The Issues
Survey Results Show What Really Matters to College Students.
By Mary Elizabeth Carey
With Election 2000 around the corner, stu
dents—and all voters—are faced with
making a choice for who is best suited to run
the country. One thing is certain: students
know what issues matter to them, even though
many will be voting for the first time. It's the
issues that will make or break this election.
According to an August poll of people
aged 18-24, conducted by MTV and the
Kaiser Family Foundation, the economy and
jobs ranked at the top of the list of factors
that will influence students’ vote for president.
Here's a summary of the rest of the findings:
©Education
86 percent of the respon
dents saw education as being
“very important” in determin
■ ■ ig their vote for president, and
20 percent ranked it as their single biggest
concern. Half the students polled also said
that affirmative action programs are still
needed to counteract the discrimination
against minorities.
jssfe.
lobs
79 percent of those
polled are concerned about
job availability and the econo
my. Sounds strange, since we’re
in the largest economic boom in history, but
you’ve heard the talk—what will happen if
our web-centric economy hits the skids?
Crime and Violence
School shootings like at
Columbine High School or the
more recent murder-suicide at
the University of Arkansas have
made violence at schools an issue. 74 percent
of the respondents want to know how candi
dates are going to make schools safer.
Health Care
This issue has been at the
forefront of every recent elec
tion. Rising health care costs
and availability, plus the increase
in prescription drug costs, effect
everyone. 68 percent of the respondents
believe health care is a very important issue.
Other Issues
The environment, taxes, civil rights, priva
cy, abortion and national defense are also
issues on students’ minds. Figuring out where
you stand, and finding the candidate who
closely matches your views, will help you
make your decision.
Of everyone polled, 25 percent consider
themselves Republicans, 28 percent consider
themselves Democrats, and 41 percent are
Independent. Check out our chart on page 4
to see how the main candidates stack up on
these and other issues. •
For more information about these issues and
how to get involved, go to steamtunnels.net
and search using keyword “Issues.”
Related Links
evote.com
fundems.com
politicsl .com
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