Factcheck.org (A Non-Partisan Resource)

www.factcheck.org is a good resource to tap in order to get closer to the truth (or lies) behind all that is said during the presidential campaign.

If you must spend time at partisan sites such as www.meetbarackobama.com or www.therealmccain.com, I would suggest that you make sure to spend time at both camps. I believe it's in our nature (certainly in mine) to want to tap only those resources that affirm what we already believe, but if we really want to get a better perspective on our candidates, we must be open to both sides or pursue, as best as we can, non-partisan resources in order to rise above becoming lemmings to propaganda.

The Issues

I have heard supporters of both McCain and Obama deride the opposing candidate for not addressing the issues and for not explaining how he would lead regarding those issues. In my opinion, the issues are often complicated. As a result, going over the nitty gritty details of any plan is unfortuantely not a stragically advantageous move for either candidate in terms of winning votes. However, in this time of the internet, we are fortunate to have easy access to information beyond what the candidates choose to talk about on TV. Please use these sites below find out more about where each candidate stands on the issues:

Breakdown of Obama's positions/plans on issues from www.barackobama.com

Breakdown of McCain's positions/plans on issues from www.johnmccain.com

Comparison of differences on issues from the Wall Street Journal (arguably right-leaning publication)

Comparison of differences on issues from the Boston Globe (arguably left-leaning publication)

Participate!

Please participate by writing comments or posting directly to this site. If you are interested in posting directly, please contact me and I will add you as an author to this blog. You can also just email me what you would like posted and I will post on your behalf. My email address is joe(at)joechangmusic.com.

Please be sure to follow the "Ground Rules" before you post or comment.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Ground Rules

• Like we were taught in elementary school: listen not just so we can talk, but so we can understand. Read others' writings with an intent to learn from a potentially opposing perspective, not an intent to pick out soundbytes and accuse each other using statements taken out of context. (We'll leave that ugly game to campaign strategists.)
  
• Present facts, opinions, or disagreements respectfully. Let's talk to each other assuming we are all reasonable human beings, remembering that we are all Americans trying to move our country in what we feel is the right direction. That we surely have in common. This is a discussion about pragmatics: "What direction is best? How do we get there? Who is the best candidate to move us there?"

Why I Created OBAMACAIN

The most disturbing aspect of this election for me has not been a republican issue, or a democratic issue, but a US political culture issue. Along with many of you, I feel deeply saddened that in the process of electing a leader into our nation's highest office, our candidates' representative campaigns stoop to the lowest levels. Yes, we can argue which campaign is worse, but for me, that discussion would only distract us from the fact that at least in some way, both sides are guilty, and that ultimately, this is an American problem. Furthermore, due to what I believe is a failure of our education system to raise voters who have the capacity to think critically at a higher level, these embarrassingly dishonorable methods work on the majority of American voters. Solving this problem is beyond my ability, but I must do what I can to help rectify this situation.

As a result, I have started this blog and have invited Republicans and Democrats to participate in a reasonable discussion about this very important election. This is not a place for smear or misleading soundbites. This is not a place for tabloid-like attacks on either candidate or party. This is a place for reasonable people who exercise their patriotism by listening, learning, presenting their point of view respectfully, and getting closer to the truth behind what informs (or should inform) our votes. We will almost for sure not all agree. That is not the goal. But I believe we make progress if we understand better why we do not agree.

Because we will be discussing politics, perhaps it is unavoidable that active persuasion will be involved, but I ask that users approach this site with an eagerness to learn from each other. Questions are greatly encouraged, especially if they are asked in order to learn about an alternate perspective. If possible, I would like to invite passion, but not anger, into this discussion, as I believe the second causes us to become at least somewhat less rational and less willing to learn and understand each other. I sincerely hope this site will be productive and enlightening for everyone involved.