
Vote with the mind, not with the heart
With the presidential election less than a week away, relentless campaigning and political discourse will soon be calming down. By now we have seen the advertisements, watched the debates, listened to the
speeches and been force-fed political discourse.
While all those things may be useful, the best way for Americans to make their vote truly count may be to forget all of it.
Instead of basing ones vote on increasingly hostile political banter, voters should take it upon themselves to do their own research on the issues and candidates in the election.
Every voter has an obligation to fulfill Tuesday one that is literally the essence of our democracy. While it may seem preachy to remind Americans what democracy is, its undeniable that many people will head to the voting booth without actually learning the platforms of the candidates or even understanding what the
amendments truly mean.
Still others dont go to the polls at all, choosing not to exercise their right to vote. In 2008, 58.2 percent of voting-age Americans cast a ballot for president, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Unfortunately, the way the political environment is presented to us makes it easy for political campaigns to appeal to the pathos or emotions of voters. The problem with this is that political discourse like campaign ads and political pundits and their commentary can skew a reasonable voters perception without having any basis on fact.
For example, when President Barack Obama said that former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney said, I would have let General Motors go bankrupt, he is misstating Romneys comment and making him out to be a ruthless
businessman, when the scenario is much more complicated. Similarly, one of Romneys ads states, (Obama) sold Chrysler to Italians who are going to build Jeeps in China, completely disregarding that Italian company Fiats merger with Chrysler helped the company become profitable again and had nothing to do with Fiats already-existing factories in China.
The issue is that rhetoric like this is often the only source of political information that people receive. Yet the information truly needed to cast an insightful vote is out there.
Anyone who plans to vote Nov. 6 should set aside at least 30 minutes or an hour this weekend to do some research. TiVo Honey Boo Boo or take the half time segment during a football game to do some research. Read through all of the candidates platforms and take the time to completely understand what the amendments mean. Forget about the how the hostile political environment has made you feel, and educate yourself to make an informed decision when casting your ballot.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More usforacle News Articles
- Fighting bombs with bombs: not an effective measure
- Become Facebook's consumer instead of its product
- Pharmaceutical companies must be held responsible for price-gouging
- Abortion reversal pill is not backed by credible evidence
Recent usforacle News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR USFORACLE

USF seeks outright lead in AAC against UCF By Sam Newlon, Asst. Sports Editor

Hypothetical student fee to fund on-campus stadium could also fund new... By Josh Fiallo, Sports Editor

Possible budget bill blowback: Marshall Student Center By Jesse Stokes, MANAGING EDITOR

Possible budget bill blowback: Center for Student Involvement By Maria Ranoni, NEWS EDITOR
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST USFORACLE NEWS
- USF seeks outright lead in AAC against UCF
- Hypothetical student fee to fund on-campus stadium could also fund new...
- Possible budget bill blowback: Marshall Student Center
- Possible budget bill blowback: Center for Student Involvement
- Fighting bombs with bombs: not an effective measure
- USF baseball beats UNF 7-1, sweeps season series
- On-campus stadium meets stage two of feasibility study: Surveying students...
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Home-Brewed Coffee That's As Good As It Gets
- Stop What You're Doing And Download These Free...
- It's Good To Be Prepared For Bad Weather
- The ABCs Of IBD Treatments
- Become Credit Savvy And Help Better Protect Your Identity
- Teen Driving Tips: Five Ways To Stay Sane
- Increasing IBD Patient Participation In Clinical Trials
- Empowering The Energy Leaders Of The Future
- What To Binge Watch
- Hearing Loss Need Not Be A Struggle For All Involved
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- A Simple Test to See If You're Up to Installing Your Own...
- This Subscription Box Helps People Do Good and Feel Good
- MovoCash Embraces Culture of Community
- Gifts to Give on Administrative Professionals Day
- How to Defeat A Clog
- American Winemaking Family Continues with Next Generation
- Boat Insurance Basics May Help You Stay Afloat
- Life's Biggest Moments Take Center Stage in New UP TV Series
- Scuba Diving Brings Health, Hope to Injured And Disabled
- 6 Tips for Baby's Immune Development
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Cengage Partners with Phi Theta Kappa Foundation to Offer Free Cengage Unlimited Subscriptions to College Students
- THE POPPY WAR
- Cosmopolitan Roots: Keynote and Q&A with Dr. Kwame Anthony Appiah
- CENGAGE AND REDSHELF STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP WITH CENGAGE UNLIMITED, INCLUSIVE ACCESS
- 4 Reasons Why You Should be Working for Avid4 Adventure