Trying to educate myself on current candidates

Submitted by jue_bacca t3_yhea2o in Connecticut

Gooood morning Connecticut! I’m just prefacing this post that I do not want to argue anything political, but is there a website anyone uses to compare and contrast current political candidates and their views on various topics?

Not sure if anyone else shares this frustration but within the past decade I’ve really lost interest in being involved in politics. It’s always finger pointing, us vs. them mentality when it seems like something we should all be working together for. So that’s where my questions coming from, I really struggle to find anything that’s not slamming someone else.

Thanks in advance!

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WhaleyWino235 t1_iuda3k5 wrote

Morning nutmegger friend!

I use ballotpedia. Great resource and helps understand the candidate’s. Hope this helps!

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TrashPandaShire t1_iudd68f wrote

Check who donated to their campaigns.

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Strat7855 t1_iudixxl wrote

CT is publicly financed. You'll find a few max $290 donations, but most are $5 or $10 in state rep/state Senate campaigns.

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keptalpaca22 t1_iudl5cb wrote

One very important thing to remember when making your final decision about who to vote for is that Bob Stefanowski is tall. Like, really tall!

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jue_bacca OP t1_iudttcw wrote

Lol!!! I just saw that the other day! Prime example of why I’d like something just straightforward to read through rather than sift through “fun facts”

Side note I got one of those mail flyers to look like an add for a pizza restaurant! I was genuinely pumped because I was like awesome, new pizza place! Only to find it was a slam ad!! Ugh! Don’t tease me like that!

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exixx t1_iudj22h wrote

For a dry comparison of just the issues and the candidate's stances on them, no politics at all, look at ballotready.org

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jue_bacca OP t1_iudld7n wrote

Dry is fine to me! This is exactly what I was hoping for, thanks!

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WonderChopstix t1_iudcnbx wrote

For what it is worth. I already voted..... I went to each of the candidates official websites. In many cases the info the candidate had on thier home screen was revealing enough to me. Starting at the "source" to see what they have to say about themselves is a good place to start.

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jue_bacca OP t1_iudh3gh wrote

Great idea, I just commented on another post I guess I assumed it would be more like the smear mail I’m sure we all get, but probably best from the source!

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Payment-Main t1_iudm9id wrote

You may want to keep your ultimate choices to yourself. Regardless of who you vote for there or a bunch of people that will call you names and question your right to be a member of society.

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jue_bacca OP t1_iudtf3w wrote

Oh absolutely I never try to talk politics, always a judgment regardless of choice. I’d prefer people like me for me not my political association

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Payment-Main t1_iudy4bs wrote

Well. Good luck with that. Just read Reddit or Twitter. There’s no such thing as honest debate. Just partisan judgement.

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BeerPizzaGaming t1_iude7fh wrote

If your looking for a simple breakdown.... the incumbent will bash the challenger on their views and ideology. The challenger will say that everything the incumbent has done is wrong and blame the worlds problems on them but not offer any solutions of their own.
Rinse, repeat.

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jue_bacca OP t1_iudhkrg wrote

Sounds familiar!

I wish it was more than that but you’re definitely correct

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urbanevol t1_iudisrs wrote

There are nonpartisan sites such as this one (Stamford focused, but statewide races are on there). They provide short statements from candidates:

https://stamfordelections.com/

I don't love political parties, but sometimes without information one has to default to parties that represent your broader principles. Easy decision for me these days given Trump, January 6th, and election denying, but your mileage may vary.

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jue_bacca OP t1_iudlk3w wrote

Exactly, there’s a lot of information and people to sift through, however seems to more often than not pit everyone against each other. I can agree with policies from both parties

Edit to thank you for the site!

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bowie2019 t1_iuduvfd wrote

I picked up an early ballot at my town hall. Brought it home, and then used it as a starting point to find candidate websites very quickly. All the third party candidates that aren't as well known as well as the major party candidates. This way, there was no confusion about who was or was not on my particular ballot, and who is running for what.

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virtualchoirboy t1_iudzavp wrote

You can also find PDF versions of your specific ballot through the state Secretary of State website. Never even have to leave your computer.

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jue_bacca OP t1_iue1370 wrote

Great idea, I assume that’s too late for me this year but next time I’ll probably opt for that

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blkbkrider t1_iud9zzh wrote

That's the nature of the business.

I guess yould have to identify the candidates in your area and go the their websites for the info you seek.

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jue_bacca OP t1_iudh014 wrote

You are totally right! Was going to be my last resort, I was just assuming it would be more like the junk I get in the mail smearing wise. Probably my best bet though! From the source!

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Mtsteel67 t1_iudow2k wrote

I'm sure there is some issue or issues that is near and dear to you.

So look at each person running in your district and then look up their voting record on those issues -(if they have already been in office) if they have not voted then you have check out their website or call them up and ask them what their stance is and how they would vote on it.

Ignore the ads, the flyers unless it has their voting record on it.

If I'm unclear about issues here is a example;

You feel strongly about supporting 2a, well look at the persons voting record on 2a issues, if they have voted for gun bans, gun control, etc... anything that strips you of your liberty and right then you vote for the other person.

Also look at the party involved does the main party support 2a or do they support stripping you of your rights? Because typical anyone in office just votes party line regardless of their background or personal feelings on the matter.

Not going to name names but one person in office currently -(who I know personally) voted against law enforcement -(and they are retired law enforcement) because it was the party line to vote against.

And before you ask, I refuse to vote for them and I like them. As I have told them to their face until they stop voting party line they will never get my vote.

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jue_bacca OP t1_iue1b5f wrote

Great place to start, I’ve been starting there but get sucked in to way too much Clickbait articles

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GoPikachuGo1 t1_iudxjdn wrote

Bob "snuff out crime" Stefanowski will have my vote.

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Big-Pond t1_iudynkc wrote

Just a reminder that he built the entirety of his wealth as being the largest payday loan operator in the state.

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GoPikachuGo1 t1_iudza0z wrote

Bob gave me a loan when nobody else would. He got my family and I through some tough times.

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Big-Pond t1_iudzwmi wrote

You do you, as is your right.

My take is someone that is ok with charging 30 or more % interest on the poorest amongst us is not someone that gives a single shit about anyone else.

This is why, rather than running on any issues his campaign is focused on crime when crime rates are the lowest they’ve been in decades.

His real motivation is, like most politicians, making himself more wealthy at the expense of the community…which is exactly what he’s been doing all along with payday loans.

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nikedude t1_iuevy1u wrote

Just an FYI, most credit cards upper APRs are pushing 28-30%, so it's not exactly abnormal.

I am not advocating for payday loans (or any loan anywhere near that APR), but people do use them, and from a businesses perspective, they need to be priced high like that because the loan is absolvable in bankruptcy. So there is a high risk of default.

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GoPikachuGo1 t1_iue09o3 wrote

Murder and rape are up in CT. These are issues that are important to me and need to be addressed.

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jue_bacca OP t1_iudzop9 wrote

I didn’t make this post for debates.

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pinktwillshirt t1_iudewch wrote

One belongs to a party that has presently wrecked the economy, with inflation at a 40 year high

The other belongs to a party that wrecked the economy before this current regime and is billing itself as the one with solutions (they have none)

There are few other independent randos who will get less than 100 votes each

You pick.

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jue_bacca OP t1_iudgqfh wrote

Right right - Sometimes it does feel like picking the lesser of two evils, I just feel like I never can get accurate information anymore. Thanks for the thought

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pinktwillshirt t1_iudztt1 wrote

The best middle finger to these people is not take part in their malpractice and stay home.

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