singer (800, 3:04.31, 12th); Javian Fernandez (Shot, 7.27 meters, 15th); Angel George Umoh (Shot, 5.21, 24th); Savannah Mayewski (Shot, 3.70, 27th); and Jamie Evans (Shot, 1.85, 32nd).

Record breakers

Mid Valley freshman Olivia Thomas capped her medal-collecting first weekend at the PIAA Track and Field Championships with a gold medal in the Class 2A triple jump with a leap of 39-11.5 in far-from-ideal weather conditions Saturday.

In addition, she won silver medals in the long jump and the 100 hurdles in 14.32 seconds. That time broke her Mid Valley school record of 14.44 set this season. It is also the second-fastest school record in Lackawanna Track Conference history. Lakeland’s Cassidy Jenkins has the best time of 14.28, which she ran in winning a PIAA Class 2A silver medal in 2015.

Mid Valley finished with 26 team points — all scored by Thomas — and in seventh place in the Class 2A standings. Shenango won the team championship with 40 points.

In addition to his three medals won in the Class 2A boys meet, Elk Lake’s Kendel Jones set a school record in the 3,200 in 9:17.54 to earn a silver medal. He beat his previous best time of 9:18.72 set in 2024.

Wallenpaupack’s Aiden Janowicz won a silver medal in the Class 3A 800 in 1:51.52. That beat his LTC-best time of 1:53.14 he set during the regular season.

Scranton senior Anijha Turner broke her school record with her 10th-place finish in the Class 3A 400 in 57.26 seconds. That is the fifth-fastest school record in LTC history. Taliyah Booker of Delaware Valley owns the fastest time for the event at 55.86 in 2021.

Lakeland sophomore Bria Hill broke her school record in the 400. Her time of 57.65 qualified her for the Class 2A final, where she won an eighth-place medal on Saturday. Her time is the ninth-best school record in the LTC.

Montrose junior Sadie Jones beat her school record in the javelin with a mark of 126-0. That earned a bronze medal in Class 2A.

Elite athlete

When Thomas won her state championship in the Class 2A triple jump, she became the first to claim a gold medal in track and field at Mid Valley.

Mid Valley’s programs join a list of 18 programs from the LTC that have had an athlete win a state gold medal in track and field.

Susquehanna athletes have won nine PIAA gold medals and a team championship since 1989, which is the most of any LTC program.

Teresa Covert won three straight gold medals in the Class 2A 100 hurdles from 1996 to 1998 and added the 300 hurdles title in 1998. Tatum Norris won gold medals in the Class 2A 100 and 200 in 2022 when she led the team to a championship by herself. Norris also won the 100 in 2023. Jim Corse won the Class 2A pole vault in 1989, and Amber Gaffey won a gold in Class 2A pole vault in 2005.