My first vote ever in this election

[scapularkid8]

I’m tired of all the politics in politics

I’ve never even voted in an election before, this Presidential election will be my first one. The problem: I’m already a social and political cynic at age 18
so…
What are some online sources (preferably as neutral as possible) where I can study the basic platforms and national issues. I feel lost in anything that regards my own country’s politics. I’m almost embarassed that I couldn’t discuss any of the issues with people of any party because I don’t know them well enough.

Can somebody help me use my vote ethically, morally, and spiritually correct?

 

[rlg94086]

I’m tired of all the politics in politics

I’ve never even voted in an election before, this Presidential election will be my first one. The problem: I’m already a social and political cynic at age 18
so…
What are some online sources (preferably as neutral as possible) where I can study the basic platforms and national issues. I feel lost in anything that regards my own country’s politics. I’m almost embarassed that I couldn’t discuss any of the issues with people of any party because I don’t know them well enough.

Can somebody help me use my vote ethically, morally, and spiritually correct?

Read a couple of Catholic voting resources:
usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/FCStatement.pdf
caaction.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=95

…and use resources like Project Vote Smart:
votesmart.org/

There, you can look up voting records and stances on various issues.

 

[ribozyme]

I’m tired of all the politics in politics

I’ve never even voted in an election before, this Presidential election will be my first one. The problem: I’m already a social and political cynic at age 18
so…
What are some online sources (preferably as neutral as possible) where I can study the basic platforms and national issues. I feel lost in anything that regards my own country’s politics. I’m almost embarassed that I couldn’t discuss any of the issues with people of any party because I don’t know them well enough.

Can somebody help me use my vote ethically, morally, and spiritually correct?

Judging from your signature, I would say that it is too bad that there is no paleoconservative (or paleolibertarian) for you to vote for.

 

[scapularkid8]

Judging from your signature, I would say that it is too bad that there is no paleoconservative (or paleolibertarian) for you to vote for.

I’m more of a paleolibertarian than 'conservative…but I’m not necessarily either

 

[ribozyme]

I’m more of a paleolibertarian than 'conservative…but I’m not necessarily either

I do not know… but since most humans are not Popperian falsifiers (because of the omnipresent confirmation bias), I wish you good luck when you study Church doctrine and you look for aspects of it that confirms your political propensities.

 

[mapleoak]

I wish you good luck when you study Church doctrine and you look for aspects of it that confirms your political propensities.

Bad advice to follow here. One should align their political propensities with the sound and immutable teaching authority of Church. Always question your own propensities when they are in conflict with Church teaching.

 

[ribozyme]

Bad advice to follow here. One should align their political propensities with the sound and immutable teaching authority of Church. Always question your own propensities when they are in conflict with Church teaching.

Do you honestly think most Catholics will do that? Most people probably do not study Church doctrine to challenge their own ethical beliefs, but merely to confirm them.

 

[Ender]

What are some online sources (preferably as neutral as possible) where I can study the basic platforms and national issues.

I don’t think you need to restrict yourself to neutral sources so long as you understand the biases of the source. In fact, I think it’s probably better if you seek out information that is strongly biased: this is where you will find the strongest presentation of one position as well as the strongest challenges to its opposite number.

If you want to know the conservative arguments read National Review, for the liberal side try The New Republic. Normally almost all of the information you receive will be biased and you need to learn how to identify it and separate fact from opinion, to distinguish between good arguments and bad ones. There is nothing wrong with “bias” - so long as it is out in the open. It simply means someone has made a choice between two options and is willing to tell you why.

Ender

 

[vz71]

Do you honestly think most Catholics will do that? Most people probably do not study Church doctrine to challenge their own ethical beliefs, but merely to confirm them.

Fortunately morality is not dictated by a majority vote.

Whether or not other Catholics do that it is sound advice.

 

[scapularkid8]

I don’t think you need to restrict yourself to neutral sources so long as you understand the biases of the source. In fact, I think it’s probably better if you seek out information that is strongly biased: this is where you will find the strongest presentation of one position as well as the strongest challenges to its opposite number.

If you want to know the conservative arguments read National Review, for the liberal side try The New Republic. Normally almost all of the information you receive will be biased and you need to learn how to identify it and separate fact from opinion, to distinguish between good arguments and bad ones. There is nothing wrong with “bias” - so long as it is out in the open. It simply means someone has made a choice between two options and is willing to tell you why.

