The name alone -- "Political Courage Test" -- helps describe the incredible reality gap that exists between America's political class and the people who elect them.
For most of us, the prospect of filling out a simple questionnaire about issues we would support if we won political office would be no more than just another chore -- not an act of courage.
But the people at Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization founded by some of the biggest names in American political and business life, knew what they were doing when they called it that. The proof is the number of politicians at the state and federal level who refuse to participate -- people who want your vote but aren't willing to tell you what they stand for. So what's to hide?
As Project Vote Smart points out in its material and the quiz itself, it does not ask politicians to identify issues or programs they oppose, only those they support. But resistance remains.
In northwest Lower Michigan, it must be said that participation has improved a bit from just a few years ago. But there are still too many who sit it out.
The following is a list of Michigan candidates and whether they took the Political Courage Test:
-- U.S. Senate
Democratic incumbent Carl Levin, no.
Republican challenger Jack Hoogendyke, yes.
-- U.S. House
-- 1st District: Incumbent Democrat Bart Stupak, yes; Republican challenger John Casperson, yes; Libertarian challenger Daniel Grow, yes.
-- 2nd District: Incumbent Republican Pete Hoekstra, yes; Democratic challenger Fred Johnson, yes; Libertarian challenger Dan Johnson, yes.
-- 4th District: Incumbent Republican Dave Camp, yes; Democratic challenger Andrew Concannon, yes; Libertarian challenger Allitta Hren, no.
-- State House
-- 101st District (an open seat): Republican Ray Franz, pending; Democrat Dan Scripps, no.
-- 104th District (an open seat): Republican Wayne Schmidt, no; Democrat Roman Grucz, no; Libertarian Dan McDougall, no.
-- 105th District: Incumbent Republican Kevin Elsenheimer, no; Democratic challenger Connie Saltonstall, no; Libertarian challenger Greg Dean, no.
Thanks to Project Vote Smart, voters in districts where candidates have declined to fill out the Political Courage Test may still find some direction. Through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, Project Vote Smart has put together ratings of the some candidates -- including all incumbents -- by dozens of special-interest groups representing issues from animal rights to guns, agriculture, health care, education, crime and abortion.
Under health care, for instance, Rep. Hoekstra, a multi-term incumbent, is given ratings by groups as varied as the Breast Cancer Alliance and the American College of Physicians.
Project Vote Smart is a unique, invaluable resource guaranteed to make you a more informed voter.
Have the courage to give it a try at www.votesmart.org.
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