Get Real: Get informed about the rulings

While working on what I would share today, I couldn’t get passed all that has happened this week in Supreme Court of the United States rulings. So let’s get real about how we educate ourselves about today’s current events

photo from sxc.hu

“On Monday, the Supreme Court struck down three key portions of a polarizing Arizona immigration law, but upheld the most controversial part of the bill requiring law enforcement to check the legal status of individuals suspected of being in the country illegally.” – HuffingtonPost.com

“The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld President Obama’s health care overhaul law, saying its requirement that most Americans obtain insurance or pay a penalty was authorized by Congress’s power to levy taxes. The vote was 5 to 4, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joining the court’s four more liberal members.” –NYTimes.com

Over the last few days I have been scouring the web for news of these two rulings. I could sit and talk politicos all day long. Sometimes I get to via Twitter, like tonight on the #Latism (Latinos in Social Media) chat about healthcare reform and what it means to Latinos. Except that tonight I did more ‘listening’ than talking. I don’t know all the impacts of the Affordable Care Act. I have my fair share of research and learning to do. Same goes for SB1070. I get the gist of it but I don’t know the ins and outs.

Here is the bottom line: Whichever side you are on or not on, GET INFORMED. 

With the speed of information coming at us online, there is no reason you can’t find out the answers you are looking for. First, you have to want to find them. There are plenty of reliable sources that report on what is going on. And there are plenty unreliable sources so be careful and research the facts. Today social journalism can keep reporting transparent but again, check the facts.

Some sources are biased and some are not. Biased isn’t necessarily bad. People may want to know what like-minded people think about breaking news or new SCOTUS rulings. Now, with blogs and niche reporting, it is not a difficult task to find your community.

Personally, I read articles from news sources/authors who are more aligned with my philosophies first.  Then, I look to  what “the other side” is reporting too. So I go check them out. It keeps me balanced. Most of all, it keeps me informed. What is making news today could be affecting you tomorrow. You will want to know.

Where do you get informed? I found a great infographic from Mashable.com revealing how social media is changing the way we access news today.


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