History Repeats Itself — By Tommy Purser

In case you missed it — or haven’t yet seen it — take a look at Page 5 and the headline from The Jeff Davis County Ledger on January 24, 1974.
At that time, I was the 26-year-old Editor-Publisher of The Ledger. I had assumed that position on July 1, 1973, less than six months before I had to write that story 52 years ago.
What a mess we had then and what a mess we have today.
There’s a big difference between those times that most don’t notice.
In 1974, all the principal players wanted the people to know their side of the story and they eagerly told their side to the young newspaper editor.
Today, jaded by the free flow of information across social media, much of it false information, many of the principals are guarded about what they say and to whom they say it.
Social media has crept into our midst — not “crept” so much as “exploded” — giving voice to those who have little or no idea what they’re talking about.
Trying to correct that information on social media is a lesson in futility. Senseless. Stupid. So, instead, people in positions of responsibility just clam up. I guess you can’t blame them — but it sure does make it hard for a seasoned old newspaper editor like myself to find out what is really going on.
Hopefully, calmer heads will prevail.