When political candidates stop in Michigan as much as Sen. John Kerry and President Bush have, it's irresponsible not to go out and see them - both of them.

Regardless of which political party you swear allegiance to, it's imperative to see the whole picture going into any election. Voting the way your friends, neighbors and family vote isn't necessarily the right vote for you.

It should be every voter's mission to find out what all the candidates actually stand for. At different levels of government, party ideologies can play out differently than in a presidential election, or even a gubernatorial election. Party lines and platforms are drawn in sand for a reason - sand isn't as permanent as stone.

There should be no question in a voter's mind what they're actually voting for come election day. There are many ways to get your questions answered about the candidates.

If you're a Democrat, go see Bush and other Republican candidates speak. If you support the incumbent, get out to hear Kerry. Investigate their actual message and not what you perceive their message to be. You might be turned on by what they say.

If you come from a family strongly rooted on one side of the aisle, don't just vote the way your parents do. Engage dialogue with others on current political issues and see why they're going to vote the way they intend. And especially if that person happens to have the opposite view as you, listen to them without heated argument. If you remain civil in such situations, you might learn something.

Talk to undecided voters and figure out what has kept them from fully committing to either of the parties or candidates. They might bring up an angle you hadn't even considered before.

Not everyone should be voting for Kerry to oust Bush from office, or using their Bush vote to keep Kerry out of the White House. Politics are more complex than they are petty.

Right now, Michigan has a huge opportunity to learn from the candidates themselves, in their own words. When Bush and Kerry likely come to East Lansing or MSU, we urge you to see both of them. Read the news and visit the candidates Web sites to find out their exact stances and platforms.

Investigate the ideals of factory workers, teachers, union members and health-care employees and find out why certain industries support the candidates they do.

Most importantly, a voter should strive to find out which candidate's views mirror their own. If there's only one issue in common with both you and a candidate, examine why. A one-issue vote is too busy ignoring other issues to encourage its own.

Use everything you've learned about the upcoming election to balance your beliefs against those of a politician. Only then you will feel adequately satisfied with your choice. Your country and your state will thank you for it in turn.