Think about this in the context of decision making: Is there anything anyone could say or do to get you to change your political party affiliation or preference for presidential candidate? What would it take?
As a person with generally moderate political views, there is a lot that someone could say to change my mind about voting. I feel that most Americans tend to be brand loyal to their political party or even their chosen candidate and therefore tend to make very nominal decisions about voting. I, however, need a lot of external information and a very good argument in favor of one candidate or the other could be enough to change my mind.
I can't speak about american presidential election because I am not directly concerned (even if I am interesting in the way that it is going on here in America) but I can compare with the french presidential election which occured on May 2012. I am brand loyal to one of the french political party but I am not narrow minded and i like debate and speak with people of the others parties. But this year in the context of economic crisis the choice have been really difficult in France and I used a lot of external information to make my choice. In this case I really payed attention of what my friends and my familly thought and I needed arguments of friends who are in the same kind of study than me (so same branch of profession in the futur) to convince me I will make the good choice or as contrary to change my mind. I attach importance of what my parents think too because I assume they have more experience in politics and economics than me and they can stand back regarding the current situation because of all economic and polical changes they lived through over the years. Moreover as they educated me I share some values with them and I have the feeling that I can count on them to help me in my choice.
Unlike Kelsey & Lucie, I am pretty opinionated about this coming election. I am a very strong Republican so I don't think anyone could change my mind on voting. Unfortunately, it goes back to the idea of confirmation bias that we discussed in class. I read articles and see clips that promote both sides of the issue but I only really take in what I want to. I tend to only hear or see what confirms that the Republican candidate is best. It's interesting to see how something like confirmation bias is not only rampant in consumer decisions but also in politics.
I am in the same boat as Amanda. While I would like to believe that I am open minded, when it comes to things such as the future of my country and how the people chosen to run it align with my beliefs, I am pretty set in my ways. I might have to disagree with you on the role confirmation bias plays. While I understand what you mean by believing only the conservative political adds, I do not think it would make a difference even if you did believe the liberal adds. I think a majority of things in life are flexible and can be swayed (this is where confirmation bias can be a factor)but in things such as presidential elections, where you are firmly committed to a belief in one way of life or another, I think that confirmation bias does not play a factor. Granted you choose not to believe the other adds, but even if you did, I would argue that they would be no where close enough to alter you belief and your vote. It is a very interesting topic though, and I wonder where on a scale of: not caring to willing to die for, confirmation bias actually plays a role where it affects the decision.
I find myself somewhere in the middle in relation to the other posts. As with most presidential elections (in my mind), both candidates this year bring many excellent ideas for reform to the table, while at the same time both also support some less desirable positions. No matter who I chose to vote for though, the best thing anyone, including myself, can do is be informed.
So when I think about the question regarding whether or not someone could present information which could switch my vote, I can't help but think about how I came to my decision in the first place. While I probably should say that I acquired my knowledge about the candidates from their political speeches and the news (which in part is true), honestly a large part of my decision on who I will vote for in this election is based on discussions/persuasion from friends and family. In general, if one of my friends, or especially one of my parents, expresses a opinion about a particular political issue (and can back that stance up with solid evidence), I am much more likely to adopt that view as my own than if I were to just read an article. No matter how compelling the article may be, it would take at least 10 of them (even if they were written by an expert in the field!) about one topic to persuade me the same way one 5 minute conversation with my dad would. I guess this speaks to the fact that I might place a higher value on the quality relationships in my life than I do trust in the news.
That being said, one thing that would help sway my vote is if either candidate could present a much more detailed plan about alleviating our country's massive debt. While both candidates describe broad, overarching plans, I think they would do well spending less time attacking one another's stances, and instead focus on the details of their own initiatives.
I agree with much of what Emily has expressed here, with regard to both her political affiliation as well as the large impact family has had on my political views. I do not think we are alone however, considering that pretty much all of my friends have the same general political ideology as their parents. As we have discussed in class, attitudes are stable and hard to change, and our attitudes (at least as a young voter) have been largely shaped by our upbringing.
I consider myself a moderate, and I do my best to stay informed. I watched the majority of both the RNC as well as the DNC, and I watch the news every morning. That being said, I feel like the majority of what I read, see, and hear is political propaganda. It's challenging to pull the facts out from the web of political spin. After every speech or debate, CNN, MSNBC, and FOX all take out their "fact-checkers," and they each manage to produce a completely different list of fact vs. fiction.
I also agree with Emily that the determinant attribute in this election is each candidate's economic plan...specifically how they are going to reduce the national debt and create an economic environment that will stimulate job creation.
I also agree with Emily’s post in respect to their comments on decision making and how that translates into political party affiliation. Similarly, I believe that my upbringing strongly influenced my political stance today. My parents are registered voting members of different political parties, yet they are not strongly tied. On certain, more controversial issues they share the same opinion even though it may go against the typical Democrat or Republican point of view. Growing up, I was exposed to both political parties values and essentially hold a moderate view point. I strive to remain educated on the candidates political platform and vote based on the individual instead of solely based on the political party ‘label.’ Therefore, since I am not strongly loyal to either side, I believe I could be more easily convinced to sway towards a certain political party in comparison to someone who had more grounded reasons to support a certain side. I also agree with Emily’s comment and believe that I, too, would be more quickly to change my political party affiliation and associate more closely with a party from either an explanation or supported reasoning from my parents rather than media personnel. I feel that a lot of the political party affiliations not only align with an individual’s beliefs and values, but also includes a significant amount of trust. Therefore, it makes sense that I would be more easily convinced from my parents’ standpoint instead of a strongly opinionated or biased media source. Political ties definitely play into the idea of personal branding and how we portray ourselves to our peers and society, overall. Therefore, I would be more likely to change my point of view for a reason that strongly agreed with my personal values which would also be reinforced and shared by my parents.
