Moms Talk: About Politics

Of course the most natural political conversation is one in which we are telling our kids which side of the issue is the "right" one, or which candidate is the "right" one. Parents of teens know that this backfires anyway, as they'll choose the opposite of what you try to sell.

So you might as well play dumb, and ask about issues as if you know nothing. One easy way to keep your opinion out of it, is to find and read editorial pieces together. They are written to be entertaining and sharp (so a good lesson in writing at the same time).

Check out Bruce Ramsey's opinion piece in the Seattle Times October 11, 2011, where he analyzes the positions on Initiative 1183. You can find counter arguments on line to create a comparison. This is a great issue because if the television is on for even 15 minutes a day, your kids will have seen numerous ads on both sides of this issue. Ramsey boils it down to a fight between the large stores that want a market share (like Costco) and the Wine and Spirits folks and smaller stores, who do not want to miss out on profits or compete with Costco. He gives statistics about teen drinking and rules in other states. Good stuff to start a debate at the dinner table.

As the ads heat up and debates rage on, there will be much more to talk about in the coming year.