Do your political homework

In case you haven't heard, there will be an election in November.

I am sure you have noticed commercial after commercial with messages of 'he said, she said” or 'they did, they didn't.”

It's important to know that much of the money being pumped into political advertising is a direct result of the January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission. This ruling allows corporations and other associations to spend unlimited amounts of money on ads and other political tools to ask for the election or defeat of specific candidates, and removes a previous ban on such influences within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election. All of this results in very expensive mudslinging instead of an informed political debate.

If you believe every email you are receiving about a candidate or policy you have been duped.

If you vote for a candidate based on a single issue you have been duped.

If you believe corporations are people who just happen to pay different taxes than actual human beings, odds are you have been duped.

If you believe everything that is reported to you on certain TV news stations, you have been duped.

If you vote for a certain party because all of your ancestors voted that way, in my opinion, you have been duped. Political party platforms change; therefore, what a political party stands for must change.

You may ask, 'What the heck am I supposed to believe?”

My simple answer is to read the platforms of the political parties. Pay attention to how incumbents have voted on issues and educate yourself about what a particular party or candidate may support.

If you research well - and that should be your goal - you can feel good about your selections at the ballot box.

One last thing: Vote!

If you do not like what is going on, realize elections have consequences that impact your livelihood and every other aspect of your life as an American. Many men and women have died to give you this right, so please honor them by doing your part.

' Rick Moyle is executive director of Hawkeye Labor Council AFL-CIO. Comments: rmoyle@hawkeyelabor.us.