What constitutes making an informed decision when it comes to democratic elections?

Question

I am a 22 year old who just graduated college. Ive always been interested in politics because I feel it is the only way that i can be heard and have my concerns addressed. I feel like I know more than my peers but when it comes to people outside of that I am juswt not imformed enough. There are so many issues and so much information to take in when it comes to American politics that I just dont know where to start. I wanted to be an informed voter and not one of those people who vote the way the a 5 min news story tells them too. I want my vote to reflect my opinions and ideas. So I am asking people who have had a little more experience at this than me to give me some pointers to wade through some of the b/s and be as informed as possible come election time.

Answer 1

Sorry but there is no fast way to do this, imo.

Read everything you can on every candidate, and try to compare and use your own judgment.

I have been following Ron Paul for over 20 years and true-ly believe he is the only candidate that will run the country according to the Constitution.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RonPaul2008/message/3023

You have to realize that, "We the People" actually ARE the government in the USA, and the elected officials are "Supposed" to answer to us, through our elected officials in congress & the senate.

I am ashamed to say I am a former member of the silent majority and never became involved in politics until I decided to try to get Ron Paul elected, recently.
Thank you!
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Answer 2

The first thing you should realize is that we do not live in a "democracy". America is a representative republic.
Second.....Don't waste your time on Presidential elections, The President is elected by an electoral college. This "election is just a red herring.
Third..... ALWAYS remember that the Congressman and Senator you vote into office has the power and authority to TAKE YOUR MONEY and property.
Personally, I won't vote for anyone who promises me something (as there are no guarantees, one man cannot promise anything unless 60% of the 535 members of the house and senate can concur)
Also something to look at if you have an incumbent in the election, is their voting record.This can be easily done at the Thomas House. Don't ever look at commercials for one or the other, they are typically mud slinging contest and nothing more. Also, I always suggest that you follow your own moral compass when making decisions. Mine is typically, How will this person if elected affect me. If he is pandering to welfare receipients and illegal immigrants, The I know that he is going to take MY money and give it to someone else....(They call it welfare) If He is pandering to the AARP crowd about social security, I know that he doesn't beleive I am individually intelligent enough to make my own fiscal decisions, so "The Government" must make them for me. And once they start talking about Tax Breaks "for the working class" I know his mind is closed to the idea of TRUE tax reform.....The National Retail Sales Tax ....also known as the FAIRTAX. If they are pandering to teachers unions and public school crowds, I know that they don't think I am a responsible enough parent to decide what school is BEST for MY child, and that a charter school or voucher system is out of the question.This is my personal method, feel free to develop your own.
On a local level, I generally go with voting history at council and commision meetings, and how receptive they are to local public, Party lines generally don't mean anything to me either. I consider myself conservative, But that doesn't mean I am a republican.
Something to think about...If you truly have a taste for politics, Why not run for a Council or Commision seat? It'll give you a good idea of the inner workins of Gov't. But be forewarned, It is a NASTY ordeal, have the stomach for it.
I hope this helps and good luck in the next election.

Answer 3

The best advice I can give you is when it comes to making an informed decision about a candidate, I would take a look at his or her history, take a look at what is important to you as a citizen and then take a look at what your candidate or list of candidates have to offer. In looking at their history I would be interested to know how they handle the small things becuase this gives an indication into their level of commitment.

The reason why I mention this is because it is very easy to use the large events to polarize a situation in one's favor for example a natural disaster occurs and on many occassions politicians look for ways to use this event for their benefit or they overlook it's impact to their detriment. However, the decisions that are made when no one else is watching when the TV cameras are turned off that is what needs to be addressed.

A good way to start is by finding out how you candidate has voted in the past. Is your candidate a pawn for big business on a national state and local level. Has you candidate ever taken any risks that would cause him to loose a position for the betterment of his constituency.

i find that in today's society making an informed decision has become much easier thatn it used to be because most information is available online you just have to know where to look. Then there is public radio and TV and CSPAN these are also great mediums when it comes to uncovering facts about what is and is not real.

Good Luck on you quest

Answer 4

Anymore, if I truly want to feel informed on a topic, I will reference at least 10 different sources for information. Also, I will always take into account the source's past bias when dealing with other topics. I then look for any common themes running throughout all the sources. I just do not trust anyone to report the facts anymore so I feel I must dig them out of the spin. In regards to political candidates, I look for their political positions that fall in line with mine and then look back through public records to see if their actions are consistent with their words. Mind you, I do not spend a ton of time doing this, but enough to feel comfortable with what I perceive as the truth.

Answer 5

First, make sure that you have the basic idea of how the government works (you do know that your vote doesn't even count, right?)-the HOR, Senate, Presidency, Local elections, party platforms, Supreme Court, state Congress, etc

Then, just get your political ideology straight: where do you stand when it comes to (heres a short list)

abortion
affirmative action
stem cell research
religion in schools
evolution
minority rights
immigration laws
feminism
ETC
(that was a short, civil-rights centered list)

While most people don't like the idea, I personally don't think that it can be much worse than Red Fox and Blue CNN; go on the internet and look up the canidates Campaign donations, their track record, watch debates, test your ideology (as in, listen to everyone's perspective), and finally

VOTE

but rememeber, even though it feels good, it doesn't mean s*

2000 took that to an even new level.


~~~best regards

Answer 6

You have to have a keen eye for the difference between facts and opinions. I'm reading Al Gore's book Assault on Reason now about how TV has created an unthinking, fear-motivated, and less literate society than when people got their information from books and reading.
Keep an independent mind and watch out for raving lunatics.
READ !!! and not just one sided arguments! A good reader can take in more info. from reading than from listening to someone talk.
Intelligent debate is what founded this country and made it great, but TV has replaced books for so many people no wonderr there are so many reactionaries.
Thomas Jefferson warned us a couple of centuries ago
"against the combination of religious dogma and governmental power." (Gore, pp.46,47)
NOT against having a faith, but against having a state-sanctioned religious authority.. Remember the separation of church and state??? I don't trust all these religious fanatics that seem to confuse GOP with GOD.