Letters
2
Opinion
WedNEsdAy, Appil 12, 2000
All signed letters to the editor should be 500 words or less and will be
considered for publication if submitted by 1 p.m. the Friday prior to
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Learn the leaders; inside the issues; voice your vote
George W. Bush
Republican
Born: July 6, 1946
Family: Wife and two children
Resides in: Austin, TX
Issues
Al Gore
Democratic
Born: March 31, 1948
Family: Wife and four children
Resides in: Carthage, TN
Voting Facts to Remember
• Presidential Primaries: May 16, 2000
Issues
• Where to register to vote: DMV or ASG
• Voter Registration deadline May 1
For: Distribution of school vouchers, ex
• Applications for ASG positions due April 20
pansion of charter schools, $483 billion in
tax cuts across all income brackets, mar
riage penalty tax relief.
• April 27 ASG nomination petitions are due
Against: Abortion, gun control, gay
•ASG Elections: May 11 & 12 from 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
For: Universal health care, saving social
security, stricter pollution standards, gun
control, abortion rights, gay rights, cam
paign-finance reform, marriage penalty tax
relref^expansion of charter schools, cre-
- ation of an education Reform Trust Fund.
• May 8-10 ASG absentee ballots and on-line voting
rights, mandatory increased minimum
wage, pollution standards, and universal
Against: School vouchers, tax cuts for
health care coverage.
the wealthy.
Does voting really matter?
Don't vote just to vote
JOHNTHORBURN
Editor-in-Chief
Everything you ’re about to read is
true.
This2000 campaign/election/voting
year, don’t go out and vote.
That is, don’t go out and vote just
to vote.
Don’t go out and vote unless you
know what it is you’re making a deci
sion on.
Two weeks ago, in my Local/State
Government class, Dr. Dean Darris
brought up a sad but true practice in
America.
People say that as Americans we
should be proud that we have die right
to vote and we should exercise that
right whenever possible. They never
bother to say to go out and actually
educate ourselves on what it is we're
supposed to care about.
Why is it that we hold something
so dear and special to us and actually
spend virtually no time learning about
what is going to change our lives?
We hold events like MTV’s “Rock
the Vote” and make it convenient to
register citizens. Let me ask this: Ifyou
have to convince a person to register
to vote in the first place, do you really
■want them voting? If people are so
apathetic about their rights, how
does it make sense to give them more
pull in your community?
Now, I have been guilty from time
to time of being apathetic with my
voting rights. But, I have never gone
out and turned in my ballot just to
say that I did.
The age-old saying is true—your
vote does matter at every level.
But please, if you want it to mat
ter, take the time to read about your
ASG or presidential candidate.
Don’t just toss the ballot measure
descriptions aside when you get
them in the mail.
In 1998, Virginia Legislator Clifton
A. Woodrum was quoted as say
ing, “The Declaration of Indepen
dence said that government derives
its right from the consent of the gov
erned. .Without knowledge, there
can be no consent.”
This spring, the college is hoping
that a bond will pass that will bring
$47 million for improving the cam
pus for the students.
This is the perfect reason to do re
search on a measure. Make a decision
about the college. Say yes to the
Clackamas student of the future or say
no. But don’t do it unless you know
what the hell you’re talking about.
SALENA DE LA CRUZ
Opinion Editor
Every year many people ask them
selves why voting matters? Do we
TO VOTE
really have a say?
Oregon primaries will be held May
16 to determine new laws and elect new
officials, including the president of the
United States.
I don’tthink there is areal issue that
needs to be concentrated on during
these proceedings other than—-just
vote.
Every year many people (myself in
cluded), choose not to vote because
they don’t think their votes really mat
ters. They do, maybe not in the way in
which we think, but it gives a feeling of
OR NOT
TO
VOTE,
accomplishment knowing we are part
of something that could veiy well make
a huge impact on the country as a
whole.
Now, ifyou are one ofthose people
who throw away your mail-in ballot or
never bothered to register, I ask you to
reconsider. We all need to be part of
THAT IS
THE REAE
the process of deciding what issues
are most important to us.
This year I’m going to fill out my
ballotandmailitin. I’d like asay about
who will be running the country. I be
lieve Al Gore to be the best candidate
this year. Gore supports many civil
QUESTION.
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Secretary:
Mandy Good
JoAnne Gale
Opinion Editor:
Advisor:
Salena De La Cruz
’ *
Linda Vogt (x2310)
rights issues, including women’s
rights and gay rights.
On campus, the ASG elections will
be coming up. Isuggestyouaddyour
vote to the rest of ours.
Also, the voters will be asked in May
to approve a $47 millicm dollar bond to
remodel and add to the college; in or
der for the measure to pass, 50 percent
of registered voters must vote, and 50
percent of those must approve the
bond.
We must educate ourselves on laws
and people that have the ability to
change the way our country works.
This will help us to be a bigger and
better part of what is so important for
the future of our children and our
children's children.
Be a part of something that really
means something. The decisions you
make on May 16 could affect us all
forever.
I’m asking you as students and as
Americans to care about the laws and
leaders we choose for our schools and
our country. Ifyou are not registered,
you can go to your local DMV (De-
partmentofMotorVehicles)ortheASG
office on campus. In1helongrun,your
vote may not seem like it matters, but
you’ll have your say. Vote 2000!
Questions
or
comments
e-mail
cccprini@clackamascc.or.us or drop by B-104.
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