In my social studies class, we are following the upcoming presidential elections here in Costa Rica.
Most of the students already have a candidate of choice, because of their parent's favorite choice and because of the candidate's personality.
However, it seems that many of them did not actually know the views and ideals that those candidates stood for.
This week, I am having them do an assignment where they actually are researching the views of the different candidates, then they need to write me a one page paper on why they have chosen their candidate based on the issues and policies.
Maybe, this is a general activity the American public could use.
Seeing the results come in this week was frustrating for me.
Not as much because a Republican won in the liberal state of Massachusetts, but for the reasons that he won and what it represents.
I will be the first to admit that the Democratic candidate, Coakley, was far from a good candidate.
Her lack of enthusiasm, her unwillingness to get out and do the hard work, and her unthinkable putting down of the local Baseball team were very unwise.
Her calling the beloved Red Sox Player, Shilling, a Yankee's fan probably didn't help much either.
But the fact is...
we shouldn't elect people because we do or don't like their personality, their style, their looks, etc.
We should vote because of the values and ideas that individual represents.
I am not denying this happens on both the right and left...
Obviously Obama's personality and appeal were much greater than McCain in 2008, but if people voted for him only for that reason than they were foolish and now, I am sure they are angry with his policy choices.
I voted for Obama because he said he was GOING to push healthcare reform, increase education funds, seek environmental solutions, and seek peaceful strategies with nations, not in spite of his views or because he has a glowing personality.
The state of democracy is dependent on an educated public, a public that stands by their ideals and certain beliefs, not a public who is whimsical and childish in their voting patterns.
If you are a liberal, you need to vote for the liberal candidate.
If you are a conservative, vote for the conservative candidate- not the candidate in which you "like" the personality.
While it is true there always has been a segment of the public that favors personality over policy, it seems to become a great problem recently.
It is also true that there is a general angst and suspicion over the party in charge, so many will vote against their beliefs to go against the party in power, which they soon see backfires very rapidly.
On a more melancholy note, this election holds a very sad irony.
Ted Kennedy, who represented the people of Massachusetts for almost 50 years and one of the most championed leaders of healthcare reform, was the one who had to die in order to make the healthcare reform bill seem to come to a halt.
Though I hope something passes, it is going to become much more difficult (one reason being the abuse of the filibuster, but that is a whole other topic).
The state of Massachusetts should be saddened that the let their general dislike of an individual and overall angst put in jeopardy the very ideals that Kennedy fought for and in which the majority of them have claimed to believe.