Unless you have been living in a sock for the last year, you are probably aware that there is a presidential election rapidly approaching. As always, the age old debate between conservatives and liberals in this bipartisan nation rages on. The issues are basically the same – homeland security, oil, taxes, immigration, education, healthcare, etc. – but the people and the politics are new.
Every politician in every election uses their campaign to bolster his/her image while simultaneously defacing that of their opponent. Unfortunately, the media plays right into this tactic, spending more time discussing Obama’s “lipstick on a pig” comment than important subjects like how he plans to offer health insurance to all Americans if elected.
The media, which seems to have lost its sense of social responsibility, tailors its content to specific audiences, and most audiences are interested in topics that are entertaining rather than relevant. As a result, several Americans are ill informed on the stances their particular candidate takes on several issues and, thus, base their vote on their personality rather than their ideology, on their public image rather than their stance on the issues that matter.
I encourage all Americans to vote, but only if they know why they are voting. If people vote for Obama because P. Diddy tells them to, or for McCain because Rush Limbaugh is their only source of political commentary, then they might as well stay home on November 4.
Do your research. Don’t take this election lightly. The course that our nation takes over the next four years depends on the name you check in the voting booth this November.
To find out whom you really want to vote for in an unbiased fashion, take this quiz: http://www.speakout.com/VoteMatch/senate2006.asp?quiz=2008
Once you find the candidate whose views are most similar to your own, do some more research so that you have points to back up your views. Check out Obama’s and McCain’s views on the issues.
http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm
http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm
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