Like others have said I feel that growing up my parents had a large impact on my political views mainly because they would be my main source of news and current events so I would usually just borrow their views as my own. As I grew up and became more educated I formed my own ideas and beliefs becoming more critical of my parents. For this election I've tried to follow both parties stances and stay informed. Most recently I watched both Romney's Tampa RNC speech and Obama's Charlotte Democratic convention speech on TV. I was listening for exactly something that might change my preference for presidential candidate as I am fairly ambivalent toward either right now. I believe it's important to not only base a decision on a candidate's words but rather to closely examine his past deeds to see if his words actually hold up. I think that many people base their choice on one or two specific issues: abortion, gay marriage, healthcare, immigration, foreign policy and of course most importantly this year the economy. But really their promises and plans might just be meaningless words. So really for me I think actions speak louder than words although I'll probably check out the presidential debates in october before making my final decision.
I do not believe that there is anything that any candidate could say to draw my vote. They bring with them their own unique performance history. From the latter, one could ascertain their likely performance as the President. With that said, I think that a candidate would be more successful if they used rational appeals.
Moreover, I don't find it an entirely honorable process. An incumbent seems to compulsively seek a second term. Whereas the challenger seems to want to get their foot in the door, so that they can compulsively seek a second term. To do so, the muck raking advertisements and the embellished campaigns fly out of control.
How many celebrities, media darlings, pop stars does it take to win the presidency for any candidate? With any of these displays, how can one make an informed decision with these emotional appeals?
However, emotional appeals have a heavier impact than rational appeals. So, please carry on, Presidential Candidates.
"Democracy—the greatest form of government and we have two choices for who’s our leader. In fascism you only have one choice. That’s great. We have one more choice than the worst form of government.” -Colin Quinn, "Long Story Short", 2011
In this election, I don't feel that there's anything that might happen that can change my vote. I do have deeply held political leanings and consider myself well informed. Having said that I do feel that there are some things that the candidates can do to make me feel different about the choice I'm planning on making.
Politics is an interesting game to me. I've heard someone explain that presidential elections are no different than high school student council elections, except that the stakes are higher. I agree with this from the fact that politics is perception (not necessarily fact). That's why I like Sherri's question.
Not much will change my opinion for the presidential candidate. I've listened to each candidate & the respective conventions. Honestly, I don't think any candidate can fully deliver on their promises. For me, it's a matter of who will do the best on the overall good for the country. Also, I feel that local elections impact my life more than national elections. So I try to pay closer attention to what's going on in my backyard. I feel that I'm more compelled to change my political leanings in the local elections vs. the national elections.
I certainly tend to lean in one direction when it comes to politics. That being said, I have voted in both directions in the past. I typically try to narrow a list of topics down to 3 or 4 that I really care about, and then do my due diligence on those topics to decide which candidate is appropriate for my interests. Just like a consumer product, I have a list of attributes that I value, and whoever conveys to me that they can best deliver those attributes will get the "sale".
I feel as though I could be fairly easily persuaded politically. While I do have fairly strong opinions on certain political issues I am always willing to hear opposing views. I think its better to be open minded to both candidates for president as opposed to simply aligning with a parties particular candidate. Coming from a small conservative town in North Carolina, I have witnessed all my life persons who will only vote based on that affiliation with minimal knowledge of the parties views, plans, and ultimately if its the best choice for their economic situation.
I do not feel as though I have very strong ties to any one political party even though my parents have always been devout Republican. At this point, I am more concerned with the candidates agendas than I am about their affiliation. My problem is neither party is truly offering me the right mix of stances. I would vote for either party, if their candidate had a conservative economic stance and liberal social plans.
Unfortunately, this is unrealistic for today's political parties. I have been convinced by friends and family that the economy is a much greater issue. Social changes and interests cannot be easily managed without the financial, economic security to back them.
Also, historically social change is often initiated and carried through much more effectively from the bottom-up rather than from government intervention. Thus, I will not be moved from my political affiliation in this election. However, that does not mean that I could not be swayed at another time.
I agree with all of my classmate who have said family and friends whom they trust are much more likely to influence their decisions than any media source. I do not pay close attention to news and gossip about candidates because every source is biased. I much prefer to do my own research about the candidates and learn from respected piers about how that might affect our country in the long-term.
I believe older voters are more resilient to switching parties because they feel more deeply connected to those ideals. Political affiliation becomes part of ones identity the longer one has been associated with a party.
After reading the past posts, it's evident that the majority of us have grown up under the shadow of our parents' political affiliations and viewpoints. I am not different in that area and, like my classmates, respect the decisions of my parents. Under current circumstances, I cannot see a time when I would swtich who I associate with politically. That being said, my parents are relatively moderate - fiscal conservatives but socially progressive on (not all but most) issues. With regard to my decision making in this realm then, I am definitely habitual.
