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SusanofO -> RE: What life experiences have shaped your political point of view? (3/19/2007 3:35:01 AM)
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I always vote if there is a state or national election, and can only think of once since I was 18 when I coudn't get to the polls.
I have written my state reps in Congress, as well as state Senators, more than once, to protest the state of foster care and children awaiting foster care in my state, and also about what I saw at the time as a dearth of choices for some of the parents of these kids for available community mental health care (the situation has since improved a bit, as I was definitely not the only person writing letters about that situation).
*My age, and watching the performance in office of particular candidates over the years (I am 47), has definitley affected my political POV, as well as a few other things (listed here at the end of this post.)
*I am a registered Independent, who until a few years ago, was a Democrat. I just reached a point where I could see that (from my POV) there were sometimes candidates I appreciated more from either party, on a local and state level, so I changed my affiliation.
These days, I will try to ignore a candidate's party affiliation (but admit I can tend to lean towards Dems, but not always), and try to listen mostly to exactly what they are saying, if it goes further than what I consider a media "sound bite" (like if there is a debate on tv, or a lengthy interview with t candidate in a news magazine I read) to see what I can glean from that, as far as what they say their POV is on this or that issue.
On a local (and a national level) I can sometimes find myself speculating on how likely I may think it is that a candidate's proposed agenda has at least a fair chance to succeed, based on a political climate that may surround them once in office - depending on the issue in question, and whether I think it should succeed, or not (and even though this is undoubtedly hard to predict, and candidates can change their minds, and say things to appease voters during an election, etc.)
And even if I don't always do that, these thoughts have also sometimes influenced my vote, in one direction or another. But mostly it will be based on the candidate's positions on particular issues, or their proposed (and-or past apparent)general political agenda.
In doing that, I try to get a feel for whether that means they'll actually act on those agendas or beliefs for awhile (despite what they might say they will do, although that is a lot of the time, hard to predict).
I do my best to wade through what I consider "hype" and at the same time try to keep some faith that someone I vote for will follow through at least somewhat (if not more energetically) with their proposed agenda, if it is the reason I voted for them, although I realize compromise is built into the political system we have. If I feel very disappointed with the performance I see, I don't vote for an elected candidate twice (if they run again).
*I consider myself, overall, more of a "liberal" than a "conservative" although it depends on the area in question. When candidates and voters and citizens toss around those terms, I am never quite sure what they mean, in certain instances, and this seemed to cause both confusion and miscommunication re: Intent about a particular candidate's political agenda for me, at times (regardless of whether I think I intuitively "know" what they mean, and the candidate seems to think it is apparent what they mean).
*I live in a largely Republican state, but was raised in a family of social workers, teachers and attorneys, most of whom had an outlook that could be viewed as either Democrat or Independent, (w/one Republican exception and that person didn't become a Republican until well into mid-life). They also sometimes vigorously discussed politics (sometimes w/opposing POVs) and so I think that influenced my viewpoint, and possibly my interest-level.
*I am fairly materially comfortable at present, and have been for years, however I have been without health insurance more that once in my life, and also many, many moons ago was also homeless for a brief period, and those experiences definitely affected my political POV in that if I am going to identify or be attracted to a political an agenda, it is likelier it would be one for those in some sort of "underdog" position (but not always, it does depend on the situation).
- Susan
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