Ignorance might be bliss, but when it comes time to vote, does ignorance get the job done?

In a media technology society, it’s amazing to me that this resource isn’t used more efficiently. Instead of educating the public on what Propositions and measures on the ballot actually mean and stand for, television time is used to hammer people with the “Vote Yes” “Vote No” information.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t know which way to go most of the time because I haven’t done my civic duty to research the measures at hand. Then again, although resources are available, they are not made public; you have to go out and find them yourself.

Is it possible that advertisers, organizations, and politicians don’t spend the time to inform the public of these political measures because all they care about is the vote? I’m sure the majority of you reading this would answer me with “Duh.” If this is true, that politicians could care less if citizens truly understood the details of each measure, then maybe ignorance is bliss, who knows?

I know that I am not educated enough to vote on the measures that will be seen on the ballot. To be quite honest, I am ashamed of that.

We have a responsibility to voice our opinion, and voting is one of the most effective ways to do so. If I continually choose to be ignorant and side with whomever I “like,” how will I ever be able to understand the nation that I am living in and the government I am living under?

Thursday niaght, I was amazed at how informed my classmates sitting around me were. During a normal conversation, politics quickly became the main topic, and it seemed everyone knew what was going on, except me. If you want to feel ignorant, that is a perfect situation to do so. Therefore, taking control of my responsibilities I took the time to surf the net and pull up a few web sites dedicated to educating the public on political measures for the upcoming election.

Let me tell you, finding information was not an easy task. But to ensure that I am not the only one uninformed, one of the more helpful Web sites was www.smartvoter.org. This site laid out all the propositions and issues for California in a very nonpartisan structure.

The background for each measure was laid out, in addition to what a “Yes” and “No” vote meant. If you are unsure which political party you are associated with, or need further information on the candidates running, I suggest visiting the Secretary of State’s web site: www.ss.ca.gov.

All the infoarly defined when you receive your absentee and voter registration packets in the mail.

Instead of shunning the political literature that comes through the mail or is dropped at your doorstep, I encourage and challenge everyone to take five minutes out of your day and become a little more informed about one issue. Ignorance is bliss only if you let it be. Choose to be informed and establish your own opinion on issues.