Newsletter Date Volume 1, Issue 1

Rational Voting
A. Datum Corporation (708) 555-0101

Special Interest Articles:

Check out what it means to be a rational voter on page 1! Dont have money to go to college or just dont want to check out page 4 for how you can still be a rational voter.

What it means to be a rational voter

What does it mean to be a rational voter? Well to figure this out we can just pick up a dictionary and piece it together.
I am assuming everyone knows what it means to vote, so I can just skip that. The definition of rational is that something is based on or in accordance with logic. We can break this down even further by

defining logic. Logic is reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles or validity.
So, being a rational voter must mean that you vote based on some kind of reasoning conducted according to validity.

Individual Highlights:
Educate yo Self 4 How rational voting could affect your life4 Why should you be a rational voter 4

Further assessment
If being a rational voter means you vote based on some kind of reasoning conducted according to some kind of validity, then what kind of validity would be necessary? Education!! Education is already socially validated, so it will automatically make your reason valid. Education I think would help is political science. This information is the logic behind anything that has to do with politics. Voting is a form of politics. So this would be the most direct info for rational voting. Another form of education that could help you become a better rational voter would be economics because it is so closely related to politics that understanding it could help you understand politics. Lastly possibly the best next to political science would be the study of rhetoric. Every successful man uses rhetoric a lot. That is how they become successful in the first place.

Rational Voting Political science

This is from a Florida state university article that explains the benefit of studying political science. This is also why it would help you to rationally vote.
The study of politics is both humanistic and scientific, and is centuries old. Aristotle called it the "queen of the sciences". The American Constitution reveals a joining of political theory with the pragmatic formation of political institutions and practices. Todays political research involves highly scientific and rigorous attempts to understand human behavior and world events. The study of political science prepares one not only for employment, but for life as an informed citizen ready to participate

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in political activities within interest groups or political parties; related to community organization and political advocacy; or even service as an elected or appointed official

Aristotle called political science, queen of the sciences.

Economics
In this article from about.com the U.S. Department of state explains the relation between economics and government, this is why learning economics would help you become a more rational voter.
While consumers and producers make most decisions that mold the economy, government activities have a powerful effect on the U.S. economy in at least four areas. Stabilization and Growth. Perhaps most importantly, the federal government guides the overall pace of economic activity, attempting to maintain steady growth, high levels of employment, and price stability. By adjusting spending and tax rates (fiscal policy) or managing the money supply and controlling the use of credit (monetary policy), it can slow down or speed up the economy's rate of growth -- in the process, affecting the level of prices and employment.

English
In my opinion rhetoric is the most important topic of English class for rationally voting. It allows you to notice when you are being manipulated into believing information and how they are manipulating you. All information given is trying to manipulate you into believing it, although you dont notice. The reason English is so helpful in becoming a rational voter is that it helps you to pick out the bad and the good and noticing the manipulation so that you can decide for yourself whether or not it is truly something you agree with.

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Newsletter Title

Math
Math is a very simple way to become a rational voter. You will be able to understand and check mathematical topics in government. Although there are many mathematical topics in government it usually explains itself so mathematics would be helpful, but it is not a necessary topic to learn in order to be a rational voter.

Law
Law would help you understand the government through a magnifying glass. Although law is a big topic in the government knowing the specific laws of the country does not seem very necessary to vote rationally. Also, political science already highlights the necessary topics you would get from law needed to rationally vote.

Why should you be a rational voter?

Why would it be good for you to learn to be a rational voter? Well, this is easy to answer, do you want to be in control of whether or not you can choose to teach your own kids, do you want control over how much you pay employees, do you want to be in control of how much money you give the government for roads, parks, guns, and defense? Well if you answered yes to any of these questions you want to be a rational voter. That is what rationally voting is all about giving you control of the way you want to live life. So really it is all up to you to just answer, the simple question do you want control of your own life or do you want others to decide for you?

Rational Voting Educate yo self!

Now, you dont need to go to college or even to have finished high school to learn to be a rational voter. You can educate yourself! Educate yo self! The internet has allowed for tons of information to be communicated from people all over the world and about all kinds of different topics to anyone willing to look for them. Yea sometimes you have to search for a while, but there is always someone else in the world that has the same questions and someone that has an answer. So go look for

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the information and become a rational voter at home on your own computer in the comfort of your own home!

How rational voting could affect your life

This is an article from brassmagazine.com explaining why voting could affect your life. It is a well-known fact that the majority of people our age don't vote. I am twenty-one years old and have never voted. I am going to change that with the upcoming election. To those of you like me who haven't voted, I know where you're coming from. Too many rich white people in suits, lack of political choices, you feel your vote doesn't matter, or perhaps you simply don't care. It's time to start caring. There are many reasons why. Here are 3 examples of important issues that will impact you. Money. College tuition keeps going up. Last October the College Board announced that the cost of attending a public college increased 9.8%, the largest annual increase in thirty years. Young adults will have to bear these costs in increasing proportions as the U.S. Department of Education estimates that college attendance of 18-24 year olds will increase 15% by 2012 while tax dollars spent for education keep decreasing. Draft. With the war in Iraq there has been a lot of talk about reinstituting the draft. S.89 (Senate version of legislation) recommends that "every person residing in the United States who is between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a period of national service." How do you feel about serving in the military? Marriage. In the county where I live, all marriages are off. Because of the debate over same-sex marriages the county stopped issuing all marriage licenses. Not that I'm planning on tying the knot any time soon, but I couldn't even if I wanted to. Regardless of your position on any of these issues, they all affect us and we aren't making our voice heard. In the 2000 election only 51 percent of 18-24 year olds were registered to vote. Only 36.1 percent of 18-24 year olds actually voted (U.S Census 2000). However, in the 65-74 demographic, 72 percent voted. For every young adult who voted two people of retirement age voted. Frankly, I don't want my parents or grandparents determining who (or if) I can marry, how much money I spend for school, or whether or not I will go to war and here lies the beauty of the United States. We have a say in the outcome. I strongly encourage you to go out and do the same as I plan to do: vote. Go out, vote and let your voice be heard.