Archive: Opinions

Around this time of year people I happen to meet out and about ask me who is going to win the election.  I am flattered that they think I know, but the truth is I don't have a clue.  I do know who I think should win, but that is not something I prefer to share.  People make assumptions about who I support.  They are as often wrong as right.  But this year I have decided to tell you who I think you should vote for.

Yeah, nice editorial intro, but I am not going to name names.  You should vote for the best candidates who will best represent all of us.  You shouldn't vote for a Democrat because you are a Democrat, and you shouldn't vote for a Republican because you are a Republican.  Voting for the best candidate takes a little more work than that.  But isn't the leadership and direction of our community worth a little work?  They say if you don't vote you get the leaders you deserve.  I would add that if you don't know what the people you are voting for stand for and don't take their measure as a person, you are getting the leader you deserve, but maybe not the one I deserve.

So I think we owe it to each other to vote for the best candidates based on their approach to issues, their leadership style, and how much you learn that they will respond to constituents, if elected.

It would be convenient if that meant that if I look into these things, and you look into them, we would both vote for the same candidates.  Obviously that's just silly.  But I would rather support a leader I didn't vote for because the majority of my fellow voters made an informed decision than because the majority voted party line, or they voted on rumors they heard about the other guy, or because they believed everything the candidates said without checking to see if it were true.

That's why I like my 'ten questions' at election times -- where I ask each candidate in a contested race the same questions, and let you see the differences in their answers.  I think that's a good tool to help make an informed decision.  In some ways I have the advantage, because I can look them in the eye and see their faces as they respond.  The transcribed interviews are still a darn good tool.

I don't think that should be the end of your investigation.  If you get a chance you should talk to them, too, and not just the ones you think you support or should be supporting.  There is nothing wrong with a civil discourse with someone you disagree with.  Who knows, you might end up liking the person for the way they disagree, the way they discuss the issue, or because they have a nice smile.  (But don't vote for them because of their smile.  The other two are good reasons, but while a smile is nice, it's not the substance of an issue unless you are talking to a dentist).

So who should you vote for?  Take just a little bit of time to read the candidates' Web sites, their mailings, and interviews they may have given.  Some of them have been on WHCU and there may be podcasts.  Make your own decision.  Don't just accept someone else's because of a line on a ballot.

And, of course you should vote for the people I vote for.

If you agree they are the best candidates and can somehow divine who they are.

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