(IntegrityTimes.com) – With a presidential election only weeks away, many undecided voters will soon be wondering how to pick their preferred candidate. With so much information and debate surrounding both parties, drowning out the noise can be difficult. Therefore, knowing what to look for in a candidate (presidential or otherwise) is hugely important.
Right or Left?
When it comes to politicians, this is often the first question on people’s minds. Are they liberal or conservative, progressive or traditional? A lot of detail can get lost in these kinds of black-and-white discussions, so it’s worth picking them apart.
An economically right-wing politician will generally promise lower taxes and less government intervention in business. According to their outlook, the free market is the most efficient framework for production, and capitalists should be left to their own devices. Such candidates usually also prioritize family values, the right to bear arms, and the right to life of the unborn.
Left-leaning candidates favor increasing taxes to provide greater social welfare and reduce income inequality. Leftist economic theory favors restricting the free market so that things like education and healthcare can receive more public funding. In terms of social values, the left campaigns for access to reproductive rights, tighter gun control, and the rights of the trans and nonbinary communities.
It’s important to remember that “left” and “right” are broad terms. Often, a single election contender will have both liberal and conservative policies. You should research every politician in a given election closely to see the exact policies they want to enact.
Specific Issues
Often, the defining point of an election will be a particular issue that does not relate to liberal or conservative political ideology. This is more common in state and local government elections.
The legalization of marijuana is a good example of this. While the pro-legalization lobby was traditionally considered hard-left, marijuana has now become a bipartisan issue in many areas. Many conservative candidates have benefited politically from backing legalization in their campaigns.
For democratically elected judiciary positions, issues like a candidate’s approach to sentencing and the death penalty might be defining factors. For city council positions and similar municipal roles, candidates’ positions on issues like policing and school funding might be the most important consideration.
Candidates should clearly state their positions on matters like these in their campaign literature. If you research the manifestos of everyone you consider voting for, you’ll likely have enough information to make confident decisions.
Regardless of who you vote for, it’s important to educate yourself on the issues and candidates. Living in the information age makes it easier to research electoral contenders, but it also makes it easier for them to deceive you. Use a diverse range of sources for news and analysis, and approach everything with a touch of skepticism.
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