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Principles Matter — Democracy
This article is part of our Principled Voter series. A principled voter asks: Does this candidate preserve democracy? “Democratic governance affirms the worth of souls. As a society, we must guard against every social, political, and legal effort that seeks to deny anyone the right of self-determination. We are all equal before God.” — MWEG Official Statement What does democracy mean? Democracy is government by the people. In a democratic government, citizens have a voice in voting and lawmaking, and elected officials are accountable to them. We work together to build a society that reflects us all. In democratic systems, power and authority flow from the people. Power is distributed…
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Principles Matter — Unity
This article is part of our Principled Voter series. A principled voter asks: Does this candidate promote unity or division? E pluribus unum is a Latin phrase meaning “Out of many, one.” “The great peacemaker, the restorer of unity, is the one who finds a way to help people see the truth they share. That truth they share is always greater and more important to them than their differences.” — Henry B. Eyring What is unity? Unity isn’t conformity, and it isn’t oppression. It is a voluntary agreement among individuals to work together for a common cause. What is at stake? Democracies rely on cooperation and shared vision in order to function…
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Why Principles Matter
This article is part of our Principled Voter series. Does principle matter more than policy? In a democracy, it does. “Always vote for principle . . . and you may cherish the sweet reflection that your vote is never lost.” — John Quincy Adams Our country is unique. We are not defined by a common nationality, race, religion, or culture. Instead, we are held together — across our differences — by powerful ideas. “Sacred principles of the laws of nature,” like unity, democracy, equality, and freedom, are the sources of our strength, peace, and prosperity. They protect us. What is at risk when our political leaders undermine those principles in pursuit of…
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Media Literacy Election Toolkit
An informed citizenry is key to democracy and peacemaking. At MWEG, our goal is to help you find good information so you can make educated choices on Election Day. We hope this media literacy election toolkit will help you as you navigate 2024’s information landscape! Election-related information These are trusted, reliable sources of information about voting provided by either government or non-profit, nonpartisan organizations. Vote411BallotpediaFederal Election CommissionNational Conference of State Legislatures Fact-checking sites These sites can be helpful in verifying election-related news stories or social media posts. They are all reliable and either politically neutral or slightly left of center. AP News Fact CheckReuters Fact CheckFactCheck.orgPolitiFact MWEG resources Election questions:…
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Character Matters — Preparedness
This article is part of our Principled Voter series. A principled voter asks: Is this candidate prepared? “To each, there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.” — Winston Churchill What does it mean to be prepared? A principled voter knows that elections are not a game — and that good leaders must offer us more than a list of grievances. They vote to…
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Character Matters — Empathy
This article is part of our Principled Voter series. A principled voter asks: Is this candidate empathetic? “Democracy, in its essence and genius, is imaginative love for and identification with a community with which, much of the time and in many ways, one may be in profound disagreement.” — Marilynne Robinson What does it mean to be empathetic? A principled voter supports leaders who seek to understand and connect with those they represent — and not just people who vote for them. Empathetic leaders know their own experiences are not universal, so they make sincere efforts to understand how policies (or their absence) might affect all of their constituents. What is…
