Regardless of your standing on the political party spectrum, you have surely heard talk about biased political talking points or have witnessed an impassioned speech that seemed to diverge from reality. As presidential campaign season gains traction in American society, I am calling on all of you to be critical consumers of political messages.
In order to make informed political opinions in the next few years, it is essential that you read minimally biased news sources about popularly contentious issues, such as immigration, reproductive rights, and taxation (among many other important topics). By doing so, you will be able to better establish your own views before you affiliate yourself with a political party or particular politician.
With said research under your belt, you can begin to analyze politicians’ speech. Is their political rhetoric logical and well researched? Do their talking points correspond to your own views? Do they rely on attack ads disproportionately to informative ones? Are they actually a strong candidate, or are they just incredibly well funded? All of these questions are of the utmost importance during this particular election season and every election season to come.
In the light of the coming presidential election, in which there is currently an incredibly large pool of eighteen candidates, here is a short list of ways to be an informed and effective voter, so that we can choose a president who will effectively represent the people of the United States.
- Read news articles from reliable sources. An excellent source for minimally biased information is www.nonprofitvote.org. They provide nonpartisan information about how to educate yourself on important issues in the media and how to get out to vote. To acquaint yourselves better with particular candidates and their stances, https://votesmart.org is an invaluable, nonpartisan resource.
- Actively listen to politicians speak and debate. Political rhetoric is nearly ubiquitous in all political speeches, particularly those related to the presidential campaign. Be aware of when a politician uses rhetoric to dodge particular questions and when they are direct and open. This can give you a sense on what issues they feel are contentious/ which issues they do not support.
- Research the means by which different candidates are raising money for their campaigns. Is a candidate using PAC funding, for example, or are they independently fundraising?
- Vote for candidates who express your views, not necessarily for those whose political party corresponds to your traditional party.
Use these tips to become a more informed citizen and voter. When the time to vote in the 2020 presidential election rolls around, you will be sufficiently informed to select a candidate based on facts and well-informed opinion. Happy campaign season!