Alyssa GregoryIt’s November and time for elections. It’s time to get educated about the issues and make your voice heard and vote.
SU elections hold an importance specifically because these candidates represent students and only students, and their actions have a primary effect on students’ daily lives. As with the congressional elections, one should not only vote but also learn about the candidates. Each candidate’s statement is in today’s paper, as well as online at SU’s Web site. Go to either one, so you can learn about the future representatives of Washington University.
This year’s SU elections, however, are even more important, in that the new SU constitution is on the ballot. This constitution, which has been in committee for the past two years, is finally complete and will determine how your student body functions. Contained in it are major changes that include a greater separation of powers between its members and committees, fewer senatorial positions, and the creation of new committees. As stated on the SU Web site, however, this new constitution also carries with it possible drawbacks, such as stagnation and the removal of monetary power from the senate. To learn more about the constitution before you vote on it, read it in its entirety in today’s paper or go to SU’s Web page.
One of the brilliant things about the government under which we live is that it is multi-tiered. One may vote not only on a campus level, but also on the state, city, and, national level. At the same time that SU elections will be occurring, so too will Congressional elections.
Though they may not hold the nation’s interest as much as presidential elections, the Nov. 5 midterm elections remain an important part of American democracy. These elections will determine which party controls Congress, and the winners will determine the direction that our government takes over the next two years.
Though WU appears to be an isolated environment, your vote can make a difference; so get out there and vote.
Before you do, you should learn about for whom and for what it is you are voting. Often times, individuals simply go to the ballots and vote based on their party allegiance without any consideration of the type of candidate they are supporting. When one goes to the polls, one does not vote for a particular ideology but rather specific persons with their own sets of beliefs that may or may not match the stance of the party under which they are running.
Know the issues.
Before exercising your right to vote, exercise your right to be educated. In this age of information, it is easier than ever to find out where exactly each candidate stands on the issues and which interests support which candidates.
If one registered to vote in Missouri, he or she will participate in one of the most closely watched senatorial elections of the year: incumbent Democrat Jean Carnahan faces the Republican (and former WU visiting professor) Jim Talent.
It should also be noted that this race in particular holds a special importance, in that, if Jim Talent is elected, he will be instated in November, and not in January. The reason for this lies in that Sen. Carnahan came to office without actually being elected; she was instated after her husband died in a plane crash after his election. What this means is that if Talent wins, the Republican party will hold the majority for nine weeks before the January induction of all other senators, even if the Democratic party gains the majority by election. This could possibly mean that President Bush could push through federal court appointees and even certain reforms.
Though the space provided by this page is not enough to outline the stances that each candidate takes on the issues, one can and should learn more about them at the non-partisan website www.issues2002.org.
And even if you’re not registered here in Missouri, those of you registered at your home states should send in your absentee ballots so that your presence will be known in these elections. Simply mail in your ballot and you’re done. What could be easier? You don’t even have to leave home.
While you’re at it, vote for the propositions and candidates of your city as well. There a many important issues being voted on. For instance, there is a new cigarette tax that may make your Marlboros and Camels about 50 cents more expensive than they already are.
These elections and issues affect you. So get educated. Go out. Go vote.