Sunday, January 20, 2008

Politically Ingnorant

I should really be ashamed of myself. I haven't updated my voter registration in several years. My current voter card lists the address of our very first apartment when we got married three years ago. (That was three addresses and a couple of counties ago.) Yikes!

I was equally embarrassed when I realized that Florida's primary elections are being held later this month and I didn't have a clue who the candidates were other than Hillary and Obama, let alone the Republican party!

SO...this morning I purchased a newspaper. (You know, where they print out all the news stories for you so you don't have to do it yourself!) I spent a couple of hours happily thumbing through it.

There's a whole lot going on in this world that I had no idea about.

Like an art festival a few miles from here, an airstrike over Gaza, a local grant to provide restaurants with equipment that will reduce their use of water and electricity, reasons why I should (and should not) say "yes to Amendment 1!" and most importantly to me, information on the presidential candidates.

Last night I obtained the paperwork necessary to update my voter registration.

(Why is it you can renew your driver's license online, make payments for everything online, but you can't register to vote online?)

Anyhoo. Now that I know I will once again be a participating member in the government of our country, I decided I needed to educate myself about what is going on.

I'm WAAAAYYYY behind.

So I'm starting with baby steps. I read the feature in the paper that listed each candidate's strengths and weaknesses. The article gave a website for further election information, so I've been digging through that for awhile.

I feel much more informed now.

After 2 hours of reading up on election info, I can say with total confidence that for the moment, I am going to support John McCain.

That could change. It could easily change.

Because I am only 2 hours into my presidential education.

Thoughts, anyone?? Is there a website with objective information about each candidate and where they stand on issues?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good for you for getting educated. I couldn't vote for the candidate that I really wanted to since I am voter that is not affiliated with a particular party (some parties do not allow unaffiliated voters to vote in their primaries) but it was still empowering being able to vote.

Anonymous said...

I wish I could tell you of one, but I honestly don't know, and I'm totally leaning to one side and don't want to sway you....but good luck and good for you for being an informed voter!

Anonymous said...

I'm an American living in Germany (my husband is in the Army)...so I know next to nothing about what's going on either, as far as elections go. I will, however, educate myself before the elections this fall, and I'll be voting via absentee ballot.

We'll see...

(I linked over from Beck's place..)

Anonymous said...

GUINEVERE! I'm ashamed of you - not because you don't know what's going on politically, but because you already saw how to do this on my blog, and you even commented on it! Hahaha. Use the Minnesota Public Radio Select-A-Candidate page. It's awesome.

Anonymous said...

I also need to update my voter registration info. I haven't since I moved last year. I also am a bit ignorant of th political scene. I do have an idea on a person I will vote for, but my mind changes daily!

Anonymous said...

OK, I'm guilty too....I let my DH do the digging (cause I know we share views) and then I listen to him about what and who to vote for. I cannot stand it all...because it's gets so phony (in my opinion).

I AM registered...I will be voting "No" for Amendment 1 otherwise schools (and teachers) will suffer great losses!

As for my candidates, you and I are pretty much sitting in the same camp right now...but by election day...I could change.

Hugs,

Susan