Ravenous Beauty: A Writer's Workshop

I’m burned out on politics right now (blame the early start of this Presidential race last year), but considering a decent chunk of the population is still undecided on who they’re going to vote for, I figure it’s good to post this.

www.ontheissues.org is a great website. They list how politicians have voted. Click on the Presidential candidates’ pictures on the homepage, scroll all the way to the bottom and read the summary of their views (or you can read the detailed version further up) and how they did on the Vote Match quiz—a quiz where you plug in your opinions on the issues and it’ll match you up, based on a percentage, with the candidates running for President (see here: http://www.speakout.com/VoteMatch/Pres2008.asp).

Don’t be surprised if you match up better with some no-namer rather than the big two.

Another good site is www.factcheck.org. Fact Check strives to be (and often succeeds in being) nonpartisan, meaning they’re not endorsed by any political party. They let people know if all those quips and smear ads are true (and yes, they have great summary pages, too).

Remember, no matter how bad you get crushed in debating with friends/crazy street corner guy, when you get in that voting booth and close the curtain, you get to vote however you want. Good luck, peeps.

Also, I just got done voting early.

It was quick and easy, but with only fifteen minutes to vote (and review), you better have you answers prepared beforehand. (Colorado has a monstrous ballot this year.)

Check your local newspaper site. They should have a ballot builder to help you figure out the local issues (on the Rocky Mountain News site there's a 'Read More' tab for each amendment, complete with proponents and opponents tabs) and who your local politicians are. Personally, I don't spend time researching all the judges. I vote them all out (since I don't believe any of them should have a lifetime position), but that's your call.

Also, be wary of the lingo. One of my local amendments (47) is FOR a PROHIBITION, so it ends up being this weird positive/negative dynamic where you have to vote the opposite way to get it right. Also, what an amendment 'intends' to do is not the same as what it will do. Language can be tricky.

Good luck peeps.