by dobby 6 Replies latest jw friends
I have never voted, (gee I wonder why...could it have been against my religion?), anyway I was wondering if there are any good sources for general information about voting.
The info I need is for example, how do you research the candidates and issues? I don't even know where to begin. And I don't even know simple stuff like what elections are held when and why and how and where you register to vote.
I live in the U.S. Any help would be most appreciated.
Check your state's website, it should have lots of information. The phone book usually has community service numbers. These resources can tell you about dates, registering etc. Most candidtates and/or parties have websites. Check them out. Read the paper and sources like Time or Newsweek. Watch a lot of CNN and Fox news. For the record I don't trust any media source by itself. Cross reference them.
E-mail me, I 'll be happy to help.
Dont worry about learning the candidates stand on anything. Just follow the money. It doesn't really matter anyway, we have a one party system here in the U.S. Each party packages their crap in a different colored box, but it's still just crap. I encourage you to get involved, but trying to figure out one particular candidates views is futile, as they are likely to change with the next big campaign contribution. Convincing people to identify themselves as 'republican' or 'democrat' or 'liberal' or 'conservative' is just a divide and conquer tactic.
If you have any additional questions, just ask. Also, It's a good thing to go early to the voting booths rather than later if you can.
Edited by - Double Edge on 21 October 2002 19:51:30
JeffT has good advice. I remember when I voted the first time. It was for a US President in the 80's. Boy was that a very strange adventure. I listened to the radio and TV and read articles pertaining to each person. It made me feel good, but I was sure shaking doing something that practically every other citizen does routinely when the time arrives.
Now, I'm an old pro. I do my research on the candidates and make my choice. That's what it's all about. Freedom of choice.
Voting makes me feel like I belong.......finally.
Sentinel
Freedom of choice,yeah. Would you rather be spat on or slapped?
The above comments about checking your state's web site are good ... some states like Oregon publish an in-depth voter book with full text of proposed ballot measures, pro and con statements by various parties, and of course infor on each candidate ... Illinois, where I now live, is piss poor with information.
You need to attend party meetings to determine what's going on. (I go to Republican meetings on ocassion) ... and in all states, those running for judicial seats are most difficult to vote for because they take a non-partisan position and they refuse to speak on issues under the banner of not wanting to appear biased ... so, I make sure I do not vote for judges who have been prosecutors or police officers, because they tend to be to harsh on the bench ... and I read what is published by the local bar association for endorsements, but I do not let that alone guide me.
Voting is a challenge ... and if in doubt, you can skip some candidates and your votes on the others positions will stilll count. You might attend various political party meetings to see which one more closely matches your political and social views. The reason I went Republican is because they are for limited government ... and after being a JW with all the heavy emphasis on a big central Kingdom government, I want as little government as possible ... also, I hate socialism and the Republicans tend to stay clear of that as much as possible ... however, the Democrats have some good points, and I listen to them for a balanced perspective ... Democrats tend to trust government more than business ... so, to make sure I am not being too trusting of big business, I like to see what the Dems say. But generally they do not represent my philospohy. I like Libertarians better then Republicans, but they are too smal and have yet to gain grass-roots support ... but, I am thinking of joining them and voting in that direction on principle ... as long as the Dems don't nominate a jackass like Clinton, then my protest Libertarian vote is fine ... but if they put up a jackass ... then I have to vote Republican to make sure the Dems don't win.
All in all ... our country is blessed with good leadership ... and I would not have minded a Gore presidency ... I think he and Bush are about evenly matched ... they are not as bad as some candidates we have had in the past. Have fun with it ... enjoy your civil right to vote ... and particiapte in the management of your government.
