The League of Conservation Voters may offer potential voters an insight into political candidates that news sources may not. The site is an annual scorecard of Congressmen and their voting record in favor of the environment. The importance of experience has been one of the biggest criticisms in this presidential election, and, more than once, candidates have flip flopped their public position on ways to take care of this planet. A voting record is solid and speaks much louder than political jargon, which makes this site so important.
In presidential terms, Sen. John McCain has an overall score of voting in favor of the environment 24% of the time he’s been a congressman. Granted, he didn’t vote at all on any pro-environmental legislation for the entire 2007 session, which counts against this percentage. He was probably busy campaigning. Fine. Sen. Barack Obama has a lifetime LCV score of 86%, and he managed to vote in favor of environmental legislature 67% during the 2007 session. Check out the comparison chart.
There’s no doubt that politics are sexy this season, and we’ve all heard the reports of the thousands of youngsters who flocked to the polls to vote for the first time in the primaries. With any luck, those numbers will carry over to the local level as well. It is just as important to make an educated vote for our local politicians. Citizens have more opportunity to hold these officials accountable for their campaign promises and first handedly witness the benefits of their decisions. Please, make yourself aware of the positions and voting records of your political candidates and vote for representatives who care about green issues this November.