However, I have to wonder if that habitual decision making will change in the future. Currently, I am protected by the financial security of my parents and thus believe one thing. In a short time, I'll be on my own and it is possible that my own views will change in order to fit my decreased financial security. I think that this is a reality that is common in consumer behavior. There is always a WIFM "What's In It For Me?" aspect to decision-making. Ironically, in one of the most important decisions Americans can make, we carry that attitude forward (understandably) when the better question may be "What's in it for the whole country?"
I have a certain passion for politics and political participation. Because of this, I strive to be informed and intelligent about the party and candidates with whom I affiliate myself. Therefore, I am rather confident about my political opinions and beliefs, and I don't think that my opinions could be changed very easily.
As Shannon stated above, as consumers, we typically ask ourselves "What's in it for me?" However, I think that as citizens, the better and more important question is in fact "What's in it for the whole country?". This is the question that I try to ask myself when choosing a party or candidate. How will my decision increase the common good? At this point I heavily favor one candidate. However, if at any point before the election I thought that the opposing candidate or the opposing party could more effectively benefit the country as a whole, I think that it would be my duty as a citizen to vote for that candidate, regardless of my prior preferences or affiliations.
As for party affiliation, I could easily be swayed left or right within the moderate parties; however, given the two-party nature of U.S. politics I don't know that I could really choose one polar opposite side over the one I habitually have supported. What frustrates me is that we are so limited in our choices. To choose the middle is really just to do very little in decision making considering the rarity that a third-party is elected. With political decision making I know that the side I choose to support should be determined by "extended" decision making, but politics are so complicated with the issues in the consideration set being too many to be thoroughly educated on, and the choices limited. The result is feeling overwhelmed and frustrated and choosing the lesser of two "evils" (or goods if you see it that way). My mistrust in the media also influences me to habitually chose the side that my parents typically choose, so it would take a significant and influential person in my life to choose the other side. To completely change sides would require that side to change many of its core values. Ideally, I would have my one vote represent my wants/needs in hope that everyone votes with the same understanding of just voting to represent one's self to determine what is best for the most people; however, its just not that simple. In this election, I am more likely to not vote than to switch sides because the other side would never change what I consider some of the most important factors in my decision- the economy and healthcare policy. In general, I support limited government intervention for the economy and social matters. Although neither side does this in both types of affairs, the candidate that proves to be less of an interventionist economically gets my vote. If the economy is more efficient, social problems will be more easily resolved to represent the different needs of different chunks of the population within the country.
Like many other class members have commented, most of my political views come from how I was raised. With that said, however, I do attempt to stay as informed as possible so that I can make an intelligent choice for President(or other office). This can be difficult. With the 24-hour news networks constantly running political news, and blogs and internet sites playing a major role in how many people in our generation receive our news, it is hard to separate the truth from fiction. That makes me weary of making major changes in party affiliation without doing extensive research. Unfortunately, finding the time to do such research can be difficult. Does constant accessibility to news and the opinions of others help or hurt your understanding of political candidates and platforms?
As it has been stated above, I believe we are all heavily slated by the political affiliations that our families and close friends hold. While many of us strive to be as objective as humanly possible, even the evaluative criteria by which we judge candidates can be influenced by our upbringing and current social influences.
I personally am not very politically involved and have to admit that my biggest political influence is the satirist and host of the Daily Show Jon Stewart. While at first it sounds ridiculous, I think it's because he is one of the few people who has both the cojones and the public following to hold politicians accountable for their actions and claims. His show is also relatively objective (thought slightly left-leaning) compared to heavily biased (and traditionally right-leaning) news channels like Fox News.
I'm not the only one who has bought-in on the Jon Stewart brand either. Over 500,000 readers of the online magazine AskMen.com voted him the most influential man in America in 2010, 20 spots of ahead of President Obama. If Jon Stewart and his team poked enough holes in the platform of my preferential candidate, I'd give the alternate candidate a serious second consideration.
I always enjoy election time because I think it so interesting to hear views from different people and why people prefer one candidate over the other. While I consider myself a Republican and have always voted that way, I am sure at some point in my life I could be convinced to vote differently. Although I typically agree with the Republican candidate, I like to hear arguments from both sides and understand why each person holds his views. I don't think I would ever change my political party affiliation because my views on that are set, but I do think there could be times when I might possibly vote non-Republican. For example, in the 1984 presidential election, an overwhelming number of people voted for Ronald Reagan because he was such a strong candidate. There is no way that people who consider themselves Democrats did not vote for him, but in voting for him does not mean they had changed their political party affiliation. I think in situations like this, I might be swayed to vote against my party.
I agree with what a few people have said so far. I feel that I am not strongly tied to a particular party and therefore I go back and forth on my voting based on certain topics and issues that are the most important to me. "WIFM: What's in it for me?" really comes to life when I am making my political decisions. Although I am thinking about the benefits for others, in the end it comes down to what will affect me the most and what specifically I want. Most people develop strong political affiliations from their families, but in my case, one side is very strongly Republican, and the other is strongly Democrat. In all honestly, we don't talk that much about politics because it causes tension within the family. Because I get biased opinions from my family members, I mostly rely on the news and research to know more about the candidates although I still do listen to the comments that my family makes. This can cause some problems because it is hard to find the time to do all of this research. I think that I could be swayed by a close friend or family member on a certain issue as long as they had the research and information to back up their claims.
