The news last week reported a substantial increase in voter registrations, and that should be a good thing. Now we just need to hope that these new voters, as well as all others, will take the responsibility to become informed on issues — local, national and foreign — and know the candidates’ stands. A few years ago it was interesting, though not surprising, when some voters in Schenectady thought there were problems with the voting machine because Kirsten Gillibrand and John Sweeney were not on the ballot; that congressional seat does not encompass Schenectady! How can people vote responsibly when they don’t even know which candidates are in their communities until they have entered the voting booth? Many voters will cast their ballot based on phony stories and/or urban legends (Obama is Islamic i.e. same religion as Bin Laden; Palin wants to ban books). Some voters will vote not based on issues but exclusively because a candidate is a certain sex, race or creed; likewise other voters will discriminate against a candidate for the same reason, which is also not appropriate. Still other voters will choose a candidate merely because Oprah says so, or because NASCAR appears to endorse one over another. Some organizations or special interest groups, who often stand to gain, tell their members to vote a certain way. You are probably getting more campaign mail than junk mail right now. And the paid ads on TV, radio and Internet. Be sure to “read between the lines.” Beware of how candidates claim they lowered taxes, but neglect to include the fact that they raised fees resulting in a net increase out of your pocket. Learn how promises of the candidates will be carried out, what the ramifications are; if a candidate says he will save by cutting, does it really translate to shifting the cost to another level of government? Various groups ought to consider others. For example, young people (which may make up the bulk of new voters) generally don’t have a clue as to how difficult things are for the elderly on fixed incomes. But often the older segment of the population may not understand the challenges of the younger population today. Lastly, remember that our government is supposed to be a system of checks and balances — the three branches, executive, legislative and judicial. Nov. 4 is quickly approaching: Become informed and vote.
A few years ago it was interesting, though not surprising, when some voters in Schenectady thought there were problems with the voting machine because Kirsten Gillibrand and John Sweeney were not on the ballot; that congressional seat does not encompass Schenectady!
This qoes WAY beyond knowinq and qettinq informed about votinq.....this has EVERYthinq to do with TV MEDIA.....AND THE SHEEPLE'S INABILITY TO differentiate between Mtv, paris hilton, spears, survivor etc.....SOMEONE PLLLLLLLEASE EDUMACATE US SHEEPLE.......conqress has fallen off it's rocker....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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