Each State Legislature is tasked with determining where the budget can be cut or trimmed to save much needed dollars. They will debate information related to each program and take relevant testimony from expert witnesses. They will listen to their constituents and determine how the proposed cuts will impact the citizens of the state. State and local governments will review their ability to raises taxes and other potential revenues.

Trimming the budget will leave some citizens feeling upset or angry. Unfortunately, when budgets are cut, the impact is felt on a personal level. Funding for education, roads, libraries, parks and public services touch people’s everyday lives. Citizens can debate information back and forth but if one area gets funds another areas looses funds. With the current financial crisis raging on every front, states are making difficult decisions for the future of its people.

Another benefit of using debate information to make election decisions is you are making your own decision and not allowing media influences to cloud your judgment. Each media outlet has a bias toward one candidate. While they claim to be fair or balanced, one candidate tends to get more positive press depending on what news channel you watch or which newspaper you read.

No matter which candidate you voted for on November 4^th, I wish President Obama luck in fulfilling the promises he made to the American public during his debates. His success and failures as a president will be played out on the stage of public opinion and the media has the clips to play over and over again if he doesn’t fulfill his objectives.