"Midterm ad spending could reach $3 billion" shout the headlines. This usually means the airwaves will be full of political ads until the elections in November. What does this mean? In a country where over one-quarter of the population does not know who America gained it's independence from (can you say England?) that means large numbers of the voting public are at risk. These are the same folks who, instead of spending 10 minutes to figure out which candidate truly matches their interests, listen to radio or tv ads to make a decision. Then they actually go and vote, very often against their own self-interests. And, don't forget the other "stories", the positions for judges and ballot initiatives. These judges are the ones who, in the future, could end up on the Supreme Court.
Being an American is an advantage but also requires certain responsibilities; please, do a little research before you hit that screen on voting day.
Check out these websites:
1. State & Federal Officeholders for 2010 (though it's a bit dated)
2. Project Vote Smart (type in your zip code; still missing voting record info)
3. Global Issues (how you vote will impact the world)
4. Influence Explorer (find out who's getting what money)
5. Judicial Elections (need for campaign reform on the state level)
6. IL State Bar Association (rates judicial candidates; look for your state bar if different)
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