Do you believe that the choices made in Washington, D.C. affect families, neighborhoods and businesses every day? I do. It's one of the reasons that I think understanding the issues facing our nation every day is very important. For over a year and a half, various citizens have been campaigning for the office of President of the United States. Now (finally) we're only a few weeks away from casting ballots for the candidates. Beyond all of the polls, the hype and the nuances that sometimes are carried to an extreme -- do you know what the candidates stand for? Do you have a sense of their personal history, values and character? With the blitz of opinions, accusations and TV ads, it takes some investigation to get to the bottom of each candidate's record and true viewpoints.
Starting this Friday, September 26, is the first official presidential debate between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. It is an opportunity to hear the candidates speak for themselves and challenge one another. For people who just naturally love politics, this is almost like watching a prime time football matchup. For others, watching a political debate doesn't have quite the thrill. But if you are willing to think through the issues and wisely consider the decisions our nation faces, tuning in may be a good investment in our community and in our nation. All the publicity out there encouraging people to "vote" is of little value if we simply go to the ballot box without grappling with the issues facing the candidates, and our nation.
- Matt
