Non-political Political Rant
Oct. 24th, 2008 12:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamflowerI'm not putting this behind a cut because I hope that other people might find something to think about in it.
This is a non-partisan rant, and does not necessarily apply to the Presidential race, although it could.
I am a newcomer to this state. While the selection for president is the main issue on the ballot for me, there are other races and issues that I will need to address. So I have been googling the various candidates for various offices, trying to find out what and whom I am supposed to be voting for. When you've lived somewhere for 30 years, this isn't usually necessary, but when you are a newbie, you have to start somewhere.
Now there are a lot of ways to make up your mind about a candidate. Straight party line is one, but even though I’m registered Dem, I’ve never voted a straight Democratic ticket since I turned 21 (I missed being able to vote at 18 by one election.) Or you could vote on what a candidate looks like, or how they wear their hair. You can even try to figure out the issues. But there’s only so much time to make a decision, and I’ve found one basis to make it on.
I will not vote for a candidate who makes the majority of his/her campaign consist of nasty personal attack ads. I have already made a decision for US senator on that basis, and there is another local office that I have also decided about on that basis. And I have decided on Representative based on the candidate’s completely positive ads: she does not so much as mention her opponent in *any* of her ads. She simply gives her qualifications. She has my vote. I don't even know which party she represents.
Furthermore, I will be sending a message to the campaigns of those whom I decided against on this basis, and tell them *why* I refused to vote for their candidate.
Politicians have a chance to win and educate new constituents, whether they are young people voting for the first time or long-time voters who have moved to a new area. They would do well to consider how easily negativism can lose them those votes.
If negative ads turn you off too, I encourage you to email the campaigns of those running them, and tell them why you are not voting for their candidate. Maybe if enough people do that, elections can get to be a little more civilized.
Personally, I think it would be kinder for them to stand in a field and beat one another with sticks until one of them gives up. At least that doesn’t drag their families and everyone else down too.
Okay, no more politics here. Back to your regularly scheduled hobbits.
This is a non-partisan rant, and does not necessarily apply to the Presidential race, although it could.
I am a newcomer to this state. While the selection for president is the main issue on the ballot for me, there are other races and issues that I will need to address. So I have been googling the various candidates for various offices, trying to find out what and whom I am supposed to be voting for. When you've lived somewhere for 30 years, this isn't usually necessary, but when you are a newbie, you have to start somewhere.
Now there are a lot of ways to make up your mind about a candidate. Straight party line is one, but even though I’m registered Dem, I’ve never voted a straight Democratic ticket since I turned 21 (I missed being able to vote at 18 by one election.) Or you could vote on what a candidate looks like, or how they wear their hair. You can even try to figure out the issues. But there’s only so much time to make a decision, and I’ve found one basis to make it on.
I will not vote for a candidate who makes the majority of his/her campaign consist of nasty personal attack ads. I have already made a decision for US senator on that basis, and there is another local office that I have also decided about on that basis. And I have decided on Representative based on the candidate’s completely positive ads: she does not so much as mention her opponent in *any* of her ads. She simply gives her qualifications. She has my vote. I don't even know which party she represents.
Furthermore, I will be sending a message to the campaigns of those whom I decided against on this basis, and tell them *why* I refused to vote for their candidate.
Politicians have a chance to win and educate new constituents, whether they are young people voting for the first time or long-time voters who have moved to a new area. They would do well to consider how easily negativism can lose them those votes.
If negative ads turn you off too, I encourage you to email the campaigns of those running them, and tell them why you are not voting for their candidate. Maybe if enough people do that, elections can get to be a little more civilized.
Personally, I think it would be kinder for them to stand in a field and beat one another with sticks until one of them gives up. At least that doesn’t drag their families and everyone else down too.
Okay, no more politics here. Back to your regularly scheduled hobbits.