I feel that some sort of campaign might be able to sway my views on a topic or two, but I truly doubt I could be convinced to swing my support for a political party. In American politics, there is such an "us versus them" mentality, that emotions become so deeply involved and people begin reinforcing their own (possibly flawed) argument just to prove the other wrong. This issue often makes me think about the tactics used for political campaigns. For instance, how effective are negative, opponent-bashing commercials? When I see a candidate blatantly bashing another, I simply become more defensive, and convince myself even further that the other candidate is running without integrity.
I would agree with Adam on the ineffectiveness of political advertisements on television. I cannot believe the amount of "mudslinging" that has occurred thus far with the election. In my opinion, if the number of political advertisements criticizing the other candidate continues, it will be the downfall of what should be a respectable election process. These ads do nothing but make me distrust each candidate's campaign and their integrity.
Like many of my classmates, many of my political views have been shaped by explanations by my parents of how each candidates stances on issues could affect my life, and the lives of my family members. Like many, I consider myself socially liberal yet economically conservative, so I have tried to stay up to date with each candidates political views to make the most informed decision possible. I would agree that at times, the confirmation bias comes into play when I ignore certain pieces of news that do not support my beliefs or opinions of a certain candidate. After learning about the confirmation bias, however, I am recognizing the importance of paying attention to ALL news in order to fully shape my decision of a candidate, rather than just what confirms what I want to believe.
As a conservative, I believe in small government, low taxes and personal responsibility. I have remained loyal to the Republican Party because its platform has consistently aligned with my beliefs. My party affiliation made this specific decision to vote for Mitt Romney a low involvement decision, and I did not even consider the alternative.
While only about 4 – 6% of voters are still undecided, they are still the target of both campaigns' marketing effort. Until voters make a decision, they remain in stages that represent an opportunity for marketing to influence their final decision. This is why the Romney Campaign only makes phone calls to unaffiliated likely voters. The point of calling them is to see what stage of the decision making process they have reached. Whether they have decided or not will determine when and for what purpose they are called again. Those who respond to the survey with “I am definitely voting for Romney,” will receive “get out the vote” calls simply reminding them to vote. If the response is “I am definitely voting for Obama”, the voter will not be contacted again. If a voter is still undecided, the campaign will try to influence this individual with additional mailings, phone calls and television commercials.
Like many of you, I feel like neither candidate has adequately explained specific plans and policies to voters. Once the candidates have the opportunity to do this in the upcoming debates, they will hopefully be able to sway some of you undecided voters one way or the other.
Although I agree with each of my classmates comments, I tend to feel a little different. My parents beliefs and political preference is something I value and find important in my decision-making. However, in the case of the 2012 election I feel I am old enough to inform myself to make a decision on which candidate to vote for.
I feel the best decision-making tool in this case is knowledge and understanding current events. This election is crucial for the future of America and I am not taking my right to vote lightly. I am looking what is best for the country -- not what is best for me. I am looking for a politician to put this country back together and with the information I read and learn everyday, I will make that decision. Being informed about each presidential candidate is the best possible way to make a decision when voting.
With knowledge,I feel it is possible to sway others opinions because knowledge is power. Many people do not pay much attention to the news and read and/or listen to the crucial facts about this election. I know that I will not be swayed but hopefully with the knowledge I have I can help others understand what the right vote will be.
As I discussed in class before, I think that changing the minds of decided voters in this particular election relies on the party's influence on voters' post evaluation of Obama's first election. This may not be true for people who vote straight party lines no matter what, but it is certainly true for people who have recently begun to question their affiliation. Reelection elections rely heavily on voters' opinions on the conduct of the country for the last four years. That is inherently their post decision evaluation.
The Obama campaign has recently brought former President Clinton aboard; he offers a voice of experience and success. His reassurance will sway voters questioning their post decision evaluation, helping them decide that they made the right decision. In my opinion this reassurance will cause many people to strengthen their support for Obama to a level stronger than the party line supporters. Although they once questioned their support, their newly found support due to Clinton's persuasion enhanced their confirmation bias. They are now even more defensive of their original decision to elect Obama 4 years ago because they have now chosen to make that decision again.
From Romney's point of view, I believe his attack should include these people who originally voted for Obama but are now in doubt. They should not stick solely to people who did not vote before and still do not know for whom to vote.
After watching Michelle Obama's speech for the DNC, I was surprised at how much I trusted her words and how approachable she seemed. She shared with the audience a story of her life with Barack and truly capitalized on the presidents’ genuine motives for helping the US become a better nation. She remarked on his up-bringing and family environment when he was young; both aspects every US citizen could relate to. She stressed how the president fought for the “right thing to do” in his daily decision making, which directly relates to the chapter 2 in the book. A person’s positive ethical foundation is what makes them credible and also what makes them a great leader. Bringing her daughters into the speech made her more personable and showed that her and Barack and on the same quest as everyone else for the American Dream. Michelle spoke highly about how good of a person Barack is because he gives back to the community giving them the same advice that helped him achieve. One quote that resonated with me was that “success is about the difference you make in people’s lives.” She and Barack live by that motto daily for their family and also for the betterment of the US, but she also stresses that that should be the goal of each American person.
I think that this speech, although it did not specifically outline Obama's successes and plans for the future, it resonated with the audience because it stayed in their hearts. Every president is going to have critics, but a president who is humble enough to reflect and learn from their mistakes is the one that I want to see in office.
