The Importance of an Informed Presidential Election Voter

 

It’s no secret that Presidential Election years typically draw folks to be more interested in politics and the election process than other years.  This year, with the certainty of a new President, interest in the election is running rampant. 

As of today, our next President appears to be one of the three viable major party candidates.  There could even be an impact third party candidate.  With the upcoming choices that we will make, whether in the Pennsylvania primary in April or in the general election in November, it is important for young lawyers and young voters in general to be informed on the issues.  We should make sure we that we make informed decisions by knowing what the issues are and what the candidates stand for on them.  A lot of the typical news sites, such as CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, have comprehensive election coverage and information on each candidate’s position.  Locally, one particular organization, the Association of Young Americans, founded by a group of young lawyers and other young professionals from Philadelphia and across the country, seeks to provide non-partisan information and discourse about the election that is pertinent to young voters.    

Regardless of who we vote for, we need to go beyond the catch phrases of “Vote for Change” and make sure that we know why we’re voting for that candidate. 

The Merits of Merit Selection

The only time “merit selection” panels were used to select Judges in the history of Pennsylvania was in 1987 when Gov. Casey responded to the revelation of corrupt Judges in the “Roofers Scandal”. He appointed citizen panels to recommended independent Judges for election and appointment. After an extensive application procedure, review of qualifications and personal interviews, Governor Casey sent the names of five Judges to the Senate for confirmation. The political establishment took issue with the manner in which these Judges had been selected and only two were confirmed by the Senate. The successful campaign for the election of all five became known as the “Casey Five”. Four of these merit Judges are on the ballot for retention this year. (The fifth Casey five Judge, Legrome Davis serves with distinction as a Federal Judge).

“Merit Selection” jurisdictions, which appoint Judges through independent panels, continue a retention election system. Retention elections allow the electorate to remove unqualified Judges. Retention elections allow Judges to stay out of politics. As delegates to the 1968 Constitutional convention have said:
“This reelection method was designed to keep judges out of the political fray while at the same time holding them accountable to the voters based on their overall performance in office. Under the retention system, the public is able to evaluate its judges while the judges are able to maintain their independence which is essential to their role in our Democratic system of government.”

Vote for the retention of qualified Judges on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.

Submitted by Mark I. Bernstein, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County

Citizen Journalists

Dear readers, we are riding the waves of change.  The internet is transforming American politics– both national and local.  Blogs in particular have given the American public a new forum–a new way to gather information and to voice opinion.  

Where the journalism of mainstream media is “objective,” politically correct and middle of the road, bloggers are stepping in to fill the void.   Bloggers cover stories like the journalists of ages past, where many reporters made no pretense of political neutrality. 

Bloggers are not relegated to the back seat.  No–they are gaining recognition as a viable force in journalism.  Indeed, the perjury trial of Lewis Libby marks the first federal case for which independent bloggers have gained official access as journalists.

Bloggers are unique because they can raise awareness of a story that would otherwise go unheard.

The recent scandal surrounding the firing of the U.S. Attorneys was flying below the radar of the mainstream media.  The story caught fire in the blogs, which then forced the MSM to take notice.  Not only is it front page news, but Congress is holding hearings on it.  All because of blog coverage.

And do not forget Philly’s own success story:  The folks at Young Philly Politics succeeded in forcing Councilman Jim Kenny to retract his bill that would have repealed the campaign contribution limits in the middle of an election.

The point is that we have a voice.  We can no longer sit back and bemoan the unfairness and futility of it all.  We can make a difference.  We can change the world.  We have seen it happen.