Political Identity: An interview with Sherry Cournoyer a 3rd grade teacher and friend of my grandmothers

Sherry is a 3^rd grade teacher with over 30 years experience as an educator. Her political identity was influenced by a number of people and factors. Growing up most of her views was shaped by her parents. She admits that as a teen she didn't really take politics seriously and it wasn't until she entered the workforce and experienced the struggles women faced that she start to take her political rights seriously and started to take an interest in the issues she felt were important to her.  It was then that she started to pay attention to current events and tried to judge the different candidates on their actions and less on the things they were saying and as a result supports the person she feels would be best suited to lead the country and whose actions aligns with her values and beliefs.  He vote is based on mot just the candidate but the views of the party, the person’s likeability and believability and on her beliefs in their views and the changes that they are willing to implement. She admits that she does tend to vote for the person she feels more strongly support equal rights of women (work, pay, education, etc), and that tends to be more the Democrats than Republicans. When asked who she would be voting for in the next election she admits she has no idea in which direction she is going to vote. 

Sherry’s views herself more as a liberal. She admits that even though she personally don’t have anything against homosexuals she is trying to adapt with the changing environment and accept gay marriages but because she comes from a culture where marriage is considered to be between a man and woman she admits that her acceptance to this new way of life has been slow. She believes in a woman’s right to contraceptives and abortions, she does not believes that women have a right to do whatever they want with their bodies, and that women of rape should not be forced to carry that child to term, and that when it comes to teen pregnancy many teens may end up committing bodily harm to themselves in an effort to terminate the pregnancy. She does believe in the death penalty for those who commit crimes against children and other violent offenders and that the government has a right to protect citizens against big business and corporate greed. She believes terminally ill patients should have a right to say when they want to end their pain and suffering because no one should have to suffer on a daily basis. When asked who she voted for in the last election she said that she was not happy with either candidate but ultimately decided to stick with what she knew rather than borrow trouble. For the future she wants stricter gun control laws which would make it tougher for people to own guns and she wants psychological testing for applicants. She wants lower taxes, and better protection for the elderly when it comes to health insurance, social security, disability, etc., and she wants more funding for education because children are the future and they deserve to have as much opportunity open to them from art and music to sports.She also said that she is tired of working hard so the government can take her money that she can use to spoil her grand kids to give to those on food stamps so that they can eat better than her. 

My political views were influenced by both my parents and outside factors. Once I moved to the United States I started to view the world from a completely new light. I often feel like growing up in the Caribbean is like living in another time. Although people are more relaxed and friendly there, a lot of the issues that I am now exposed to are not openly discussed at home like abortion which is illegal and homosexuality a term I’d never heard until I moved here.  In a lot of ways I grew up in a very conservative culture where religion is very important and can impact ones political beliefs on those social issues of abortion, divorce, etc., but since living here I've found most of my beliefs have been influenced by relatives, friends, the media, my community, etc. and because of these different experiences I feel as though I have established a balance in my political beliefs. I feel like my views are more in line with the independents. There are usually views I agree with on both sides, such as the women’s and gay rights while at the same time I believe people have a right to protect themselves but I think we need better gun control laws.  When it comes to choosing a leader I vote for the candidate I believe is the best person for the job, and whose ideas are more along the lines of my own. I look for a leader that can hold himself accountable, someone who is fair, is confident, knowledgeable and can adapt to the changing environment. This person has to be compassionate and of good moral character, he has to have integrity because it’s hard to vote for someone you don’t believe you can trust to act in the nation’s best interest.

This experience taught me that one’s political beliefs can be influenced by many different factors from family and religion to the media, gender and even race and that we’re all entitled to our beliefs. It’s shown me the importance of voting which gives us the platform to voice our opinion by allowing us to vote on the issues that we believe in and care about. It allows us to have a voice in how we want our country to run and also lets the candidates know that we support their points. We have a responsible to vote for those officials we believe will make a difference in our country. Ever since I became eligible to vote, I have voted. Many of us feel that as individuals we can’t make a difference, but we need to remember that our vote is just as important as everyone else in our state and that collectively we can make a difference. The more people that share your views the louder your voice becomes. This experience has confirmed my views; I think we have a duty to vote even if the candidate we voted for didn't win. By not voting we give up the right to complain about what happens in our country. When it comes to voting conservative or liberal people exercise their rights in support of the issues they strongly believe in from social issues of abortion, gay marriage, or the right to bear arms to economic issues of government regulations on taxes, unemployment and health regulations, spending, etc. They’re advocating for their beliefs.  Many voters based their interests on spending, foreign policies, threat of a terrorist attack, educational policies, public policies such as health reform for the sick and vulnerable, social security, etc. People are less likely to go out and vote if they have no faith in the candidates.

 Interview Questions Asked:

• How did you vote in the last election?  Why?
• Do you consider yourself a liberal, conservative, or independent?
• What life experiences have shaped your political values?
• What key issues are most important to you, when it comes to US policy?
• Who will you likely vote for in the future?  Are you happy with your party? 
• What are your views when it comes to the right to bear arms, abortion and gay marriage?
• Does negative advertising by candidate’s influence or change your views and the way in which you vote?
• What do you think the main role of government should be? (Inalienable rights, protection from foreign and domestic threats, etc)
• What qualities do you look for in a political candidate?
• What role should government play in fostering improvements in education and health care system