Politico Coverage and the Voter or What I Learned this Election Year

(Posted Sunday, Oct. 19th)

We have been looking at articles from http://www.politico.com/ for a good chunk of the semester so far. Now, admist our technology and Internet addicted society, we repeatedly turn to online forums for political coverage. And, this has never been more true than it is now, during this historic election which is only a mere 16 days away. But, do these politically driven websites give us the information we need to cast an informed vote? This 5 foot tall, blonde democrat's answer: Maybe.

Articles that can be found on websites like Politico's main page definately can be informative when wanting some 2008 election coverage to read. However, with the speed at which new information can be uploaded and added to these pages, what was news yesterday may not be the same type of news featured there tomorrow. (Perhaps this is where the gloriousness of archiving abilities comes into play!)

Still, despite the fact that Politico does cover campaign coverage, no voter should limit themselves to one source of information. Sure, favoring a website or newspaper's site is fine. We all do it. What? You don't? LIAR. Anyway, you need to have a well-rounded wealth of information in order to make the decision that you deem best for yourself. Learn all you can by reading articles (NOT mass emails), watching the debates, researching on your own, talking to mentors, etc.

But, be careful, voters!! Single issue voting, identity voting, or voting based on information in mass emails is not the way to go. That kind of voting not only hurts you, but it hurts society as well. It only perpetuates the idea that our society is a small-minded, me-me-me nation. And, honestly, it makes you look intolerant, close minded and dumb. I don't care how you vote as long as your vote is cast because you believe this person is the best one for the job because of his qualifications and policies and ideas.

You have an obligation to yourself and your children, to be an informed voter!

I already know who I am voting for. I've known for a while. And, the more I learn about the candidates, the more my decision is strengthened.

This is what I've learned this election year:

• Vote!
• Encourage your friends to vote! Annoy the hell out of your friends who aren't registered!
• Don't wear jeans to a political rally in August.
• Take action: Walk door to door or call people to remind them to vote! DO something!
• Your family and friends may surprise you. Some will be good. Some will be bad, almost scary. But, they still love you.
• Learn all that you can, so that when your Republican parents and family harp on you for your decisions, you can articulate yourself as a well informed, issue-based voter.
• Talk to your truly undecided friends and family about why they should vote FOR the candidate you believe in, not why they should vote AGAINST the other.
• Be nice to those who don't agree with you. Otherwise, you're only as good as the ones who believe the bullshit they read in mass emails.
• It's okay to be a Democrat in a family of Republicans who think you're just young, ill-informed and easily swayed by "celebrity." You know yourself. You know you're still a good person with values and intergrity. Take comfort in the fact that you were able to grow into a young adult who is able to make his or her own decisions and stand up for his or her beliefs. You will do great things one day.