Over the next three weeks, an epic contest will be playing out across the country. No, not the baseball playoffs. And not the latest exploits of Donald Trump’s merry band of bottom-feeding “apprentices.”
For those of you who have been tuned out for the past year, on Nov. 2, the nation will be going to the polls to elect the president.
If you haven’t been paying attention, now is the time to start doing so. For anyone who still thinks elections don’t matter, just think how different the country would be today if Al Gore had won in 2000 (depending on your political stripes, that thought could inspire shudders or wistful smiles).
For the first time in years, voter registration has soared, and interest in the election is running high. It is not only our duty to make a choice, but we must make an informed one. Do a little research before you go to the polls. (We won’t preach about actually going to vote in this editorial, we’ll save that for later this month.)
Where to start? Well, there’s a debate tonight, and one next Wednesday. These are your best chance to see the candidates face off, debate the issues and lie about each other – as opposed to their doing it in TV ads and at rallies with crowds of supporters who cheer, boo and laugh in all the right places.
And read! There is a wealth of resources available in print and on the Web. The Washington Post and The New York Times both have extensive coverage of the candidates available on their Web sites and provide daily updates.
Last, but not least, talk to your friends. Some of the best ideas come from talking things over. Remember that volleyball/beer pong/street luge triathlon you and your buddies came up with? It’s kind of like that, only you can’t get arrested.
Your vote is important. Don’t let it go to waste by pulling the lever (well, pushing a button nowadays) with nothing but sound bites and ideology to guide you.
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