4a
Opinion
Tuesday, November 7, 2000
Perspective
Cast a vote that reflects principles, not 'reality'
Election Day is here. And we hear from the media that most Americans, especially young people, do not vote. They are apathetic and cynical. Here we are, a college campus, filled with these very same people.
For comments, contact Ben Embry or Emily Hughey at 864-4924 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com
Is this the way we should be: cynical? No. College is supposed to be filled with the young and idealistic. Today, though, idealistic is practically a naughty word. Almost automatically, naive is attached to it. So we fall under the trap of believing that ideals cannot be implemented into life, that we must be "realistic." We must put up with the failure to run things according to an ideal. We must accept the shortcomings of our leaders. This idea is given to us constantly as elections come up.
Don't throw away your vote, people say. In other words, don't vote for what you believe; be realistic. Probably the best argument I could present to convince you of the fallacy of the wasted vote comes from an episode of The Simpsons.
Two aliens kidnap Bill Clinton and Bob Dole (during the '96 election), make copies of their bodies and run for president in place of them:
Stephen C.
Duncan Jr.
guest columnist
opinion@kansan.com
Homer:
America, take a look at your beloved candidates.
They're nothing but hideous.
space reptiles, [unmasks them; audience gasps in terror]
Kodos: It's true. We are aliens.
But what are you going to do about it? It's a two-party system; you have to vote for one of us.
[murmurs]
First man. He's right; this is a two-norty system.
Second man. Well, I believe I'll vote for a third-party candidate.
Kang: Go ahead. Throw your vote away. [Kang and Kodos laugh out loud]
The next day, Kodos announces the result: "All hail, President King." The field in front of the Capitol has now become a working ground where altens whip humans and use them to carry materials. The Simpson family is working, too, with Homer and the kids carrying wood and Marge pushing a wheelbarrow of cinder blocks with Maggie on top.
Homer: Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos.
Marge: I don't understand why we have to build a ray gun to aim at a planet I never even heard of.
People have forgotten what voting is supposed to be about. Voting is not important because it decides who is elected. Voting is important because it is your official voice, your chance to give your opinion.
Change never comes about by voting for those who keep doing the same thing. Besides, Kansas hasn't given its electoral votes to a non-Republican in decades. So your vote, when it comes down to who will be elected, means nothing. But as a statement of your beliefs, it means everything. No one will know that when you vote for Al Gore, it's because you don't like George Bush, or vice versa. Instead, it is interpreted as support for the candidate's proposals.
I can't urge you enough to vote for what you believe. Vote for your ideals. Don't vote for "the lesser of two evils" just to be "realistic."
Duncan is a Lawrence sophomore in computer engineering.
Steve Sack / TMS CAMPUS
Editorial board endorsements
The Kansan editorial board decided to endorse candidates in the two most competitive races Lawrence voters face. The board endorses Democrat Al Gore for the presidency and incumbent Rep.Dennis Moore (D-Lenexa) in the 3rd Congressional District race, but the vote was not unanimous. Here's how individual members voted:
Erin Adamson
Nader/LaDuke
Moore
Katie Hackett
Gore/Lieberman
Moore
Tim Lang
Bush/Cheney
Kline
Torrie Jones
Gore/Lieberman
Kline
Cynthia Malakasis
Erica Hawthorne
Gore/Lieberman
Moore
Kate Hazelwood Undecided
Gore/Lieberman Moore
Emily Hughey
Gore/Lieberman
Moore
Andy Miner
Bush/Cheney Moore
Brett Norman
Gore/Lieberman
Moore
Brett Norman
Amanda Sears
Gore/Lieberman
Moore
Ben Tatar
Ben later
Gore/Lieberman
Moore
Brett Watson
Nader /LaDuke
Moore
Gore presents clear choice for president
Al Gore is the best candidate to succeed Bill Clinton as the next U.S. president by virtue of his commitment to middle-class families, his sound education platform, his vast political and foreign policy experience, his environmental record and his stance on a abortion.
Al Gore's tax cuts cater to middle-class families more than Bush's plan. Gore's cuts include making the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit refundable to working families. He also will offer tax relief to stay-at-home parents.
Bush's bloated plan includes cutting the maximum tax rate for the middle class down to 25 percent from its current 28 to 31 percent. Most of his massive cuts would go to the wealthy.
