For some odd reason, I was voted “Most Political” in 12th grade alongside the senior class president; I was neither involved in student government, nor have I ever understood much about politics, so I don’t know what that was all about.

In fact, my mantra regarding politics is “Don’t Know, Don’t Care…”

…Okay, I do care, but not enough to blindly pass along information promoting my favorite candidates irregardless of its veracity. I want to be confused with the facts so I can search harder for the truth — or disprove a lie, so I can make a truly informed decision before I vote.

The “round up a posse” game of politics insults me. I despise bandwagon mentalities and I detest being manipulated.

We are a nation of stubborn partisan loyalists. We forget that facts we hear are likely manipulated by news outlets, pundits, candidate enemies or campaign managers. We hear selectively through filters that favor our biases. We regurgitate the facts we hear, presenting them as truth.

We are part of this unscrupulous game.

Only if we allow ourselves to play.

Please…confuse me! I feel better knowing there’s more to learn about a candidate and suspicious when there isn’t.

© Alexa Lopez, 2008