GOVERNMENT AND POLICE AUCTIONS

How to Discuss Barack Obama Intelligently

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
The electoral process is the corner stone of the democratic system. In every election - regardless of the outcome - the elected parties become responsible for the entire population of their country including those who had cast their ballots for the other side. It is the responsibility of every citizen to monitor the actions of their elected officials, as those officials are responsible for each and every citizen. It is irresponsible in politics to allow any elected official to carry out their duties of office without examining their actions carefully. This article serves as a guide to researching and discussing the current American administration of President Barack Obama.

Steps

1. Research topics of interest. Search on-line for topics regarding the current administration that interests you and spark a desire for discussion. Topics could include things such as the economy, the war in Iraq, budget spending, or anything at all that comes to mind. Consider some of the following resources for your research:
   • Wikipedia: most people are familiar with Wikipedia. There are dozens of articles related to Barack Obama, both on a personal level as well as on a political level.
   • Political blogs: use your favorite search engine and look around for political blogs. Some of these are run by professional political commentators, while others are run by ordinary people who've an interest in politics. You are sure to find varied opinions in the realm of the blogosphere.
   • The Evening News: very few days go by without a political story on the news, be it discussion on the economy, on the war, or on any other subject related to the actions of The White House. Be aware that some news agencies blatantly support either the Democrats or the Republicans - be aware of these affiliations and the biases they may pose.
2. Select some of President Obama's political positions from your research to discuss. Focus your research to ensure that you are aware of the current administrations stance on the topics. Some examples may include but are not limited to:
   • Labor Rights
     • Minimum Wage
     • Equal Pay
   • Education
   • Taxation
   • Foreign Policy
     • The Middle East
     • Canada
     • Mexico
   • Abortion and Contraception
   • LGBT Rights
     • Gay Marriage
   • Death Penalty
   • Drug Enforcement Policy
   • Gun Ownership
3. Choose your own position on the topics. Use your research to decide whether you agree or disagree with the position of the current administration. Formulate your reasons for your positions and write them out on paper.
4. Compare campaign promises to actions taken to date. A major complaint that follows most elections is that the elected official has not followed through on campaign promises. Research the list of promises made by President Obama and search national news sources to determine how quickly, if at all, he is following through on those promises.
5. Gather a group of friends or colleagues with whom to carry your discussion. When you gather, all parties should leave personal bias at the door and be prepared to discuss a myriad of topics. Everyone should be prepared to defend their stance but also willing to accept the opinions of others.
6. Present your arguments in a civil and organized manner. As you address each topic for discussion ensure that you hear from all parties involved.
7. Allow for organized debate. Every argument has a counterargument. If all parties at the table unanimously agree or disagree with a point consider searching the internet for a counterpoint to add to the discussion.
8. Defend your position but allow for flexibility. As each topic is covered, defend the position you have taken while still allowing yourself to consider the arguments of the others involved. Take away from each topic those points that you consider to be valid.
9. As a group formulate your final opinion. Take all of the arguments - won and lost - from your discussion and decide on the final position your group has decided to take on each topic. Also, acknowledge those topics which you were not able to gain full agreement on.

Tips

• Be sure to consider the effect that the actions of the previous administration and Congress will have on the presidency of Barack Obama.
• Elect someone to document the debate and all of the arguments made. Consider blogging your debate on-line for others to consider and add to.
• Make use of international sources for your research. The opinions of someone who could not vote in the election may, at times, be helpful as it removes the winner/loser element.
• The White House and President Barack Obama have press pages and Twitter accounts, so you can follow events as they happen.

Warnings

• Do not be afraid to seek answers, to learn and to speak your mind, even though some on either side of the issue may be tempted to censor you for being to soft or too harsh.
• Be aware that many on-line sources may be blatantly biased in one direction or another. Be sure to consider multiple sources before formulating an opinion.

Related wikiHows

• How to Debate
• How to Win Informal Arguments and Debates
• How to Avoid Talking About the Same Old Things
• How to Deal With a Fallen Idol

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Discuss Barack Obama Intelligently. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

FREE ENERGY VIDEOS

How to Choose Your Political Party in the United States

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Can't decide how to vote in the next election, which candidates to support, or what sign to put on your lawn? All major political parties promote positive ideals and have good intentions, but each party disagrees on the method and application of laws to achieve positive results. Read on and find out where you fit in on the political spectrum.

