a
2
Wednesday,
October 15,1997
Political parties: can you tell Republicans and Democrats apart
ence of the third party. Second, there’s
been this ¿version to multiple parties
that arises from the
jfc o
tft< fear of having ta
resort to coalitions of two or more pOLE F^
ERIC EATHERTON
Staff Writer
Republicans and Democrats. You know the rivalry'
parties to obtain a controlling majoré
between these two political parties that for about”1 <ity?
Another set. of politically active hu^g
14 decades served as the cornerstone of the AmeEj*
can system. You know their symbols. Heck, you
man beings seek “nbn-partisanship”i
on some elected positions, most no
might even be able to tell the difference between
the two parties.
tably elective judicial positions and
Shyah, right! Republicans and Democrats? More
local (i.e. municipal and county) po
like Coke and Pepsi. I drink both Coca-Cola and
litical offices. If “Republican” and
Pepsi; believe me, I don’t notice much of a differ
“Democrat” are the established brand
ence. And so it is with Republicans and Democrats:
names of the American political sys
just when you think you have these parties figured
tem, “non-partisans” are the generic
out, BLAM! Something happens that screws up the
brand. The chief problem: in the mar
ketplace, people psychologically
theory. You have Republicans vot
tend to identify more with the
ing like Democrats and vice versa,
brand names than with the generic
for starters. There was a timé in the
illustrious history of our country
"Republican" or the house brands. In the politi
■
when just by their campaign plat ■
cal arena, there’s no difference.
and
Without a label like, say, Demo
forms you could tell these two
long-standing brand names apart.
"Democrat" crat or Republican, voters tend not
to hear as much about these can
But like I said, these days “Repub
are
didates and much as the major par
lican” and “Democrat” are any
^anymore
ties’ choices.
more just a pair of brand names.
What can be done about these
You might wonder what that has
just a pair
problems? For fearing about
to do with my opinion. So I thought
of brand
multiparty coalitions, remember:
I’d divulge: our current two-party
to the neighbors of ours across the
system is quickly becoming over
names.
pond who proudly call themselves
kill. All these parties will do, all
Europeans, multiparty coalitions
they’ve shown me they can do well,
are nothing new; in fact, anymore it’s standard
is argue with each other. And when
Eric Eatherton
practice.
they argue, it’s safe to say for the
Staff Writer
As for non-partisanship: again, using the
most part, the controlling party will
marketplace analogy, generic brands tend to be
make the laws. Occasionally those
more of a bargain than the nationally (or interna
laws will differ from the political
tionally) known brands. Perhaps that’s the case in
parties’ normal positions (if, after all the arguing
the political arena as well: without the major-party
they’ve been doing between each other, they have
identification, the non-partisan candidate also iden
any). And also, now and again, those laws will differ
tifies less with the Democrat-Republican bickering.
from what the American citizenry will really want.
So the potential voter tends to see a lot less of an
Especially when during the arguing, they tie up some
image of a candidate, painted by either his/her po
important pieces of legislation.
litical party or that of the opposing candidate, and
What, if anything, can be done about it? I think
more about the candidate’s actual platform. Isn’t
we’d be better off with political parties whose la
solving problems, on whatever level you choose to
bels are more than just brand names. The advént of
run, what entering the political arena is really all
some of these so-called “third parties” should serve
about?
some notice to us that Republican-Democrat bick
Furthermore, let’s take the “nori-partisan office”
ering is starting to wear some politically active
thing to the next level. Let’s make political offices—
people’s patience a little thin. There have been two
let’s say state legislature or even the governorship—
traditional problems with this theory: first, when at
non-partisan. Let’s cut through the bickering.between
tention arises from the new political party, Republi
those Pachyderms and those Donkeys. Let’s take this
cans and Democrats quickly jump on that bandwagon
revolutionary idea to the national level. Diminish the
and adopt it as their own, thus reducing the influ
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Wednesday October 15, 1997
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power of political parties from the floor of the House
and the Senate, if not altogether eliminate the par
ties.
You could go to the other extreme: having at least three
or four political parties, each one representing a differ
ent political theory (to suit each part of the political spec
trum), coexisting while running the state or country. If
you really want to cut through partisan bickering, create
a situation which coerces it. The probability that politi
cal party will gain a majority and therefore control leg
islature diminish greatly with the more political parties
that are represented. With only two political parties, one
political party being in the majority is a nearly 100%
certainty. But with each new political party that enters,
this probability is greatly reduced, since each new party
as a rule siphons off support from the established par
ties. People do get sick and tired of the same ol’ Pachy
derm-Donkey status quo and therefore will look for al
ternatives.
If all you want to do is argue, why enter politics? If
you want to solve problems through politics, don’t ar
gue like you have nothing better to do; do something.
Students anxious for the return
of game room and study areas
Wc arc planning our annual Christmas Craft Fair. The Fair will be held in the
Community Center on Monday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. If you make hand
made items that you would like to sell, contact Michelle in the Student Activities
office CC140 at ext. 2245 for more information. Space is limited, so call early!
(Deadline is Oct. 27)
/7
IP€NT,
fa
Clackamas,
whether you
need a
place to
study or
play, you re
going to be
ip good
hands.
Student space on campus is at an
all time low. The lost use of three
of the out buildings has brought
new hardships and challenges to
the college and the students that at
tend here. The two issues that I
want to address are study areas and
a game room.
Study areas are important. Study
time allows students to catch up on
reading before class or to consult
with other students on the latest les
son. Ever since the onset of prob
lems with the buildings, the admin
istration, with the help of Mr.
Pantages leadership class have
made available study carrels all
around campus. It is my hope that
these carrels will remain when
more quiet and group study facili
ties open back up in the newly con
structed library. This will give stu
dents more study space than they
have ever had. On the decline and
in danger of elimination is the ex
tremely important space for student
recreation.
Two years ago there was a room
in Randall dedicated to student rec
reation. This room had pool tables,
video games, and a popular popcorn
machine. When buildings started
to be shut down for repair the stu
dent activity office voluntarily gave
the room over for a temporary
classroom. Due to the space con
strictions, the student activities
office decided to take sacrifices
in order to elevate the pressure.
Now as the buildings are near
completion, there has been talk
of keeping this precious student
space as a classroom. I have re
ceived many requests from stu
dents asking to restore this game
room. It is in the "best interest of
this school to give students a
place to hang out and relax.
I hope that as we move closer
to the middle of the term that you
will find time to relax and know
that at Clackamas, whether you
need a place to study or play, that
you are going to be in good hands.
Volume XXX, Issue 2