As a person with generally moderate political views, there is a lot that someone could say to change my mind about voting. I feel that most Americans tend to be brand loyal to their political party or even their chosen candidate and therefore tend to make very nominal decisions about voting. I, however, need a lot of external information and a very good argument in favor of one candidate or the other could be enough to change my mind.
ReplyDeleteI can't speak about american presidential election because I am not directly concerned (even if I am interesting in the way that it is going on here in America) but I can compare with the french presidential election which occured on May 2012.
ReplyDeleteI am brand loyal to one of the french political party but I am not narrow minded and i like debate and speak with people of the others parties. But this year in the context of economic crisis the choice have been really difficult in France and I used a lot of external information to make my choice. In this case I really payed attention of what my friends and my familly thought and I needed arguments of friends who are in the same kind of study than me (so same branch of profession in the futur) to convince me I will make the good choice or as contrary to change my mind. I attach importance of what my parents think too because I assume they have more experience in politics and economics than me and they can stand back regarding the current situation because of all economic and polical changes they lived through over the years. Moreover as they educated me I share some values with them and I have the feeling that I can count on them to help me in my choice.
Unlike Kelsey & Lucie, I am pretty opinionated about this coming election. I am a very strong Republican so I don't think anyone could change my mind on voting. Unfortunately, it goes back to the idea of confirmation bias that we discussed in class. I read articles and see clips that promote both sides of the issue but I only really take in what I want to. I tend to only hear or see what confirms that the Republican candidate is best. It's interesting to see how something like confirmation bias is not only rampant in consumer decisions but also in politics.
ReplyDeleteI am in the same boat as Amanda. While I would like to believe that I am open minded, when it comes to things such as the future of my country and how the people chosen to run it align with my beliefs, I am pretty set in my ways. I might have to disagree with you on the role confirmation bias plays. While I understand what you mean by believing only the conservative political adds, I do not think it would make a difference even if you did believe the liberal adds. I think a majority of things in life are flexible and can be swayed (this is where confirmation bias can be a factor)but in things such as presidential elections, where you are firmly committed to a belief in one way of life or another, I think that confirmation bias does not play a factor. Granted you choose not to believe the other adds, but even if you did, I would argue that they would be no where close enough to alter you belief and your vote. It is a very interesting topic though, and I wonder where on a scale of: not caring to willing to die for, confirmation bias actually plays a role where it affects the decision.
DeleteI find myself somewhere in the middle in relation to the other posts. As with most presidential elections (in my mind), both candidates this year bring many excellent ideas for reform to the table, while at the same time both also support some less desirable positions. No matter who I chose to vote for though, the best thing anyone, including myself, can do is be informed.
ReplyDeleteSo when I think about the question regarding whether or not someone could present information which could switch my vote, I can't help but think about how I came to my decision in the first place. While I probably should say that I acquired my knowledge about the candidates from their political speeches and the news (which in part is true), honestly a large part of my decision on who I will vote for in this election is based on discussions/persuasion from friends and family. In general, if one of my friends, or especially one of my parents, expresses a opinion about a particular political issue (and can back that stance up with solid evidence), I am much more likely to adopt that view as my own than if I were to just read an article. No matter how compelling the article may be, it would take at least 10 of them (even if they were written by an expert in the field!) about one topic to persuade me the same way one 5 minute conversation with my dad would. I guess this speaks to the fact that I might place a higher value on the quality relationships in my life than I do trust in the news.
That being said, one thing that would help sway my vote is if either candidate could present a much more detailed plan about alleviating our country's massive debt. While both candidates describe broad, overarching plans, I think they would do well spending less time attacking one another's stances, and instead focus on the details of their own initiatives.
I agree with much of what Emily has expressed here, with regard to both her political affiliation as well as the large impact family has had on my political views. I do not think we are alone however, considering that pretty much all of my friends have the same general political ideology as their parents. As we have discussed in class, attitudes are stable and hard to change, and our attitudes (at least as a young voter) have been largely shaped by our upbringing.
DeleteI consider myself a moderate, and I do my best to stay informed. I watched the majority of both the RNC as well as the DNC, and I watch the news every morning. That being said, I feel like the majority of what I read, see, and hear is political propaganda. It's challenging to pull the facts out from the web of political spin. After every speech or debate, CNN, MSNBC, and FOX all take out their "fact-checkers," and they each manage to produce a completely different list of fact vs. fiction.
I also agree with Emily that the determinant attribute in this election is each candidate's economic plan...specifically how they are going to reduce the national debt and create an economic environment that will stimulate job creation.
I also agree with Emily’s post in respect to their comments on decision making and how that translates into political party affiliation. Similarly, I believe that my upbringing strongly influenced my political stance today. My parents are registered voting members of different political parties, yet they are not strongly tied. On certain, more controversial issues they share the same opinion even though it may go against the typical Democrat or Republican point of view. Growing up, I was exposed to both political parties values and essentially hold a moderate view point. I strive to remain educated on the candidates political platform and vote based on the individual instead of solely based on the political party ‘label.’ Therefore, since I am not strongly loyal to either side, I believe I could be more easily convinced to sway towards a certain political party in comparison to someone who had more grounded reasons to support a certain side.
