voting thoughts
Posted on 09. Sep, 2010 by Carrie in culture
words > JASON DILTS
By the time this issue is in your hands, Campaign 2010 will be in full swing. Candidates will be flooding the airwaves with advertisements, yard signs will be littered on every corner, and volunteers will be going door-to-door to promote their favorite contenders. We have some important choices to make this fall in regard to our state and federal governments, as well as key decisions to make next spring with city and school board elections. Party, ideology, and issues will all play into our decisions. Many people will be asking you to hire them for jobs. Yet, in a democracy, the most important job is being a voter. How do you, the voter, decipher the truth to choose the best applicant? You have to peel back the layers.
Let’s put aside parties and get to the heart of what really matters—motivation. Why is a candidate running for office? The best public servants are motivated by community development, positive energy, and giving back. They understand the importance of being involved in causes greater than themselves. They will have a personal story about why they care about the city they live in, and they will readily tell you what inspires them to make it better. They talk more about their own ideas and vision and less about their opponent.
Setting aside ideology and getting to the root of true values, consider how a candidate delivers their message. Candidates campaigning from an optimistic perspective will run a positive campaign centered on issues, ideas, and impact. They are more likely to buck their party if necessary to support polices that actually have practical impacts on people’s lives. Beware the mud, though! Candidates that spend more time talking to voters about why they shouldn’t vote for their opponent are usually empty on ideas. They use fear, anger, and anxiety to manipulate voters’ emotions. There’s a fine line between drawing a contrast and making an attack. Contrasts simply point out differences; attacks are personal in nature and often extreme in delivery. Any candidate who spends more time negating the opposition is a potential lawmaker who will likely spend more time obsessing over ideology rather than working to better their community.
Issues are important, but voters should go a step deeper and find out what a candidate’s personal experience is with any given matter. Every candidate talks about the need to create jobs, but how many candidates know what it’s like to have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet? Those who do are more likely to truly champion job growth and business development, because they know the consequences of a limited economy! Not every candidate will have a personal connection to every issue, and that’s ok. What is important, though, is sincerity. If a candidate isn’t familiar with a problem but expresses real willingness to learn and listen, take that candidate up on their offer. That’s how their personal experiences expand!
Voters must arm themselves with the truth when making their hiring decisions. There’s more legitimacy to be found in action than in talk. Go beyond party and ideology; look for authenticity in your candidates.
