On the off chance that you haven’t noticed, it’s election season once again. And even though we’re more than a year away from Election Day 2016, storylines from the lead-up to the Democratic and Republican primaries are starting to dominate news coverage.
There’s good reason for this. Running for President of the United States is the most grueling, taxing and important job interview these powerful people will ever endure. It’s our job as responsible Americans to be informed voters and participate in our democracy.
Of course, some don’t feel they need to pay attention. They’ll just vote down the party line as they always have. But earlier this year, a Gallup poll revealed that those who identify as “Independent” now make up a record 42 percent of the voting electorate. That means close to half of the voters in next year’s election likely haven’t made up their mind which party—much less which candidate—for whom they’ll vote.
So, whether you want to help Donald Trump make America great again, or if you feel the Bern (or support any of the other dozen-plus worthy candidates), we hope these tips will help you have an enjoyable election season.
Keep it Civil
Just because you believe your oft-Facebooking relative’s political views are misguided doesn’t necessarily make them an idiot. If someone has their heels dug in and refuses to acknowledge the other side of the conversation, they’re probably not going to change their minds because of your insults. Folks who would describe their views with the word “staunch” may spark a heated conversation, but it often veers from intelligent discourse.
Check the Facts
Believe it or not, sometimes politicians lie. Often it starts with simple omission. Then, it’s a subtle bending of the truth or convenient interpretation of certain statistics or studies. Other times, they’ll downright lie to your face like a three-year-old with a chocolate-covered mouth insisting he doesn’t know who took the chocolate.
Websites like Factcheck.org and Politifact.com can be your best friend when it comes to separating truth from fiction. These sites aim to be agenda-less, and seek to give an unbiased, fact-based analysis of whether politicians are giving it to you straight.
Keep Your Emotions in Check
The adage, “Success isn’t permanent and failure isn’t fatal,” is often attributed to former NFL player and coach Mike Ditka. I think it certainly applies in the world of politics. Just because your candidate wins doesn’t mean the world’s ills will suddenly cease. And if your candidate loses, no asteroid will inexplicably change its course for planet earth.
I enjoyed my life as much during the Bush years (both presidents) as I did during the Clinton and now Obama administrations. Do I agree with every decision these men made? No. Do I let their actions affect my day-to-day happiness or my efforts to be a kinder human? Not at all.
Sure, tax rates, health care and military actions are just a few presidential duties that might impact our daily lives or those of our loved ones, but for the most part, a given president shouldn’t have sway over your ability (or effort) to be a good person.
Despite what some doomsdayers might tell you, after the November 8, 2016 election, the world will still turn on November 9.
