Every election cycle there are hundreds of articles, blogs and commercials all stressing the importance of voting. The message is often the same: you have the right to vote, don’t waste it. In the push to get more voters to polls they neglect the most important aspect of voting-getting informed on the issues.
It isn’t enough to just show up and vote, you’ve got to do your homework. I know, how dare you be expected to research a candidate’s political decisions, or read the FULL text of a proposition.
A recent Field poll (source) showed that although 47 percent of likely voters said they intended to vote yes, less than a fifth of likely voters have even heard of it. According to the poll, “Awareness of the initiative among likely voters is low. Just 18 percent report having seen or heard anything about the initiative prior to participating in the survey.”
Let’s get something straight voting is a right but more importantly it is a duty. Every year politicians make decisions that can affect our lives for years to come. And with California’s latest trend of using bonds to pay for every new construction plan, the proposition you vote yes on may cost the state money for the next 30 years.
Poll after poll show that voter awareness of the issues is usually limited. If the extent of your political knowledge comes from the political commercials that spin, and twist the issue with misinformation and even outright lies to influence your votes. Or if you are willing to vote a certain way because of people holding signs on Alessandro then do us all a favor and stay home.
It’d be great to see voter turnout in the high 90 percentile but the political process is better served by informed voters. So open up that voter guide and actually read the text of the amendments. Use your Internet to research the issues rather than looking at poor or playing mobster. It only takes few hours or your time to get informed and once you have, go vote and make your informed voice heard.
November 4, 2008
Don't be Disenfranchised!
by Jason LillardFlorida
Well if that's who Diddy's voting for...
This election has been one of the most emotionally charged contests in years. With a competition this fierce it makes sense that the candidates would court celebrity endorsements, but let's be honest do I really care who Sean Combs aka Diddy is voting for?
Obama, like most democratic candidates has received a lot of celebrity endorsements, including the biggest one of all, Oprah Winfrey.
Winfrey has never publicly endorsed a candidate before so many were questioning what the impact of her support would be. However, as usual when Winfrey speaks people listen.
When Winfrey made appearances with Obama during the primary season, the events often had to be moved to larger venues to accommodate the crowds.
During the general campaign Obama has appeared with Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder. He has also received endorsements from the biggest names in hip-hop including, Jay-Z, Beyonce and Diddy.
John McCain has his own all-star list of endorsements from Big and Rich, Kelsey Grammer and of course, Chuck Norris.
Apparently if you don't vote for McCain, Norris hunts you down "Walker: Texas Ranger" style.
The point is that while Americans are influenced by their favorite celebrities, am I going to vote for someone just because Winfrey tells me to?
Well I will, because I do whatever Winfrey says, but no one else should.
Obama, like most democratic candidates has received a lot of celebrity endorsements, including the biggest one of all, Oprah Winfrey.
Winfrey has never publicly endorsed a candidate before so many were questioning what the impact of her support would be. However, as usual when Winfrey speaks people listen.
When Winfrey made appearances with Obama during the primary season, the events often had to be moved to larger venues to accommodate the crowds.
During the general campaign Obama has appeared with Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder. He has also received endorsements from the biggest names in hip-hop including, Jay-Z, Beyonce and Diddy.
John McCain has his own all-star list of endorsements from Big and Rich, Kelsey Grammer and of course, Chuck Norris.
Apparently if you don't vote for McCain, Norris hunts you down "Walker: Texas Ranger" style.
The point is that while Americans are influenced by their favorite celebrities, am I going to vote for someone just because Winfrey tells me to?
Well I will, because I do whatever Winfrey says, but no one else should.
Election Night Playlists
Blender magazine recently polled both John McCain and Barack Obama to see what their favorite songs of all time were. The results are VERY interesting and may say a lot about each candidate. Especially McCain's No. 3 favorite song.
Obama's Favorite Songs
10) "Yes We Can"-will.i.am
9) "City of Blinding Lights"-U2
8) "Think"-Aretha Franklin
7) "You'd be so Easy to Love"-Frank Sinatra
6) "Touch the Sky"-Kanye West
5) "Sinnerman"-Nina Simone
4) "Gimmie Shelter"-The Rolling Stones
3) "I'm on Fire"-Bruce Springsteen
2) "What's Going On"-Marvin Gaye
1) "Ready or Not"-The Fugees
McCain's Favorite Songs
10) "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"-The Platters
9) "Sweet Caroline"-Neil Diamond
8) "I've Got You Under My Skin"-Frank Sinatra
7) "What A Wonderful World"-Louis Armstrong
6) "Good Vibrations"-The Beach Boys
5) "As Time Goes By"-Dooley Wilson
4) "If We Make It Through December"-Merle Haggard
3) "Take A Chance On Me"-Abba
2) "Blue Bayou"-Roy Orbison
1) "Dancing Queen"-Abba
Palin vs Journalism
Although she doesn't seem to demonstrate it, Gov. Sarah Palin actually has a Bachelor of Science degree in communication-journalism. According to the Associated Press:
Since she didn’t ever write for a newspaper or report as a real journalist, Palin isn’t technically a member of the "gotcha" media. This being the case, it may be easier to understand some of her major gaffes regarding journalism on the election trail.