DeleteI also agree with Emily’s comment and believe that I, too, would be more quickly to change my political party affiliation and associate more closely with a party from either an explanation or supported reasoning from my parents rather than media personnel. I feel that a lot of the political party affiliations not only align with an individual’s beliefs and values, but also includes a significant amount of trust. Therefore, it makes sense that I would be more easily convinced from my parents’ standpoint instead of a strongly opinionated or biased media source. Political ties definitely play into the idea of personal branding and how we portray ourselves to our peers and society, overall. Therefore, I would be more likely to change my point of view for a reason that strongly agreed with my personal values which would also be reinforced and shared by my parents.
Like others have said I feel that growing up my parents had a large impact on my political views mainly because they would be my main source of news and current events so I would usually just borrow their views as my own. As I grew up and became more educated I formed my own ideas and beliefs becoming more critical of my parents. For this election I've tried to follow both parties stances and stay informed. Most recently I watched both Romney's Tampa RNC speech and Obama's Charlotte Democratic convention speech on TV. I was listening for exactly something that might change my preference for presidential candidate as I am fairly ambivalent toward either right now. I believe it's important to not only base a decision on a candidate's words but rather to closely examine his past deeds to see if his words actually hold up. I think that many people base their choice on one or two specific issues: abortion, gay marriage, healthcare, immigration, foreign policy and of course most importantly this year the economy. But really their promises and plans might just be meaningless words. So really for me I think actions speak louder than words although I'll probably check out the presidential debates in october before making my final decision.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that there is anything that any candidate could say to draw my vote. They bring with them their own unique performance history. From the latter, one could ascertain their likely performance as the President. With that said, I think that a candidate would be more successful if they used rational appeals.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, I don't find it an entirely honorable process. An incumbent seems to compulsively seek a second term. Whereas the challenger seems to want to get their foot in the door, so that they can compulsively seek a second term. To do so, the muck raking advertisements and the embellished campaigns fly out of control.
How many celebrities, media darlings, pop stars does it take to win the presidency for any candidate? With any of these displays, how can one make an informed decision with these emotional appeals?
However, emotional appeals have a heavier impact than rational appeals. So, please carry on, Presidential Candidates.
"Democracy—the greatest form of government and we have two choices for who’s our leader. In fascism you only have one choice. That’s great. We have one more choice than the worst form of government.” -Colin Quinn, "Long Story Short", 2011
In this election, I don't feel that there's anything that might happen that can change my vote. I do have deeply held political leanings and consider myself well informed. Having said that I do feel that there are some things that the candidates can do to make me feel different about the choice I'm planning on making.
ReplyDeletePolitics is an interesting game to me. I've heard someone explain that presidential elections are no different than high school student council elections, except that the stakes are higher. I agree with this from the fact that politics is perception (not necessarily fact). That's why I like Sherri's question.
Not much will change my opinion for the presidential candidate. I've listened to each candidate & the respective conventions. Honestly, I don't think any candidate can fully deliver on their promises. For me, it's a matter of who will do the best on the overall good for the country. Also, I feel that local elections impact my life more than national elections. So I try to pay closer attention to what's going on in my backyard. I feel that I'm more compelled to change my political leanings in the local elections vs. the national elections.
DeleteI certainly tend to lean in one direction when it comes to politics. That being said, I have voted in both directions in the past. I typically try to narrow a list of topics down to 3 or 4 that I really care about, and then do my due diligence on those topics to decide which candidate is appropriate for my interests. Just like a consumer product, I have a list of attributes that I value, and whoever conveys to me that they can best deliver those attributes will get the "sale".
DeleteI feel as though I could be fairly easily persuaded politically. While I do have fairly strong opinions on certain political issues I am always willing to hear opposing views. I think its better to be open minded to both candidates for president as opposed to simply aligning with a parties particular candidate. Coming from a small conservative town in North Carolina, I have witnessed all my life persons who will only vote based on that affiliation with minimal knowledge of the parties views, plans, and ultimately if its the best choice for their economic situation.
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ReplyDeleteI do not feel as though I have very strong ties to any one political party even though my parents have always been devout Republican. At this point, I am more concerned with the candidates agendas than I am about their affiliation. My problem is neither party is truly offering me the right mix of stances. I would vote for either party, if their candidate had a conservative economic stance and liberal social plans.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this is unrealistic for today's political parties. I have been convinced by friends and family that the economy is a much greater issue. Social changes and interests cannot be easily managed without the financial, economic security to back them.
Also, historically social change is often initiated and carried through much more effectively from the bottom-up rather than from government intervention. Thus, I will not be moved from my political affiliation in this election. However, that does not mean that I could not be swayed at another time.
I agree with all of my classmate who have said family and friends whom they trust are much more likely to influence their decisions than any media source. I do not pay close attention to news and gossip about candidates because every source is biased. I much prefer to do my own research about the candidates and learn from respected piers about how that might affect our country in the long-term.
I believe older voters are more resilient to switching parties because they feel more deeply connected to those ideals. Political affiliation becomes part of ones identity the longer one has been associated with a party.
After reading the past posts, it's evident that the majority of us have grown up under the shadow of our parents' political affiliations and viewpoints. I am not different in that area and, like my classmates, respect the decisions of my parents. Under current circumstances, I cannot see a time when I would swtich who I associate with politically. That being said, my parents are relatively moderate - fiscal conservatives but socially progressive on (not all but most) issues. With regard to my decision making in this realm then, I am definitely habitual.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have to wonder if that habitual decision making will change in the future. Currently, I am protected by the financial security of my parents and thus believe one thing. In a short time, I'll be on my own and it is possible that my own views will change in order to fit my decreased financial security. I think that this is a reality that is common in consumer behavior. There is always a WIFM "What's In It For Me?" aspect to decision-making. Ironically, in one of the most important decisions Americans can make, we carry that attitude forward (understandably) when the better question may be "What's in it for the whole country?"
