I am passionate about politics. It's not something that many of my online only friends know about me. I keep it pretty secret for a few different reasons. The main one being that I don't want my husband to get in trouble. I've read several warnings this year (not directed at me) to be tasteful if we must discuss politics, but to try to keep a lid on it over all. If we don't, it can hurt our spouses' careers.
I don't consider myself to really belong to either party, although I am technically registered with one. Ironically I'm registered with the one that I have the least in common with, because it's also the one that I agree with most often on the things that I am most passionate about. Next month I will be voting a nearly straight ticket, although there are 2 that I plan to vote for that don't belong to "my party," and I plan on voting opposite my party's platform on at least one specific policy that will be on my ballot. I'm still researching another.
This year is a big election year for the United States, with the election of a president. It's important to make an informed choice on who you want to run our country. But please don't overlook the other issues and people you will be voting for next month. In my state there is a lot of coverage over the US Senate race right now, and a lot of negative ads from both Heidi Heitkamp and Rick Berg. My husband and I have done the research and are making an informed choice on who to vote for. We've done the same thing for local elections, and the choices for governor as well as all of the issues on the ballot.
Please remember that it sometimes takes more than a quick internet search to find valid, true information, especially on lower levels of government. And in some ways these politicians turn out to be the most important ones for YOU.