Educating Voters On Political Issues
JOIN MY JOURNEY OF LEARNING
AND DOING SPECIFIC ACTIONS
THAT MAKE OUR VOTES
AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY
MORE POWERFUL.
WELCOME
I 'm just one citizen wanting more influence to help our American government se.
Read on to see what got me fired up to get more power to my votes. I was frustrated by our political situation. Then I read a few political science books. This website and blog are my start for increasing the power of my votes--and I hope yours as well. Our goal is helping voters vote.
During Trump's impeachment, a famous person said about America, "We're better than this."
He is Elijah Cummings, the Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee as it investigated President Trump and produced the Articles of Impeachment. Cummings died in 2019 at the age of 68.
I have the time and inspiration to contribute to the political process.
In 2021, I found the guidance I needed to do interesting and constructive political activities, along with others, to do what we can as voting citizens. I've created this blog so others can read about things I discover and follow along with what I do. educating voters on political issues
inspired and motivated instead of disgusted with politics
For the past six years I've been distressed over American politics. A few years ago I began telling myself, "You only have one vote. Stop obsessing over the bad news. Just vote. Forget politics. Get on with your life."
In mid 2021 I saw a book with a compelling title: Politics Is For Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change.
Author Dr. Eitan Hersh is a professor of political science at Tufts University. His PhD is from Harvard. I first got the book from our local library and after reading it bought my own copy because it was and continues to be VERY inspiring.
SO, WHAT IS POLITICAL HOBBYISM ?
- It is consuming political news many hours each week for it's emotional effects, excitement, and drama.
- It is watching politics, but not doing any actual political work-- the kind of work which gets voters voting for the best politician to promote the voter's issues.
- It is usually voting for only the president but probably not for any state or local offices.
Dr. Hersh presents research showing that political hobbyism does not make a person more politically engaged and effective. Hobbyism tends to make them less effective because it burns time and churns up emotions but doesn't result in the hobbyist educating other voters on the issues or helping to insure they actually do vote.
Research on voting finds that people know they should vote but often do not.
Hersh writes that he was a political hobbyist. In fact, this interest led him to pursuing a political science career. Later, when he learned what successful, politically engaged persons did with their time and energy, he successfully used their methods and did acquire political power.
SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS POLITICAL POWER ?
- It is the number of votes a person can cause to be cast. There many ways to influence potential voters to actually vote.
- In some situations, a person with political power knows how many of the voters he influences will cast their vote in the preferred direction.
- The political work goes on in the years and months before an election.
In Politics Is For Power, the reader will find fascinating stories of average men and women who gained political power to help the voters whom they served. They sought and achieved political influence.
Display reads "Selfless Courage"
This picture is the entrance to the
Montgomery County Veterans Memorial park.
To stroll here and read the displays is a deeply moving experience of respect and thankfulness for those who fought and died at war for the United States of America.
Inscribed on the monument is,
"A GIFT TO THE NATION."