When asked by CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric which magazines she reads, Palin responded "most of them...any of them that have been in front of me." When asked which ones specifically, Palin responded "all of them."
Although one might chalk this as-vague-as-possible answer to Palin not wanting to reveal a biased world-view, Palin couldn’t even name an objective source of news such as the Associated Press, or balance two biased sources such as The Los Angeles Times and The New York Post. The most logical answer would be that she reads the major Alaskan newspapers, and she didn’t venture as far as to say that.
A much more scathing misunderstanding of journalism would have to be Palin's comments on the First Amendment. According to ABC News.
Somewhere between journalism class and swearing an oath to uphold the constitution, one would think that someone would have taken the time to explain to Sarah Palin the purpose of the First Amendment. The First Amendment was not established to protect politicians from the media; in fact, the exact opposite is true. The ability for the press to question the practices of politicians is a fundamental part of democracy and transparent government.
If Palin doesn't think that she should be criticized for running a negative campaign, shouldn’t she defend her campaign instead of attacking the free press that are questioning her? This is the playground equivalent of telling the teacher, "I called Billy ugly because you’re ugly."
This raises two very important questions in this election. Firstly, is someone that doesn’t understand the constitution more fit to defend it than, say, a constitutional lawyer? Secondly, what was Sarah Palin doing in college during her journalism classes?
The first tenant of journalism is that you have the right to be a journalist.
Then she returned to Idaho (for college), for spring 1986, fall 1986 and spring 1987, when she graduated. Despite her journalism degree, she does not appear to have worked for the college newspaper or campus television station, school officials said. She worked briefly as a sportscaster for KTUU in Anchorage after she graduated college.
Since she didn’t ever write for a newspaper or report as a real journalist, Palin isn’t technically a member of the "gotcha" media. This being the case, it may be easier to understand some of her major gaffes regarding journalism on the election trail.
When asked by CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric which magazines she reads, Palin responded "most of them...any of them that have been in front of me." When asked which ones specifically, Palin responded "all of them."
Although one might chalk this as-vague-as-possible answer to Palin not wanting to reveal a biased world-view, Palin couldn’t even name an objective source of news such as the Associated Press, or balance two biased sources such as The Los Angeles Times and The New York Post. The most logical answer would be that she reads the major Alaskan newspapers, and she didn’t venture as far as to say that.
A much more scathing misunderstanding of journalism would have to be Palin's comments on the First Amendment. According to ABC News.
"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations," Palin told host Chris Plante, "then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media."
Somewhere between journalism class and swearing an oath to uphold the constitution, one would think that someone would have taken the time to explain to Sarah Palin the purpose of the First Amendment. The First Amendment was not established to protect politicians from the media; in fact, the exact opposite is true. The ability for the press to question the practices of politicians is a fundamental part of democracy and transparent government.
If Palin doesn't think that she should be criticized for running a negative campaign, shouldn’t she defend her campaign instead of attacking the free press that are questioning her? This is the playground equivalent of telling the teacher, "I called Billy ugly because you’re ugly."
This raises two very important questions in this election. Firstly, is someone that doesn’t understand the constitution more fit to defend it than, say, a constitutional lawyer? Secondly, what was Sarah Palin doing in college during her journalism classes?
The first tenant of journalism is that you have the right to be a journalist.
An unexpected response
As I checked the box marked Obama I had an unexpectantly emotional response. As an African-American, I never really thought the day would come when a black man had a legitimate chance at becoming president.
I also didn't think I would become emotional when the time came to actually cast my vote. I've known since day one that I would be voting for Obama, so I assumed I would just check a box and move on.
But when I was standing in the voting booth it suddenly hit me what a monumetous occasion this was.
I'm generally a cynical person, especially when ot comes to politics, but for one brief moment I was overcome with hope and faith for the future.
I also didn't think I would become emotional when the time came to actually cast my vote. I've known since day one that I would be voting for Obama, so I assumed I would just check a box and move on.
But when I was standing in the voting booth it suddenly hit me what a monumetous occasion this was.
I'm generally a cynical person, especially when ot comes to politics, but for one brief moment I was overcome with hope and faith for the future.
Early morning voting observations
So I woke up early because I was afraid of long lines at my local polling place.
It was raining of course, a bad sign for sure I thought.
The first real thing I noticed was the house right next to the polling place had 10 "Yes on Prop. 8" signs all over the front yard. Nice way to get your point across to people voting.
My original expectation of long lines didn't happen. There were exactly two people ahead of me and it took less than 5 minutes to reach the front. It probably took less time than that to vote!
Another observation, for being 8 a.m. the poll workers were very friendly and organized. I think there was more trouble and waiting for the 2004 Presidential election.
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