| by anonymous | 10/13/08 | 48 views |
There is no doubt that the upcoming presidential election is a big deal. I have heard the names Obama and McCain in every context from my classes to my grandmother's kitchen table. This is a great opportunity to be active in politics. As glad as I am to hear everyone willing to participate in this election, some comments people make are startling. These narrow-minded polar views, regardless of political affiliation, make me fear how people decide who to vote for. Again, it’s exciting to have so many people interested in our country's future, but more important than this excitement is being informed. In light of this, I have constructed a list of bad reasons to choose who to vote for.
1. They are winning in the polls. Polls can be skewed and twisted. Besides, didn't your mother ever ask you "if Susie jumped off a bridge, would you?"
2. You didn't like something that a political ad pointed out about a candidate, so you plan to vote for his opponent. Although the fact is most likely true, it is also most likely taken out of context. Think about all the things you say throughout the day that if taken out of context, could make you look awful.
3. You want to see one of the candidate’s plans in action. As much as we would like to believe that everything these candidates say will happen, many of them won't. We live in a democracy, not a dictatorship. What the president "says," doesn't always "go."
4. You are voting according to the party you associate with. It’s important to consider the other side, no matter how loyal you are to your political party.
5. You heard something about the candidate's personal life that you didn't like, so you will vote for his opponent. Keep in mind that every culture and family is different, and anything extremely drastic would have prevented them from making it this far. Also, keep in mind, facts are facts, but context is important to consider.
In contrast to these reasons, you should vote for someone based on his overall platform and character. Face it: you will not understand all the jargon that the candidates spit out during a debate. However, if the overall picture they paint for the future of the United States is something you agree with, that's a great reason to vote. To be honest, I am voting Democrat, but I would rather more informed voters choose to vote McCain than have more uninformed narrow-minded votes for Obama. So this election, get out there and vote, but also, remember that voting is a responsibility-so know the facts.
Photograph courtesy of "New York Times"
     
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University of Delaware
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