Boustany vs. Landry: A Local Debate That You Should Pay Attention To If You Care About The 2012 Election

Normally, we don't get political here on Hot 107.9. We play hot music, and we have fun. We give you cool things to win, and funny things to laugh at. But this year is an election year, and Obama/Romney are two names that are nearly impossible to avoid, especially if you have Facebook.

If you couldn't care less about this years presidential election, stop reading now. If you do, then you may or may not know that there is a very heated local battle between Congressman Jeff Landry and Congressman Charles Boustany - and today at 5 p.m. on our sister station KPEL 96.5 FM, they face off in their one and only debate.

Lets face it, when it comes to politics, a lot of people have become "facebook experts" over the last few months. I can admit that sometimes I cringe when I see political propaganda and misinformation spread via social media, (I like to call it the deaf leading the blind) but the fact still remains that people "care" enough to take action. Even though it may be a repost from the friend of a friend's cousin, they are showing concern with the direction of our great country, no matter who their favorite candidate may be.

Remember back in school, when we learned that the President of the United States didn't get to just "make" all of the decisions? If you weren't paying attention in class, I don't quite have the time to explain the entire process to you, but Congress plays a huge part in what flies and what dies when it comes to decisions that guide our country. Here are a few tidbits.

• There are 535 voting Members of Congress
• 435 members in the House of Representatives
• 100 members in the Senate
• Each state has 2 senators
• Members of the Senate serve six-year terms
• Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms representing the people of a district
• Congressional districts are apportioned to states based on population

Here's where things get funky. Last year, Louisiana's district lines were re-drawn and now District 7 and District 3 are merging, leaving only one man between Landry and Boustany to represent Acadiana from Lake Charles to Lafayette, and down to St. Mary parish. What's more, is that both candidates are part of the Republican Party and have had some serious negative ad campaigns against one another.

This is all about our backyard, and if you truly do care about the direction of our country (and our area here in Acadiana) this debate is definitely worth tuning in to. Contrary to what the internet may lead you to believe, this year's election is definitely about more than Big Bird and binders.

To check out more info on the debate, and how you can tune in, head over to KPEL 96.5 now, and please get out and VOTE!

Now, if you don't mind, I need to get back to music and funny stuff ... and Halloween mugshots.