Voting Tool - Got a Better Way?

Making such an important decision as a presidential vote, for me, must be done above and beyond the bullshit, the emotions, the attempts to manipulate, and the roller-coaster of primaries and campaigning.

As analyst, I'm a prosaic KISS'er (keep it simple, stupid) so I used the most basic analytical tool - a decision matrix. Entering the data from which I ranked the candidates required reading each web site - I think every page! - and listening to the key speeches. It was work to complete but not too many hours. Also, since the matrix was first created, I have been able to add or change as new information surfaced.

Basically, I will outline my process but I'm very interested in hearing how YOU made YOUR decision. Some people make gut decisions. I do too, but only preliminarily.  For important decisions, with consequences for people lives and livelihoods, I build some manner of a substantial case on paper before committing to a decision.

Some people delay decisions collecting more and more data. I set a goal to decide by the New Year. I didn't want to decide while the campaigns were deeply in the trench warfare primaries.

But you might have a better/easier/more fun method...Let's hear about it.

PRELIMINARIES

Showstoppers
I had one showstopper - the bankruptcy bills.

I made an upfront decision before the campaigns began not to consider the AUMF vote. Why I did that is another diary, but what is important for this process is that I had to make these decisions up front.

Bias

I'm not promoting Hillary because I can no longer dedicate so much of myself to one single politician - I am too experienced. To the extent one can say this about people one never met, I love Hillary, I love Obama, and I really love John Edwards. I feel fortunate, this is a great way to start. I have had reservations about all 3 candidates and biases, so I put them in my decision table.

I had a favorable bias toward Hillary -

1. I am a cohort: 53 year old professional female, always expected and looked forward to voting for her someday

2. I was a distant lurker to her health care reform effort in the 90's and am an early retiree from the corporate health sector, now an activist for national single-payer health care reform.

3. I benefit from her adoption legislation heavily: both my husband and I retired to adopt 3 sibling babies who suddenly appeared at our door!  

I had a negative bias against Obama. We are one degree of separation from a corporate position he held once. The information I received and feelings I had about it had to be set aside because people change, grow, mature, and it was important but not a showstopper.

I have something I call "Rule XX" - If all things being equal, I vote for the female. Luckily (IMO) I did not have to invoke "Rile XX".

"Rule X" is vote for cultural diversity.

So, I captured these biases on the paper, effectively acknowledging them and setting them aside, out of my analysis, but left to consider at the end if necessary. It's my responsibility as a decision maker to never succumb to the arrogance to think I am immune to an overly biased or emotional decision that ends up being wrong. I believe that's how the country got George Bush and I don't particularly believe Democrats are any less prone to mistakes than Republicans. Well, not much anyway.

Focus
One last preliminary. I created a banner with two bullets:

1. Katrina - floating bodies in New Orleans

2. Iraqi woman holding her baby and their faces in shock and panic.

These are images of the agony in my gut that requires change. Radical change. Now. Today. These are my motivations. I am blessed in my life. I am also floating in Katrina's flood water. I am also flooded with panic  at the sounds of bombs over head, and it is my baby's face I look upon in a state of shock. This is my focus...

BUILD AND RANK

Matrix

1. Listed each issue and my sense of required core competencies for an excellent president.

2. Ranked them from more important to less important and ordered them from most to least influence.

3. Collected data for each candidate on each issue.  TIME HOG

4. Ranked each from best to worst using X, Y, or Z in whatever hi-med-lo or best-worst order as appropriate.

           a. If they lined up as hi-med-lo then X,Y,Z
           b. If two were equal then XY,Z
           c. If all the same then XYZ

5. Tallied up.

Examples extracted from my rankings:
Progressive agenda: CEO
Ability to get results on a progressive agenda: C,E,O
End Iraq War: C,O,E     (most squishy confidence)
Health Care Plan: CE, O
National Single Payer: C, EO
National economy: OC,E
GE Electability: OC,E
Ability to build consensus: CO, E
Strategic Thinking: CEO
Executive Management: C, EO

I'm not interested in arguing about my answers since this diary is focused on a process.

Gladly, I did this process because I could factor in the debates. I was very  influenced by the debates which I considered the most fertile for real usable information about the individuals and their native abilities. Whoever pushed the series of debates is a genius. I used my analytical stakes in the ground to test the emotional influences. It became even more helpful during the emotional roller-coaster the primaries have been.  

So, was I influenced by the more contrived events: piling on, oratory, rhetoric, Bill, so-called snubs or tears, hair, rock star events, Oprah or oratory...?  Sure. Were any of these issues or events important enough to add to my decision tree? Nah. Arguably (with myself) the ability to inspire through rhetoric is very positive yet not something one does frequently or for real tangible results after an election; as a president work is done in very small groups or meetings.  

My Decision

1. I am not voting against anyone

2. I am voting for Senator Clinton on the merits. No special rules invoked.

3. I'd like to put a bunch of things in JRE's hands but not the entire presidency.

4. I can see Barack Obama as a president someday. Not ready yet.

So, If you haven't decided who to vote for yet, try using a piece of paper. A simpler tool at this point with only 2 candidates may be a decision tree. But you might be surprised when you translate your thoughts and feelings into a visible and more granular picture.

In closing, please know that I'll contribute 100% of my household's tax rebate check amount and work aggressively for the Democratic nominee and no matter who it is, I'll have my whole heart in it. Thanks for reading.