Introducing the four levels of voting. In which class are you? Are you a Level 1, a Level 2, a Level 3, or do you go all the way to the top as a Level 4 voter?
Level 1 is easy. All you have to do is show up at the polls, or mail in your ballot. You don't need to study or have any reason for voting for the people you do. Draw straws, go eenie, meenie, miney moe, or whatever.
Level 2 requires you to have just a little bit of reason for who you voted for. Maybe they sent you a political flyer, or you saw a yard sign, or they belong to the Democrat or Republican party. You don't need to know anything personal about the person, just their spending money or being the representative of your party is enough for you.
Level 3? Now we are getting somewhere. If you are a Level 4 voter, you study the candidates. You know their stands. You vote on the individual.
And, that brings us to the ultimate level, Level 4. Okay, I confess this is where I insert my own opinion of what is important in picking among the candidates. You go beyond just knowing their political views; you pick your person by -- get this -- his or her, morals, character, and integrity.
The candidate is going to face a lot of influences once elected. Lobbyists will try to coax them to vote their way based on contributions or personal gifts (did I say bribes?). They will face pressure to extend favors to family and friends. They will be tempted to use their office for personal gain. They will be drawn to wield domain over others. And, they might certainly be inclined to unjustly censor others, to condemn and be spiteful and hateful of others, to bicker and fight and demean.
Of course we should demand character of our candidates. If it is not important to us, we cannot expect it to matter much to them. We need leaders who will do what is right, regardless, and we won't get them if those things don't mean a lick to us.
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