How to Determine Who You Will Vote For in the 2008 Presidential Election

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By Alan Cohen
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Obama? McCain? Libertarian candidate? Green Party?

Voting for president is a right that all Americans should exercise. If the candidates took all the money that is being spent or negative ads and campaigning and spent that money to resolve all of the issues this country faces, life would be looking really good.

However, this is not going to happen so here are my tips to help you - not polls, campaign ads, talk radio, and so on but you determine who you will vote for.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Forget political parties. Look at the issues. Which candidate represents the views and values you believe in?
Step 2

You don't have to agree with everything a candidate believes in. You don't have to believe everything in a party's platform.

I'm a liberal who is conservative on spending, and like Libertarians, believe in the least amount of government as necessary.
Step 3

Concentrate on the major issues. Ignore the campaign ads and read the candidates' policy plans for the major issues that interest you. The candidates' websites and their party's websites offer PDFs of information.
Step 4

Read the opposing views. If a candidate is for something their literature will tell you why it is good. If a candidate is against something, their literature will tell you why it is bad. Read both views and make intelligent choices.
Step 5

Follow the money. Money talks! People and companies don't donate money to candidates whose views are against their interests. www.opensecrets.org is a good place to start.
Step 6

Read the intelligent political blogs. Forget the ones that rant and rave. Anyone can rant and rave. Their is no accountability on websites and blogs. However, the few and brave will offer intelligent opinions and information.
Step 7

Review information until election day. When you walk into the voting booth, forget the slogans and negative ads. Remember what you read and the opinions you developed. Vote with your mind.