I have a certain passion for politics and political participation. Because of this, I strive to be informed and intelligent about the party and candidates with whom I affiliate myself. Therefore, I am rather confident about my political opinions and beliefs, and I don't think that my opinions could be changed very easily.
ReplyDeleteAs Shannon stated above, as consumers, we typically ask ourselves "What's in it for me?" However, I think that as citizens, the better and more important question is in fact "What's in it for the whole country?". This is the question that I try to ask myself when choosing a party or candidate. How will my decision increase the common good? At this point I heavily favor one candidate. However, if at any point before the election I thought that the opposing candidate or the opposing party could more effectively benefit the country as a whole, I think that it would be my duty as a citizen to vote for that candidate, regardless of my prior preferences or affiliations.
As for party affiliation, I could easily be swayed left or right within the moderate parties; however, given the two-party nature of U.S. politics I don't know that I could really choose one polar opposite side over the one I habitually have supported. What frustrates me is that we are so limited in our choices. To choose the middle is really just to do very little in decision making considering the rarity that a third-party is elected. With political decision making I know that the side I choose to support should be determined by "extended" decision making, but politics are so complicated with the issues in the consideration set being too many to be thoroughly educated on, and the choices limited. The result is feeling overwhelmed and frustrated and choosing the lesser of two "evils" (or goods if you see it that way). My mistrust in the media also influences me to habitually chose the side that my parents typically choose, so it would take a significant and influential person in my life to choose the other side.
ReplyDeleteTo completely change sides would require that side to change many of its core values. Ideally, I would have my one vote represent my wants/needs in hope that everyone votes with the same understanding of just voting to represent one's self to determine what is best for the most people; however, its just not that simple. In this election, I am more likely to not vote than to switch sides because the other side would never change what I consider some of the most important factors in my decision- the economy and healthcare policy. In general, I support limited government intervention for the economy and social matters. Although neither side does this in both types of affairs, the candidate that proves to be less of an interventionist economically gets my vote. If the economy is more efficient, social problems will be more easily resolved to represent the different needs of different chunks of the population within the country.
Like many other class members have commented, most of my political views come from how I was raised. With that said, however, I do attempt to stay as informed as possible so that I can make an intelligent choice for President(or other office). This can be difficult. With the 24-hour news networks constantly running political news, and blogs and internet sites playing a major role in how many people in our generation receive our news, it is hard to separate the truth from fiction. That makes me weary of making major changes in party affiliation without doing extensive research. Unfortunately, finding the time to do such research can be difficult. Does constant accessibility to news and the opinions of others help or hurt your understanding of political candidates and platforms?
ReplyDeleteAs it has been stated above, I believe we are all heavily slated by the political affiliations that our families and close friends hold. While many of us strive to be as objective as humanly possible, even the evaluative criteria by which we judge candidates can be influenced by our upbringing and current social influences.
ReplyDeleteI personally am not very politically involved and have to admit that my biggest political influence is the satirist and host of the Daily Show Jon Stewart. While at first it sounds ridiculous, I think it's because he is one of the few people who has both the cojones and the public following to hold politicians accountable for their actions and claims. His show is also relatively objective (thought slightly left-leaning) compared to heavily biased (and traditionally right-leaning) news channels like Fox News.
I'm not the only one who has bought-in on the Jon Stewart brand either. Over 500,000 readers of the online magazine AskMen.com voted him the most influential man in America in 2010, 20 spots of ahead of President Obama. If Jon Stewart and his team poked enough holes in the platform of my preferential candidate, I'd give the alternate candidate a serious second consideration.
I always enjoy election time because I think it so interesting to hear views from different people and why people prefer one candidate over the other. While I consider myself a Republican and have always voted that way, I am sure at some point in my life I could be convinced to vote differently. Although I typically agree with the Republican candidate, I like to hear arguments from both sides and understand why each person holds his views. I don't think I would ever change my political party affiliation because my views on that are set, but I do think there could be times when I might possibly vote non-Republican. For example, in the 1984 presidential election, an overwhelming number of people voted for Ronald Reagan because he was such a strong candidate. There is no way that people who consider themselves Democrats did not vote for him, but in voting for him does not mean they had changed their political party affiliation. I think in situations like this, I might be swayed to vote against my party.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what a few people have said so far. I feel that I am not strongly tied to a particular party and therefore I go back and forth on my voting based on certain topics and issues that are the most important to me. "WIFM: What's in it for me?" really comes to life when I am making my political decisions. Although I am thinking about the benefits for others, in the end it comes down to what will affect me the most and what specifically I want. Most people develop strong political affiliations from their families, but in my case, one side is very strongly Republican, and the other is strongly Democrat. In all honestly, we don't talk that much about politics because it causes tension within the family. Because I get biased opinions from my family members, I mostly rely on the news and research to know more about the candidates although I still do listen to the comments that my family makes. This can cause some problems because it is hard to find the time to do all of this research. I think that I could be swayed by a close friend or family member on a certain issue as long as they had the research and information to back up their claims.
