By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Quick Take:
Yes, I use AI — but not how the trolls think. I write every word myself. AI just checks my spelling, grammar, and facts, and helps shorten long posts so everyone can follow along. It’s a tool, not my ghostwriter.
Some people will twist anything to stir the pot. Recently, someone accused me of using AI to write my campaign posts. That’s false. I’ve been a professional writer for decades — speeches, grants, national newsletter articles, ghostwritten scripts — all before AI even existed. Writing is my craft. I don’t need AI to do it for me.
Here’s the truth: I use AI to summarize my own work for people who prefer short posts over full-length articles. I use it to check grammar, punctuation, and facts so I don’t put out misinformation. I use it to simplify complex language so more people can understand my ideas. I also use AI for some graphics — alongside Photoshop, Adobe Express, GIMP, and the work of a professional graphic artist.
That’s it.
When people feel threatened by intelligence, they often assume success must be “cheating.” I’ve learned that constructive criticism is valuable, but baseless accusations are just noise. And let’s be honest — trolls like this are often clout-chasers or political plants hoping to distract from the real issues.
Yes, AI has an environmental impact — but so do Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and every other major data center you interact with daily. Singling out AI while ignoring those facts is selective outrage. For example, U.S. data centers—which power AI among other technologies—already consume over 4% of the nation’s electricity, with projections showing that could climb to 12% by 2028 [oai_citation:0‡New York Post](https://nypost.com/2024/12/25/opinion/no-more-debate-ais-energy-needs-put-every-fuel-in-play/?utm_source=chatgpt.com).
As your next congressman, I’ll never let personal bias override logic. I’ll work across party lines to craft legislation that serves everyone — not just the loudest voices or the wealthiest donors. When Congress works together, America wins. When we stay locked in partisan gridlock, Americans lose.
America is a constitutional democratic republic, but it’s sliding toward oligarchy. That happens when billionaires dictate policy and voters keep sending party-line drones to Washington. We can change that — with transparency, pragmatism, and bipartisan cooperation.
I’m not here to play the left vs. right blame game. I’m here to get results. And no troll on Facebook is going to change that.
Sources:
US data-center power use could nearly triple by 2028, DOE-backed report says – Reuters
Joe Biden signs executive order to speed AI data center construction – The Verge
Why AI uses so much energy—and what we can do about it – Penn State / IEEE