The country is in the last months of the tenure of our current President. For months now, as President Obama continues to run the country and finish out his Constitutional last 4 years, a whole new group of politicians and the like have been throwing their respective hats in the ring. Regardless of what you think of our current President, it is now up to us all to also make our own preparations. We must prepare ourselves for the choice of not only who’s next, but what’s next.
Many Americans make the decision of whom to vote for emotionally. Sore feelings about the incumbent, alignment with a particular political party, and personal feelings about a specific candidate drives our decisions giving the “who” more weight than the “what”. It should be stated that while you can like who the person is behind the political candidate, their platform and political views is what will dictate what they will do once in office. So, what can you do, before stepping into the voting booth and casting your vote? Try this:
- Watch the Debates. And, not just read the newsfeed of our friends and others to get their opinion on what was said. Hear it for yourself. Yes, they can be long and boring but they are rife with vital information. Whether on purpose or inadvertently, the candidates have a way of showing their hand. Candidates are asked hard questions whose answers shine light on their true agenda.
- Evaluate What’s Important. If there is a subject that is vital to your daily life or the lives of your loved ones, how a candidate will handle their power on that issue is of utmost importance when considering them as a candidate. To know if they are the candidate for you, you must first know what’s important to you. You can’t know if they come down on the right side of an issue, if you don’t know what issues matter to you, personally.
- Check Their Record. If they are currently in politics, check and see how they actually voted on issues important to you, and not just what they say is their position on the subject.
Many media outlets can be biased. While the news should be impartial, their reporting sometimes can be skewed and in favor of one candidate or political party. Their information can be a jumping off point, but do your own research to make the decision of whom will represent you in office. There is more than one political office which carries great power to affect our lives in America. Do you really want to make a decision on who gets that power without all of the facts? Arm yourself with knowledge, and take full part in the American political process! Happy voting.
