Today's Blogsticker: Elections

USA: Best elections money can buy

Couldn't resist...I have fond memories of my great-grandfather (a lifelong, nearly religious old Southern Democrat) making phone calls during election season, and complaining the last year that he was actually putting a Republican into office because the Democrat had done him wrong. I never knew whether he just campaigned or bought candidates, but hey, there's a reason they call Kentucky counties 'little kingdoms'. My great-grandmother, on the other hand, was born into a world without a woman's right to vote, but only used it once in her life--to vote for a candidate her father wanted her to. Times have certainly changed.

Some of us were discussing our choices, and I came up with this:

I re-did the quiz from the SelectSmart website, because they sometimes change the issues (and they have recently, with more regarding Iraq or 9/11 security issues). I came out:

72% John Kerry (Democrat)
70% David Cobb (Green)
70% Ralph Nader (Independent)
61% Walt Brown (Socialist) [This is a friend's favourite]

so, really, I have a whole plethora of candidates to pick from. I have a lot of respect for Nader's consumer protection career, but I 1) do think his candidacy contributed to Bush's win in 2000 2) given how close the race is, I don't want to go independent in this election. I have to admit given the way things played out in 2000 and the closeness of this election, I'm a little ticked at Nader/ites, but then, it's his right to run, and their right to vote. But the closeness of the race was my main reason for not voting for Nader/Green last time, and it's still valid. I actually matched Dennis Kucinich much more than Kerry in the early part of the race, but it's unlikely he'll ever get elected, as he's too far on the Progressive Democrat side. (He was the one who wanted to establish a Department of Peace).

Unsurprisingly, I matched up with Bush only 24%.

Of course, the most important thing is to get out and vote, rather than who's voting for whom. And remember, if you have children, that taking them to vote with you can instil a positive sense of civic duty early on.

What I always have trouble with is finding information on the local and state elections, which have more impact on our daily lives. Here are a couple of links where you can check out platforms, etc.

Project Vote Smart (this one has a questionnaire that you can take where several candidates have also completed one and you can compare your answers with theirs--except that neither Bush nor Kerry filled one out)
The League of Women Voters' DemocracyNet (It allows you to put in your address and it gives you everything down to the state level)
Declare Yourself
and for Kentucky, KET's Election Coverage/Voter Education page

For local council races, there's some information in this article, but usually the Herald-Leader does a comparison right before the election (like maybe the Sunday paper before?)

And if you want a bit of humour, check out this candidate from the National Barking Spider Resurgence party. Yes. Really. And there's a list of the sheer numbers of people running for president/vice-president. Only 6 candidates are on our ballot, though.

Ever thought about running for a local office? Check out 'Taking the Plunge', a guide from the Kentucky League of Cities.

But regardless of how you feel about the various candidates, be sure to get out and vote and let your voice be heard. Remember, if you don't vote, you can't complain later. :)