Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aide of their country. Once a test for typing aptitude, this phrase becomes all the more poignant when the vote is near. The signs are in the yards obstructing views around corners. The ads are on the radio to hear over and over again during rush hour. The commercials have clogged up the TV airways. Newspapers are full of slander campaigns and even the "nice guys" are courting your voting favor with every trick they can think of. Due to this barrage of campaign madness, I thought it would be good to take a break from the financial How To and take a look at how all of this affects your bottom line, as well as that of the state.

Until recently I ignored state elections completely. If they weren't going to be making the "real laws" what did it matter? Once you own a business, you change that tune PDQ. California is one of the least small business friendly states in the union. Their spending is out of control and anyone who has tried to deal with them knows only too well how their policies are time consuming and even counter productive at times. Deciding who runs your state government is equally important, if not more so, as deciding who runs your country. Here are three simple things you can do to help ensure you pick the candidate that is right for you.

1. Research the Props before voting.
A very common tactic that pushers of propositions like to use is only promoting the aspects of the proposition or law that they think will get the votes. Many, many times throughout the course of history, a crafty politician has tacked something on to the end of a bill or amendment that couldn't pass on it's own. In my 30 years I have seen towns vote themselves out of the rights to sell alcohol in city limits, dog parks banned as a community eye sore, and "minimal" tax increases added for this, that and every other thing. A quick Google search of propositions, bills and amendments will provide you with a summary, a break down of all pieces or even a verbatim copy of the proposition itself.

2. Look at the candidate's track record.
Ignore all of the commercials, ads and puffery that goes on during election periods and you still have a wealth of information available to you on each candidate. Rather than getting wrapped up in partisan BS or politics as usual, listen to what their actions over the years have said about what they say vs. what they do. Look at how they approach an issue and, if it matters to you, how they have led their personal lives. This will give you a better idea of how they will operate once in office than the facts and figures in bold writing at the bottom of the screen or drilled into your head via the radio. Nearly all candidates for office have held an office previously. Records are available for every vote they cast.

3. ASK.
I can not stress enough how important it is to ask questions. Who do you ask? EVERYONE. Each of the candidates has web pages (e.g. www.askmeg.com ), there are any number of campaign workers standing outside your supermarket, and debates about candidates can be found in libraries and coffee shops throughout the country. You'll find that with very little effort on your side you'll be able to find someone who can either give you your answers or point you in the direction of someone that can.

With the national coffers just as empty as the state coffers, more and more of the regulations are being passed off to state control. Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, a Green or a Liberal, a Communist or a GDI, what happens in the state legislature affects you. Too many of us fail to show up at the polls each year to let our voices be heard and take an active role in the running of our government. That, or we are constantly surprised and appalled when our taxes are raised or a new law banning neighborhood activities goes into effect. For those of you who don't vote, the only thing I can say is, "START." The privilege is something that can not be taken away from you and in some cases, was very hard won. For those of you that are surprised by changes, the best thing you can do is prepare yourself and minimize the number of them by doing your homework before you vote. The state controls enough of our lives as it is. Don't let the puppet master that gets put in charge control your money as well. Research, Look, Ask and Vote!

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