Get in the Booth

I really like this one because i have recently been trying to get into the presidential race but i dont really know who is who because i guess this is the only presidential race i have cared about.Since im only like 19 and this will be the first time i will vote and this website will help me figure out and narrow down who to vote for.So thanks

As a extremely skeptical person when it comes to politics and voting, I found this pod highly interesting and inspiring. The one reason I don't vote is because I do not know what the candidates stand for and more so if they will uphold their beliefs once elected into office. The idea that these guys have thought up is both highly creative and practical. Their site is a starting point for people like me. I think it is a wonderful idea. More people will be more likely to vote and they will become more aware of the values and goals of our future leaders. Thank you..

Awesome stuff.

I just watched this pod and visited the glassbooth website. I was great, I hadn't researched a presidential candidate but after taking the really short survey I was connected with the candidate that most fits my personal viewpionts. And along the way I learned more about some important issues. Way to go. Very helpful.

I too was very inspired by this website, as well as the story of these three friends who decided to do something about the awful way we are educated about politics in this country. The only thing I wonder about -- is what do the candidates themselves think? Would be an interesting follow-up pod! (p.s. Moving Box, use a limiter on your mics!!)

Sorry, but I don't like it.

People, issues and life is more complex than a bunch of college age kids making decisions about what's what!

Maybe, in another thirty years guys.

The inherent problem and why it should not go anywhere is that it can all to easily become a means of misleading you - leaving your mental work to someone else - yet it's still you who will pay the price for it.

Did any of you have parents that taught you anything while you were growing up? Or did they just send you off to school and made sure you had clean clothes?

Dare - to think for yourself! The mind is a terrible thing to waste! Use it of lose it! Smart is sexy! Being a one of the mindless crowd, at least say your completely ignorant and you want to be!

This is an amazingly uncomplicated, straight-forward, user-friendly site! WOW! I have been vacillating between two candidates and struggling to find time in my day to become a more informed voter....3 minutes after typing the url into my address bar and i have a clear idea of who i align with and why....truly revolutionary!

Incidentally, I teach high school civics and intend on incorporating this site into my lesson on the race.

Cheers, guys! Thanks so much!

i think my brother was a programmer on this project...he wouldn't give me details about it but he said it dealt with voting...

Being involved in the decision making process in this country isn't about punching some data into a computer or website, and it spitting out clarification on what's rattling around inside your head - in the form of who to vote for and how you should align yourself with.

Things just aren't that simplistic in life, people change, grow and learn, their perspectives change. Politicians? Which of the many or alternating positions would such a web site determine to now be the correct one? The definative one? Who's interpretation of a politician's statement's would be considered accurate, Fox News or some Ultra left wing dude? If you could make an assessment of these "determiners" how could you trust it was accurate? Maybe it's Right wing backed group possing as a left wing group to sway what people believe.

Imagine that, someone trying to mislead another, naw, this is America. We have honest elections here.

Being involved in the country's decision making process is informing yourself - from multiple sources. When you are committed, it becomes real to you and you are more able to see things clearly - unless you are an ambitious politician - just ask Al Gore. He says he's reformed for a reason!!!!

Rembrandt van Rijn said: "Practise what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know."

Those are wise words.

VoyagerFilms:

I don't disagree with anything you're saying about being independent-minded, I'm just not sure you've grasped what Glassbooth is all about. Take the quiz or go straight to the new "Explore Candidates" feature and see if you don't change your mind.

If you take a look at the wording of the questions, the personalization of the quiz based on your interests, the type of research used and how candidate positions are determined, etc., you'll see that a lot of thought went in to making the site as non-biased as possible. As one of the founders says in the pod, the research behind this tool took hundreds and hundreds of hours. Do you have that kind of time to find out where every candidate stands on every issue?

The proximity score you get after taking the quiz is only the beginning. It's not telling you who to vote for -- it's telling you which candidate is closest to your beliefs based on the issues you said were most important to you. The real value of Glassbooth comes when you explore the candidates and the issues to learn more about their voting records, public statements, sponsored legislation, etc.

So I disagree that it's just "a bunch of college age kids making decisions about what's what!" If you have qualms with the wording of the questions or the type of information selected to back-up candidate positions, than by all means send in some feedback. People send feedback all the time when candidates change their position, vote for a new piece of important legislation, etc., and that information is added to the research. I'd love to hear what you think after digging deeper into the site.

Forget about voting for the most qualified canidate. I'm voting for the person with the best fighting skills

http://www.atomfilms.com/2008/kung_fu_election/index.jsp

Like I said before, "This is a great STARTING point for people who are not as wise about politics and our presidential candidates. By no means will I vote solely based on my quiz result on glassbooth.com. I will most certainly be pointed in the right direction though having spent sufficient time on the site. This site is just no of many sources of information when it comes to researching the ideals of the presidential candidates. I will say this, If you visit Glassbooth, take the quiz, then vote based on the results of that quiz, then yes you are not the brightest star in the sky but if you take the quiz and find that Clinton shares the ideals and values you do, why shouldn't you continue to research what Clinton stands for.

Glassbooth is a great starting point for people who don't know enough about politics and our presidential candidates.

80sUSbaby:

Really good point. By no means is Glassbooth the only site you need to make an informed decision on who you should vote for. As you said, it's a great place to start. Someone coming to the site for the first time doesn't have to know much at all about politics. They just have to know, to some degree, what they believe, and the site will help point them in the direction of candidates who share their beliefs.

jlaboy: dude that game was awesome. Hillary sicked Bill on me to punch me in the face like 12 times in a row and whooped my ass though. Wtf!

I didn't need to do this quiz. I already knew who it would prescribe. This is not the first profiling test on this subject. I will say good luck to getting anyone involved in their government if they are not a politician, not an elder, and not activist.
Most people don't act until they are feeling the "burn" of the failing economy, inflation, recession, or over-all shitty living standard. I guess this applies; "No Pain, No Gain" huh?

this is such a great idea. the innovation drives these people. this idea and service that glass booth is providing is really something that the younger voting population needs. These individuals all did a great job portraying their intents and motivations as well as the effect that they see this having on their website's community. I enjoyed hearing from each of the individuals involved as well as seeing them promoting and working with the website and as a team...this allowed for the audience to be drawn in and become more attached to the idea of glass booth. Seeing them working on it and with the footage at the end showing a number of young individuals looking at the website inspired me to do so. good storytelling :)