I don't know about you, but if I only looked at life through the lens of news headlines I'd think our world was made up of nothing but baby murderers, serial killers, fires, rapes, robberies, sexual abusers and, oh right, constant reminders that minorities are out to get Caucasians and rock their American Dream.
It's discouraging so little time and space is being dedicated to the upcoming election, which is only 12 weeks away. This is the time to research the candidates and tune into their message. This is the time to sort through voting records national, state and local. It's a time to formulate your questions for the candidates and their staffs.
Instead, we're stuck in a news cycle a recent Rachel Maddow guest appropriately labeled as a "bigotry blip." As usual, we've got politicians stirring pots of false information in an attempt to blind their base, convince us that we should be pitted against each other (when the truth is we're all more alike than different) while ignoring the real issues of today like how to break our oil addiction, how to pay off our debts and how to create jobs.
Of course, not all politicians are spinning the truth to suit their own needs. Unfortunately, those who attempt to focus on the issues don't get nearly as much media coverage as the ones who focus on things like degrading our First Amendment right to religious freedom or blaming immigrants for the nation's woes.
Here's the Charlotte Post's coverage of a recent political rally in the Q.C.:
N.C. Senator Malcolm Graham kicked of his general election campaign Tuesday night at the Gantt Center in Uptown Charlotte.But it couldve just as easily been a pep rally for Democrats in general.
Several elected officials including U.S. Reps. Mel Watt and Larry Kissell, and Grahams Senate colleagues Charlie Dannelley, Daniel Clodfetter and Majority Leader Martin Nesbitt were on hand to lend their support.
The guest of honor was U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn, who is from Grahams hometown, Charleston, S.C. Graham said that as a child, he was fascinated by Clyburns grassroots politics as he watched his mother volunteer on his campaign as a child.
Graham, who is seeking his fourth term as senator, will be running against Rep John Aneralla this November. He said that getting voters out to the polls during a non-presidential election can be a challenge, and he hopes voters see the bigger picture.
We have to get excited about whats about to happen in November with this election, said Graham. There has been a lot of talk about 2012, but 2012 begins today by making sure that when 2012 arrives, Democratic Party candidates and office holders are still in control.
Grahams campaign kickoff was about rallying support and votes not only for himself, but the entire party at the national, state, and local levels.
He said keeping a Democratic majority in Raleigh and Washington will be key for the nations recovery.
North Carolina, along with California and Texas, will have the largest budget deficit in the nation come 2011, he said. We dont want the Republicans dealing with that. They cant handle it.
Graham also cited revising the state tax code and redrawing district lines after the 2010 census as tasks that Democrats can be trusted with.
Thats why its so important that we go and vote, Graham said.
Read the rest of this article, by Michaela L. Duckett, here.
If you haven't already, find out how to register to vote here. The deadline to register is Oct. 8, but why wait when you can register now?
In North Carolina, registered voters must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the state for 30 days before the election, 18 years old on election day, not registered in any other state, and they can't be convicted felons (unless their rights of citizenship have been restored).
If you're already registered but need to update your information, you can do that here.
And, don't stop there. Set a reminder on your computer or phone now to vote on Nov. 2.
Don't think your vote counts? What if Al Gore had won in 2000?