On education, both plan to improve teacher quality, classroom conditions and pay. Bush proposes a $3 billion Education Technology Fund to ensure technology boosts achievement, while Gore proposes a $170 billion dollar plan to raise teacher pay, bring more attention to special education programs and make higher education more affordable.
But Bush has a poor education record in many respects in Texas, which ranked 48th out of the 50 states in high school completion during his tenure as governor. Additionally, Texas educators saw their salaries dip 1.1 percent from 1998 to 1999 — a fact that only worsens the dead-last ranking Texas had in teacher salaries and benefits.
Gore and Bush have different amounts of political experience. Gore, as vice president, is
ahead of the game in foreign policy, given his experience with peace-making in Northern Ireland, the Balkans and other war-torn regions.
In addition, many have dubbed Bush the "Texecutioner" for his record of 144 executions since he took office. Bush's mentality toward those executed is scary at times, as he dismisses evidence that could prove innocence and will not translate well in the nation's capital.
Al Gore fits better with middle-class citizens, has better experience behind him and has a platform that should function better than Bush's. His education platform is inserting the help in the right places, and his Republican rival's statistics speak for themselves. Gore is the more sound choice for 2000.
Ben Tatar for the editorial board
Incumbent Moore deserves another round
We endorse Dennis Moore (D-Lenexa) for the 3rd congressional district of Kansas.
Moore is a native Kansan; he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1967 and obtained his law degree from Washburn University in 1970. He served in the U.S. Army and spent 13 years as the Johnson County district attorney.
Moore's key issues are the greatest reason to re-elect him. Moore has voted to fund the federal lawsuit against the big tobacco corporations, and on numerous occasions, he has voted to ease the federal tax burden on Kansans.
Moore is serving his first term in the House of Representatives and proving his leadership.
Moore has sponsored legislation prohibiting violent juvenile criminals from possessing firearms, creating tax incentives for small business health plans and establishing child-proof caps on gasoline containers.
His challenger, Phill Kline (R.Shawnee), also earned a degree from the University. But his political past shows an unwillingness to compromise on his conservative views — unlike Moore, who has worked with both parties in his time in the House.
Although many congressional leaders are apt to spend the projected budget surplus, Moore takes a responsible position. If re-elected, Moore would advocate paying down the national debt, which would reduce interest rates and improve the economy.
ty of education in Kansas. Specifically, he called upon his colleagues in Congress to vote to provide the increased funding for special education that was promised in 1975.
Most importantly, Moore has worked to pass a patient's bill of rights. He was part of a bipartisan coalition in 1999 that passed a managed-care reform bill. With another term in the House, Moore would make greater strides towards health care reform.
Moore is committed to improving the quali-
In 1988, the 3rd district sent Moore to Congress, and he has represented Kansas well. He has worked with both parties and put the interests of his district first. We should send Moore back for another term.
Brett Watson for the editorial board
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kanas reserve the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Standerous statements will not be printed. To read more, go to www.kanans.com.
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free all for 864-0500 864-0500
Is the dean of architecture saying that it's OK for students to abuse prescription drugs and to stay up for days? That's ridiculous.
it sure was funny the other day when I splashed all the people with my car.
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Kudos to whoever drew the caveman in the elevator at Fraser Hall.
If this university is an institute of higher learning, why is it they block off all parking for basketball games, so students who want to go to the library for academic purposes can't?
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No one who calls the Free for All has anything intelligent to say.
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No one should drive drunk.
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Either way the election goes, half of America will be unhappy for the next four years.
God help us if Nader is elected because then the White House will be run by hippie freaks.
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I wonder about the impartiality of the UDK. Bush's DUI was on page six while Fred Phelps' and Al Gore's pictures were front-page news.
it sure was funny the other day when I splashed all the people with my car.
If the Kansan is so liberal, that really doesn't explain the placement of the stories in Friday's paper.
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it sure was funny the other day when I splashed all the people with my car.
The Free for All should be called the Liberal Free for All.
it sure was funny the other day when I splashed all the people with my car.
Bush can call his DUI a youthful indiscretion because he never grew up.
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If sorority girls don't want to be made fun of, they shouldn't make it so easy.
About the downfall of Napster, everyone is starting to sound like a bunch of spoiled kids. Go out and buy the CD.
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How is it if women have so many mood swings they never are in a good mood?
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All letters and column questions should be e-mailed to opition@kansan.com or submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Ben Embry or Emily Hughes at 864-4924.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924.
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