ReplyDeleteI feel that some sort of campaign might be able to sway my views on a topic or two, but I truly doubt I could be convinced to swing my support for a political party. In American politics, there is such an "us versus them" mentality, that emotions become so deeply involved and people begin reinforcing their own (possibly flawed) argument just to prove the other wrong. This issue often makes me think about the tactics used for political campaigns. For instance, how effective are negative, opponent-bashing commercials? When I see a candidate blatantly bashing another, I simply become more defensive, and convince myself even further that the other candidate is running without integrity.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Adam on the ineffectiveness of political advertisements on television. I cannot believe the amount of "mudslinging" that has occurred thus far with the election. In my opinion, if the number of political advertisements criticizing the other candidate continues, it will be the downfall of what should be a respectable election process. These ads do nothing but make me distrust each candidate's campaign and their integrity.
DeleteLike many of my classmates, many of my political views have been shaped by explanations by my parents of how each candidates stances on issues could affect my life, and the lives of my family members. Like many, I consider myself socially liberal yet economically conservative, so I have tried to stay up to date with each candidates political views to make the most informed decision possible. I would agree that at times, the confirmation bias comes into play when I ignore certain pieces of news that do not support my beliefs or opinions of a certain candidate. After learning about the confirmation bias, however, I am recognizing the importance of paying attention to ALL news in order to fully shape my decision of a candidate, rather than just what confirms what I want to believe.
As a conservative, I believe in small government, low taxes and personal responsibility. I have remained loyal to the Republican Party because its platform has consistently aligned with my beliefs. My party affiliation made this specific decision to vote for Mitt Romney a low involvement decision, and I did not even consider the alternative.
ReplyDeleteWhile only about 4 – 6% of voters are still undecided, they are still the target of both campaigns' marketing effort. Until voters make a decision, they remain in stages that represent an opportunity for marketing to influence their final decision. This is why the Romney Campaign only makes phone calls to unaffiliated likely voters. The point of calling them is to see what stage of the decision making process they have reached. Whether they have decided or not will determine when and for what purpose they are called again. Those who respond to the survey with “I am definitely voting for Romney,” will receive “get out the vote” calls simply reminding them to vote. If the response is “I am definitely voting for Obama”, the voter will not be contacted again. If a voter is still undecided, the campaign will try to influence this individual with additional mailings, phone calls and television commercials.
Like many of you, I feel like neither candidate has adequately explained specific plans and policies to voters. Once the candidates have the opportunity to do this in the upcoming debates, they will hopefully be able to sway some of you undecided voters one way or the other.
Although I agree with each of my classmates comments, I tend to feel a little different. My parents beliefs and political preference is something I value and find important in my decision-making. However, in the case of the 2012 election I feel I am old enough to inform myself to make a decision on which candidate to vote for.
ReplyDeleteI feel the best decision-making tool in this case is knowledge and understanding current events. This election is crucial for the future of America and I am not taking my right to vote lightly. I am looking what is best for the country -- not what is best for me. I am looking for a politician to put this country back together and with the information I read and learn everyday, I will make that decision. Being informed about each presidential candidate is the best possible way to make a decision when voting.
With knowledge,I feel it is possible to sway others opinions because knowledge is power. Many people do not pay much attention to the news and read and/or listen to the crucial facts about this election. I know that I will not be swayed but hopefully with the knowledge I have I can help others understand what the right vote will be.
As I discussed in class before, I think that changing the minds of decided voters in this particular election relies on the party's influence on voters' post evaluation of Obama's first election. This may not be true for people who vote straight party lines no matter what, but it is certainly true for people who have recently begun to question their affiliation. Reelection elections rely heavily on voters' opinions on the conduct of the country for the last four years. That is inherently their post decision evaluation.
ReplyDeleteThe Obama campaign has recently brought former President Clinton aboard; he offers a voice of experience and success. His reassurance will sway voters questioning their post decision evaluation, helping them decide that they made the right decision. In my opinion this reassurance will cause many people to strengthen their support for Obama to a level stronger than the party line supporters. Although they once questioned their support, their newly found support due to Clinton's persuasion enhanced their confirmation bias. They are now even more defensive of their original decision to elect Obama 4 years ago because they have now chosen to make that decision again.
From Romney's point of view, I believe his attack should include these people who originally voted for Obama but are now in doubt. They should not stick solely to people who did not vote before and still do not know for whom to vote.
After watching Michelle Obama's speech for the DNC, I was surprised at how much I trusted her words and how approachable she seemed. She shared with the audience a story of her life with Barack and truly capitalized on the presidents’ genuine motives for helping the US become a better nation. She remarked on his up-bringing and family environment when he was young; both aspects every US citizen could relate to. She stressed how the president fought for the “right thing to do” in his daily decision making, which directly relates to the chapter 2 in the book. A person’s positive ethical foundation is what makes them credible and also what makes them a great leader. Bringing her daughters into the speech made her more personable and showed that her and Barack and on the same quest as everyone else for the American Dream. Michelle spoke highly about how good of a person Barack is because he gives back to the community giving them the same advice that helped him achieve. One quote that resonated with me was that “success is about the difference you make in people’s lives.” She and Barack live by that motto daily for their family and also for the betterment of the US, but she also stresses that that should be the goal of each American person.
ReplyDeleteI think that this speech, although it did not specifically outline Obama's successes and plans for the future, it resonated with the audience because it stayed in their hearts. Every president is going to have critics, but a president who is humble enough to reflect and learn from their mistakes is the one that I want to see in office.