So you think you live in a Red or Blue state?

Mark Newman at the University of Michigan has created maps of the United States representing the election results in different ways to show the real voice of the people.  The featured image shows areas in red that voted strongly republican (70% or more) in the election, blue for democrat, and purple for the middle 40% between republican and democrat.

So many of us do not strongly identify with one party or another.  And as long as we have the electoral college, we will have the 2 party system.  See description of the pros and cons of the electoral college on see this description by WiseGeek.

Back to the election results, so maps are created showing the variability in the votes, and he also makes cartograms which distort the map image to represent population size and therefor influence on the outcome.

Since the election, many discussions have recognized this moderate voice, that the election was about compromise and middle ground; not one extreme and severe partisanship.  I hope the politicians follow through on that idea.

How to decide who to vote for?

Television ads on TV may be entertaining and appeal to our convictions, but are not the best source for information on the candidates.

Vote (Photo credit: Vaguely Artistic)

There are also a lot of email and blog discussions spreading rumors about politicians that can’t be trusted, according to FactCheck.org.  Campaigns are run on rhetoric, and we often identify with the candidate or party who’s one liners match our own views.  But how many people really know the truth about the candidate they are voting for?

Ignoring the fact that all candidates make idealistic promises, for things their elected position may not even have influence over.  Do you really know the position of your favored candidate?  Project Vote Smartis great for candidate information that is supposedly independent and non-partisan.

English: Created by User:Rspeer using Inkscape. Modified by Mark. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I like how the website is organized, and you can review the list of candidates on your ballot by typing in your address or zip code.  They had ballot issues, and state election candidates.  I had to know a little more information about which districts for House Representatives and my zone for state officials.

• Find your House Of Representatives for your location
• or check USA.gov which also has contact information for all elected officials
• Wikipedia has links to each state election list of candidates
• For a list of candidates running for office in MA, check out Politics1.

Does anyone know of an online source for petitions to our elected representatives?  To me it looks like they are scattered about based on the group who is organizing the petition.