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The Post-Truth Era
Analysis by Alexa Dadson Historically, political decisions and debates have been informed by widely agreed-upon facts. However, as people increasingly use social media as a news source, and as journalistic institutions turn to sensationalism in order to compete, trust in sources formerly considered to be credible is decaying. Research institutions are accused of having political objectives or bias, adding to the widespread distrust. Disagreements over historical or scientific facts take up more time in political discussions than discourse about solutions to issues. This combination of factors has created a âpost-truth eraâ characterized by a deteriorating consensus around public truth claims. Post-truth denotes âcircumstances in which objective facts are less influential…
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Understanding the Electoral College Today
After each citizen votes individually, a group of electors called the Electoral College makes the final choice for president and vice president of the United States of America. The Constitution outlines that each state appoints a number of electors equal to its number of senators and representatives, with an amendment later adding the District of Columbia. (U.S. territories do not vote for the presidency, and, therefore, do not have representation in the Electoral College.) With 538 total electors, a presidential candidate needs the majority of votes, or 270, to win the election. The highest number of votes from a state is 54 (California) with the lowest tied at 3 (Alaska,…
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Principles Matter â Peace
This article is part of our Principled Voter series. Your vote is your voice. Use it to protect peace. âThe building of . . . peace is a bold and solemn purpose. To proclaim it is easy. To serve it will be hard. And to attain it, we must be aware of its full meaning â and ready to pay its full price.â â Dwight D Eisenhower At some point today you turned on a faucet and water flowed out. Access to that water is life giving, but you may take it for granted. You donât pay much for that water â you likely didnât lay the pipes, build the treatment…
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Principles Matter â Faith
This article is part of our Principled Voter series. Does faith have a role to play in politics? In a democracy, it does. But letâs be precise about what that means. âWe claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.â â Articles of Faith 1:11 Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our democracy, allowing people to live in civic harmony with one another without sacrificing their convictions. Throughout our history, religious leaders and faith communities have played crucial roles in building a more perfect union. The Constitution…
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Principles Matter â Freedom
This article is part of our Principled Voter series. A principled voter asks: Does this candidate value freedom? âFreedom is never absolute . . . it must always be contained within the framework of other peopleâs freedom.â â Eleanor Roosevelt What is freedom? Freedom is a balance between rights and responsibilities that allows each person and our democracy as a whole to flourish. In the United States, we enjoy civil liberties and political rights, and we are responsible to uphold those freedoms for others. What is at stake? The U.S. stands for freedom, offering citizens the right to âlife, liberty, and the pursuit of happinessâ and a government that represents and…
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Principles Matter â Equality
This article is part of our Principled Voter series. A principled voter asks: Does this candidate value equality? âWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.â â The Declaration of Independence What is equality? We are all “alike unto God.â Democracy puts equality into practice. Equality means every citizen can participate in the political process and has a right to freedom, peace, and justice â not just in word but in action. What is at stake? People matter. We all deserve to be treated…
