OPINION & EDITORIAL
Students must show they care
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by Steven Grant
Monday, October 30, 2006
We have all heard it before: students don't vote. But that is not always true in Madison. Madison has proven itself to be one of the more politically active schools in this country with consistently high voter turnout. During the 2004 election, voting on campus was close to 80 percent, a staggering number in comparison to national voter turnout of 18-24 year olds. But, from talking to friends, peers and acquaintances around campus, it seems the majority of students simply do not care about this election. I must ask myself: "why?"
The likely answer is that it is a mid-term election. This is a normal trend in this country. People seem not to care if it not a presidential election. In fact, the highest voter turnout in a mid-term election since 1960 is still lower than the lowest turnout in a presidential election year since 1960. So, following suit, there seems to be a sense of apathy this year on campus. But it can't be true that the students here are truly apathetic to any of the issues at hand in this election, from tuition prices, financial aid and the university's integrity, through the proposed ban that would write state-sponsored discrimination into the Constitution, to the war in Iraq. Although many of the people who don't seem to care about this election might not know it, this election has a direct effect on us here in Madison.
The question is: what is the effect on us? No one can deny that financial aid, tuition prices and the integrity of the university directly affect all students. Governor Doyle has done a lot to make sure that a college education is accessible to anyone who wants one. The Republican candidate Mark Green wants to cut a program that will increase diversity at UW-La Crosse. What do you think he wants to do with programs like that here? Also, the Board of Regents came out against the proposed marriage amendment because it "is critically important for our ability to compete in the global economy." The regents decided that not being able to provide domestic partner benefits to faculty, for example, would make it harder to hire world-class professors and consequently hurt us. Yet Republicans accused the regents of trying to influence the results of this election to favor Doyle by acting inappropriately.
Then there is that very amendment. Do we really want to live in a place where state-sponsored discrimination not only exists but is actually written into the state Constitution? I know I don't. I would find it hard to believe that most students do not at least know someone who would be directly affected by this amendment that would make lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals second-class citizens in the eyes of the state. The students are the people with the power to actually make Wisconsin the first state to defeat such a hateful ban.
On the international level, Tammy Baldwin wants an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Obviously we all have opinions about the war, but in respect to students, what direct effect does it have on us? Congresswoman Baldwin thinks that all the money we are wasting on a war that is making the world less secure and irresponsibly puts our troops in danger could be spent on pressing domestic issues. For example, using some of the money to dramatically increase federal financial aid. So, even the war is adversely affecting us here in Madison.
Seeing as health care is expensive right now, Congresswoman Baldwin is also working to create a universal healthcare system. All of us will graduate and have to pay for health coverage at some point in our lives under the current system. Wouldn't it be nice to never have to worry about making a decision between paying for food and health coverage? Congresswoman Baldwin wants to make sure none of us ever have to make that choice.
No matter what happens Nov. 7, this election will undoubtedly affect us all. If we drop the ball here in Madison we could lose the chance to do our part to make this country better for everyone.
So, if you think I have just provided the worst analysis of the issues at hand and that I am just a crazy raving liberal, OK, go vote and make your statement. If you think I have just provided the sanest and most sensible analysis of what is happening on this campus, in this state and in this country, great, go vote and make your statement. But damn it, take a minute out of your day and make a statement — what ever it may be. Let's prove everyone wrong, and show them that we do, in fact, care. Let's just vote, damn it.
Steven Grant (spgrant@wisc.edu) is a freshman majoring in Latin American Caribbean and Iberian studies and Portuguese.
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 7:10am):
I just can't vote for Mark Green. He looks too much like the leader of "The Others" on Lost. I haven't figured that guy out yet, but I know he's up to no good. That guy on Lost is probably up to no good too.
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 10:40am):
Steve, Mark Green may not be worthy of representing Wisconsin, but Tammy Baldwin never delivered on any of her promises either. It's just a question of who's the lesser evil. I'll go ahead and vote for Mark Green because 1) I couldn't do any worse or better by voting for Baldwin again and 2)Baldwin' had her chance to screw things up, let someone else take a turn.
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 10:55am):
Hey Steve, if it's so cool to be a liberal these days, then why is the Democratic Party suddenly opting for more conservative candidates? Haven't you been paying attention?
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 10:57am):
OK, Steve, if you haven't heard that Democrats are pulling up conservative candidates, here's a link for you:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/30/us/politics/30dems.html?hp&ex=1162270800&en=d8005513713af053&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 11:04am):
To poster #2, are you aware that you can vote for both of them, as one is running for governor and the other for Congress...
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 11:45am):
"To poster #2, are you aware that you can vote for both of them, as one is running for governor and the other for Congress..."
Duh! In case you didn't get the point, I don't trust either party! Grow a brain, farm boy!
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 12:35pm):
Oh my gosh, I'm having a panic attack. What if congress is run by Nancy Pelosi and all sorts of whacko liberals? They'll start passing all sorts of crazy laws where everyone has to have at least one abortion, the military will be dismantled, and our children will have to be raised as homosexuals. This is the worst possible scenario... the terrorists are going to win.
Okay, I'm calming down, now I just realized that President Bush is able to VETO bills. Maybe the legislative and administrative branches can compromise and work together and start working on the peoples' business instead of the radicals' business.
Panic attack over.
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 2:18pm):
"Maybe the legislative and administrative branches can compromise and work together and start working on the peoples' business instead of the radicals' business."
Not a chance. They're having way too much fun taking cheap shots at each other. That's the true essence of democracy.
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 2:22pm):
#2, you need to work on your writing technique. To me, not the original replier, it seems that you were directly comparing Baldwin to Green by selecting the "lesser of two evils." When you select the lesser of two things, one has to lose. In this case, you can select both evils and neither loses.
You are not allowed to vote next Tuesday, you're on double secret probation.
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 3:00pm):
"#2, you need to work on your writing technique..."
No YOU need to go back and re-read what I wrote! You are obviously aware that you misunderstood what I wrote, yet you don't have the guts to admit that it's your bad. And I will defy your double secret probation and vote next Tuesday if I have drag you clinging to my leg! Take that, fascist swine!
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 4:16pm):
"I just realized that President Bush is able to VETO bills"
He vetoed one freking bill so far. I'm waiting to see if he vetoes anything other than the stem cell research bill.
Bloated government spending = OK by Bush
Research to cure crippling disease = NO WAY
PS. The Christian fundies OWN Bush
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 5:43pm):
I've had with both liberals AND conservatives! Both suck big-time! They've become too extreme while most of the country is centrist!
Anonymous (October 30, 2006 @ 8:33pm):
Very interesting --
If you don't have to choose between buying food and having health coverage, who do you think is going to pay for your health coverage? Duh!! Your taxes will be so high you won't be eating very much. Why do you think universal health coverage is the way to go? Overseas, they have it but carry another policy so they can go to a doctor they want to see. Duh!! Or they wait many months to see a doctor. Duh!! Where are they ahead? Do we really want that? I certainly don't. Why do you think everyone else should pay for your benefits? Are you going to be on welfare, too? Gosh, you sound like a liberal. I'd much rather be Republican and work for my food, health benefits, and all the things I need to pay for to live my life.
Anonymous
Anonymous (October 31, 2006 @ 12:17am):
"I've had with both liberals AND conservatives! Both suck big-time! They've become too extreme while most of the country is centrist!"
Yeah, extreme democrats and their capitalism.