Ender

That’s right. I never looked at it this way before. But the thing that makes me uneasy is that even their facts (statistics, polls, records, ect.) are manipulated to an extent in the way in which they collect them that I feel like I wouldn’t be servicing myself by looking at these…

 

[surfinpure]

That’s right. I never looked at it this way before. But the thing that makes me uneasy is that even their facts (statistics, polls, records, ect.) are manipulated to an extent in the way in which they collect them that I feel like I wouldn’t be servicing myself by looking at these…

You may find that the cynicism you mentioned will disappear in the presence of facts and good arguments. If you know Catholic teaching on moral and social issues (as well as proper prioritizing thereof, as JPII made it a point to do), you will be able to evaluate the candidates’ positions against that backdrop. I personally recommend the Catholic voter’s guide, which does not endorse a particular candidate, but gives a breakdown of the issues that greatly concern the Church at this time (as well as the sources to establish it).

Godspeed, and happy polling! :tiphat:

 

[Joe_5859]

I was a cynic at 18, too. It goes away after a while.

I think rlg’s post was the most helpful and I would second his recommendations.

This may be neither here nor there, but I would recommend not voting for a third party. I made that mistake my first presidential election (when I was 18) and I have regretted it ever since. (I guess I was idealistic enough to actually believe that a third party could win).

Yes, neither of the two major political parites are perfect (nor are the current candidates for each of those parites). But they are the only two that have a legitimate chance of winning. Like it or not, that is our current situation. Voting for a third party, or writing in a person is, IMO, a waste, and can be hurtful. IOW, a vote for a third party is a vote that is not going for the better of the two candidates that actually has a legitimate chance of winning. Thus, it can actually serve to help the worse of the two get into office.

Now, all of this is just my opinion, but I can no longer see the sense in voting for a third party (at least in a national election, local elections are a whole different story). In my mind, the task of us Catholics is to look at the candidates who have a legitimate chance of winning and pick the one who will do the least amount of evil. Anything else could be construed as cooperation with evil.

 

[scapularkid8]

Curiously enough, I made a promise to myself to never vote for a third party candidate for that exact reason

 

[Mark77]

I am so impressed with your sincerity!

While neither candidate is ideal or even acceptable, the lesser of two evils rule applies when dealing with any human endeavor…

It really comes down to the basics, all politics and posturing aside.

I agree totally with the idea of changing the corrupt and self-serving establishment. The only problem is that the one candidate that promises change is likely to change the one thing that really matters, the protection of the lives of the most innocent, the unborn.

I challenge you to examine the voting records of the two candidates with respect to abortion.

You will find one supports abortion, or “choice” as it is referred to in the PC propaganda of our society, with a 100% rating.

His wife, an attorney, wrote a letter to support her husband’s 2004 senate campaign, which not only supported abortion, but went on to support partial-birth abortion, the killing of a live baby that survived a botched abortion.

According to an article by Steven ErteltI, in LifeNews.com, May 21, 2008; "The letter contends that the federal ban on partial-birth abortions ‘is clearly unconstitutional and ’ a flawed law’. Though the 3 day long procedure involves the partial birth of a baby during the middle trimester of pregnancy and the jamming of scissors into the back of her neck to kill her, (the candidate’s wife) describes it as “legitimate medicine”.

The other candidate, in contrast, has voted 100% against abortion.
He and his wife adopted a medically challenged and abandoned baby from one of Mother Theresa’s shelters.

It is really pretty easy. Listen to your heart, no statistics or polls can deny the truth.

Don’t let the fact that none of us are perfect discourage you.

The men Jesus chose and taught first hand as his apostles, to continue his mission here on earth, were flawed.

You are in my prayers!

Mark

 

[Ender]

But the thing that makes me uneasy is that even their facts (statistics, polls, records, ect.) are manipulated to an extent in the way in which they collect them that I feel like I wouldn’t be servicing myself by looking at these…

Yes they are and you need to be able to understand how it’s done and you won’t develop that skill by avoiding their arguments. This is why it’s helpful to read both sides to see how each deals with the other’s arguments - and “facts”. You’ll see the same things on this board: people differ strongly over different issues and present facts, statistics, and reasons to support their positions and you have to be able to wade through it and uncover the key points that lead you to decide which position is more defensible.

Ender