'08 Election Unspun

Most of you who know me might agree with this simple statement: Russell Stevenson is a political wonk. To a degree, I cannot deny it, but I also cannot deny that I like to listen to public radio--something I don't exactly volunteer. Hey, we all have our little skeletons in the closet...

But for those who think that politics is simply a conflation of rhetoric, sound bites, and the ever-endearing art of the gaffe, I beg to differ. These website--FactCheckED.org and FactCheck.org, go a long way toward helping to realize how all candidates--all candidates--have delivered misinformation in their campaign. Every claim made by every candidate is traced to the source--whether it came from a think tank, a government document, or from the chili Fred Thompson (or any other candidate) ate last night. FactCheckED.org is especially useful for those who want to get a feel for basic economic terms that the candidates throw around. We can then decide for ourselves if a candidate's promise really is in our best interest.

To use the hackneyed cliche, knowledge is power and as Ralph Nader once noted (whom I consider to be generally unfit for any public office--but hey, he's not exempt from having good ideas): in our government, our representatives are speaking for us. When they make false claims that go unchecked, we too are allowing false information to used in our, "the people's" name. Being apathetic about politics would be like giving a complete stranger whose made a career out of getting the power of attorney, only for them to purchase a beach house in California. In such circumstances we shouldn't be ranting about the corruption of government; it was you who gave them power of attorney.

If we don't hold our leaders to account for what they say, then we are wrong to cry foul when they speak untruths. As one commentator on C.S. Lewis noted: it's like the man who plays the shell game at the carnival. Saying that we've been cheated when we play a cheater's game demonstrates generally means that we need to be taught a lesson.

FactCheck is one tool we can use in freeing ourselves from the cheater's game of sound bite politics. They are equal opportunity factcheckers--no party or candidate is exempt. Do enjoy, and remember, the point here is to empower, not disillusion.

And by the way, did anyone see the YouTube clip with Miss Teen America rambling about Iraq, South Africa, and people in America not owning maps? My heart goes out to her (when you're not used to being under the spotlight, you can say some funny things), but wow...