Do you know what's on the ballot for the upcoming primary?

If you don't, stop reading this blog right now and go check out the information for the primary races. You've still got plenty of time to research what's going on and what deserves your vote - but it's better to get a head start on it now, if you haven't already. Maybe consider doing some in-depth research over the long weekend, too.

When you're done with that, come on back here and read If you're stupid, don't vote. Key takeaways:

"Some people don't think -- they see everything in either-or mode, they succumb to emotional arguments rather than reasoned ones, they're swayed by charisma rather than facts. Now we've entered the primary season. I plead with you -- don't vote if you're not familiar with the issues or the candidates. Don't encourage stupid people to vote.

...[V]oting because you're just plain dumb or "misinformed" -- that's inexcusable. Everyone can take the time to think. Everyone can find another news source. Everyone can resist authority -- whether from the pulpit or the podium -- at least momentarily."

Get educated. Get smart. Get active. Vote responsibly. And for the sake of everyone, DON'T vote for someone based on a 30-second sound bite or a PR-spun impression that he's "good folks" or "just a regular guy". Unless you're running for political office, he or she is nothing like you - so understand who he or she is beholden to and what the real issues are.

...This has been your political public service announcement for the day.

Career Corrupt Politician, Porkbuster update

Yep, another political blog entry today. It's apparently that kind of day.

Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), better known as the porkbarrel king who managed to appropriate $250 million dollars for the "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska, apparently doesn't like the idea of transparency in government spending. (Gee, ya think?) How do we know this?

Because he put a secret hold on the overwhelmingly popular bill to create a free, searchable database of government contracts and grants.

Bill's Cost Troubled Me, Pork King Says.

The overwhelmingly popular bill, which has bi-partisan support, is effectively delayed permanently until he lifts his hold.

Bill cost? Approximately 15 million total spread out over the next 5 years.
Taxpayer cost for useless bridge? Approximately $250 million.
Stevens caught red-handed for the pork-bloated, hypocritical, dollar-guzzling git that he is? Priceless.

If anyone reading this has voting rights in Alaska, vote this guy out of office at the first opportunity, okay? And if anyone out there has anything on this guy that will get him out of office sooner (I'm talking impeachable offenses and/or proof of criminal conduct that will land him in jail, not guns), please do the country a favor and turn him in ASAP.

He's giving even today's politicians a bad name - and that takes some doing.