I voted today in the Hawaii primary election today via mail-in ballot. It's the first "local" election I've participated in since moving back to the US after an extended stay in Japan, and the experience was a bit unsettling. I work in finance and keep abreast of the news, so I'm WELL aware of everything going on in the national election conversation. However, I'm of the opinion that local elections will have a much more significant impact on my day-to-day life, so I try not to get too caught up in who the next president of the US will be. Unfortunately, there are SO MANY CANDIDATES for local office with such small campaign operations that's it's pretty hard to figure out who stands for what. I had to rely on this bio page in the local newspaper, which was horribly incomplete.
I guess I'll have to spend the next 2 years getting more familiar with local politics and politicians in general if I'm really going to feel like my vote counts for anything. Anyone else have similar experiences?
As someone from Hawaii as well, I know what you mean. Not like who you vote for really matters anyway... The local government doesn't do much in Hawaii...
Local elections now seem to be almost designed to provide as little info about the candidate as possible. Sometimes it's even hard to tell what party they are in.
And the press does little to help, especially with judges, may as well throw a coin up in the air to figure out their past.
Local politics is less partisan. My dad's a diehard republican, (Fuck you, dad,) but he'd vote for democrats in his town because he knew them and thought they were good people. I watch politics like other people watch sports, but the more local it gets, the less I care. Its the national conversation which gets me all fired up. But your right about local politics affecting you more, unless the president manages to start world war three.
I know what you mean. My brother and my dad are what I refer to as FOX radicalized Republicans, they wear permanent ear plugs. :)
I would have no problem voting for one of the more moderate Republicans, if any still exist. But currently trending left to offset the heavy right wing emphasis that has entrenched itself over the past 25 to 30 years.
Easy on your Dad, I'm sure he has his reasons ;-P I like the sports analogy. . . I couldn't care less about local prep football, but can't wait until opening day in the NFL. How do we make people care more about the politicians who will actually have an impact on their schools/roads/etc?
Totally agreed on the role of the press. . . that's why I was surprised how bad the coverage provided by the Star Advertiser was. They essentially acted as a filter, since not having a bio on their website instantly disqualified them from my due diligence. There's gotta be a better way to get this info out there, an ignorant electorate is a dangerous electorate!
I know what you mean if I do not know the candidate I usually don't vote for either for fear I may vote in the more evel of the two