Steps

1. Figure out how active you think government should be in the lives of everyday people. Should they take care of all of the basic needs of every person? Should people be responsible completely for their own necessities and behavior? Somewhere in the middle?
2. Consider perhaps that maybe a political "party" isn't for you and you should make up your own mind about the issues instead of electing someone to think on your behalf.
3. See where your thoughts fit within the political spectrum. Only the characteristic five positions are discussed here. Note: more complete political spectra have 2 axes: social issues and economic issues. These parties are presented in their political spectrum of left to right.
   • Communism. Communist parties in the USA (inc. PSL and CPUSA) believes in equal distribution of wealth for the greater good of all citizens. Capitalism is viewed as exploitation and oppression that will eventually lead to monopoly and imperialism. The Communist party USA envisions a polarized world, where we are offered choices such as "militarism and imperialism or peace, increased wealth for the few or justice and equality for the many, increased power in the hands of the super-rich or expansion of democracy for the vast majority, ultra-right domination of all branches of government which deals with problems by increasing exploitation and oppression or progressive electoral coalitions that seek real solutions in the interests of all working people", as mentioned on their website. The drive behind Communism is the elimination of private property, state-owned production, and a transition from a centralized government into a collective society.
   • Socialism. Socialist parties in the USA (inc. ISO, SEP, WSPUS, SA and SPUSA) believes in freedom and equality, production for use, not for profit, full employment, worker and community control, and ecological harmony. This party's strategy includes socialist feminism and women's liberation, liberation of oppressed people, international solidarity and peace, internal democracy, cultural freedom, personal politics, electoral action, and democratic revolution. Many services including health care, education, and welfare are offered for free or nominal fees under socialism, but at the expense of high taxes. In Marxism, socialism is the transition stage between capitalism and communism.
   • Environmentalism. The Green party is by far the youngest political party in America, with its founding around the turn of the millennium. The Greens are committed to environmentalism, social justice, non-violence, and grassroots organizing. The party believes in "renewing democracy without the support of corporate donors" and to "provide real solutions for real problems". Although not necessarily associated with liberalism, many of the Green party's views are extrapolated from liberalism.
   • Liberalism. The Democratic party was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1792 to fight for the Bill of Rights against the Federalist Party. The current platform for the Democratic party supports prosperity by sustaining and strengthening economic growth, progress by looking at non-political factors in our lives, peace by protecting America's security when it is threatened, and democratic values by international promotion. Democrats have a commitment to "an agenda that emphasizes the security of our nation, strong economic growth, affordable health care for all Americans, retirement security, honest government, and civil rights", as mentioned on their website.
   • Conservatism. The Republican Party (also known as the GOP or Grand Old Party), founded in the 1850's by anti-slavery activists, believes in supporting international democracy, expanding ownership and investment opportunities, increasing the quality and accessibility of health care, strengthening our communities, and protecting our families. Republicans promote an environment conducive to innovation and employment by reducing taxes on businesses to encourage growth into competitive market vacancies, creating jobs and making goods more affordable. Ideals of the Republican party include personal responsibility, consumer-driven free market economics, and opportunity over parity.
   • Libertarianism. The Libertarian party believes in personal freedom while maintaining personal responsibility, non-interference of government in personal, family, and business decisions, and the free pursuit of individual interests. The party currently advocates for smaller government, lower taxes, and additional freedom. Libertarians are neither classified as liberal or conservative, as they encourage both personal and economic liberty while attempting to lower taxes and removing bureaucratic regulation of business. As mentioned on their website, "Think of us as a group of people with a "live and let live" mentality and a balanced checkbook".
4. Take the Political Compass Test[1] to determine your own political views in relation to others.
5. Once you have decided where you belong, sign up to vote! Research the candidate running for your party, and then register. If you want to do more, find the political organization in your local area that shares your beliefs and volunteer to help with a campaign for mayor or state congressman. You'll be amazed at the difference volunteering makes in understanding your political views.

Tips

• Make sure you consider carefully what you agree with. Socialism might be good for the resources provided by the government, but all citizens are required to pay higher taxes to pay for those resources. Conversely, if you end up making a bad decision and can't get a job, Republicanism and Libertarianism might make it hard to recover until you start making good decisions; but if you do well, you'll live well.
• Remember, find the party that you agree with and get involved. All five of the positions discussed have political organizations in virtually every country, so don't assume that there isn't one out there for you. The United States has over fifteen parties submit a candidate for President in every election, so be sure to find the right one.
• If the party you wish to vote for has no chance of winning in your area, vote for the party closest to your ideals which can win. Otherwise, a party you entirely disagree with might be elected instead.

Warnings

• If you're volunteering, make sure you have time to spare. Political campaigns are no laughing matter, and you'll need to have a large commitment. Only commit the amount of time that you can truly give. If you are beginning to feel overwhelmed, say so, and be responsible. Talk to someone about it; don't just stop showing up.

Related wikiHows

• How to Run for Political Office
• How to Lobby Politicians

Sources and Citations

• Communist Party USA
• International Socialist Organization
• Socialist Equality Party
• Workers' International League
• World Socialists
• Socialist Party USA
• Green Party of the United States
• The Democratic Party
• The Libertarian National Committee
• GOP Republican National Committee

1. ↑ http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Choose Your Political Party in the United States. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

HOW TO WIN AN ELECTION

How to Tell if a Person Is Republican or Democrat

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Knowing someone's political party is a good start to understanding their political beliefs. Republicans and Democrats tend to have similar beliefs as people in their own party, but not all the time. While reading this article, keep in mind that being a Republican or Democrat doesn't have to mean the person agrees with all of their party's policies.

Steps

1. Ask. There's nothing wrong with asking someone what their political affiliation is. If you weren't already, try bringing up a conversation about politics. Then try asking something like "hey I was just wondering, are you a Republican or Democrat?" Make sure that you be respectful of their answer, even if it isn't the one you wanted to hear.
2. Talk about the president. If you don't want to directly ask, one of the easiest ways to guess which party a person is in is to find out what they think of the current president. Most people, especially the ones who don't follow politics as much, will show a lot of respect for the president if they are in the same party. People also are very quick to point out the flaws of a president if they are in the other party. Keep in mind that this and all the other following steps are not nearly as accurate as just asking.
3. Observe the person's other views. Republicans tend to be economically and socially conservative, while Democrats tend to be liberal. Again keep in mind these are only generalizations.
4. Find out what the person's parents are. Most Americans are in the same party as their parents.
5. Find out the percentages of Republicans and Democrats in the state they live in. Also Democrats tend to be in more urban areas and Republicans in rural areas. These are very risky to use as a guess though.

Tips

• Be respectful of others no matter what party they are in. It is the multi-party system that keeps the power of the US in the citizens' hands, and nobody should be discriminated against for expressing their political views.

Warnings

• It's ok to guess, but never assume a person's party unless you directly asked them.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Tell if a Person Is Republican or Democrat. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.