There are vast resources available today for obtaining political information. The Internet offers a wide array of sources from mainstream media and citizen journalism sites to newspapers and blogs.
There are also government websites, those that link to every candidate’s past voting record, legal sites and more, where information can be found.
Unfortunately, many people find themselves too busy to do real research on their own. When they’re not working or taking care of families, homes, and yards, they need some down time. Research can feel too much like work. It’s much easier to skim headlines, but be aware that headlines can be deceiving. Often, entire articles are written around a less than forthright headline, with a wee bit of small print at the bottom that tells the real story.
There are fewer and fewer true, honest journalists today. More than not, reporters influence the way news consumers think, by commission or omission. There are also many talk show hosts and news commentators that people rely on for information, but these folks are not reporters. Many are very biased, most admittedly so, so it is important to differentiate between the one-sided information that may be offered and that which is considered “news.”
There is nothing wrong with getting information from such sources, or even from biased news sources, but it is beneficial to balance it against competing sources before forming an opinion. Probably the best method is to acquire information from all sides then do your own research, to reach an informed opinion.
While you may cringe at the sound of Ann Coulter’s or Randi Rhodes’ voice, it’s good to know what’s going on with “the other side.” Sometimes, the other side actually has a point…
Too many voters today are uninformed and apathetic. Those “man on the street” shows where people are asked political questions are just sad. IMO, any American of voting age who cannot even pick out the president should avoid the voting booth until they become educated to a responsible degree. This is more important with each election cycle as this country faces very serious issues.
The continued party over country, talking point, style of voting will be our undoing. Voters need to learn about the people they vote for, really learn about them, before getting anywhere near a voting booth. They also need to stop “taking one for the team,” voting for a candidate based on the letter next to his or her name instead of on his or her values.
Our Founders gave us a great gift but also a huge responsibility when they created this union as one in which we are to govern ourselves. A government of the people, by the people, and for the people, will only work if we elect decent people that will defend that premise as well as the rest of the Constitution.
I challenge everyone not to “give” any candidate your vote but to make him or her earn it.