How to Get Ian Foley's Vote: A Young Voter Manifesto

As a voter, I find only a handful of issues I believe to be firmly perquisite to a candidate garnering my vote in an election.  I try to take a more world-view and look at issues in a big picture form, to determine what really matters in short term, as well as long term. We live in a nation where the priority of issues is non-static, and thus it is important to understand that weight of an issue is contingent upon this natural priority, rather than personal.  Therefore, I find the following to be necessary an elected official.

Foresight

The ability and willingness to compromise short-term public opinion for long-term national gains or solutions. Self sacrifice of elected office in order to fulfill long term constituent needs, as opposed to short term wants, is an admirable trait.

Fiscal Responsibility

Adjunct to the previously mentioned, an elected official must show the willingness to make tough decisions for national solvency for years to come.  He must not only maintain current bridges, but to build ones he will never cross.

Trustee of Government

Elected official should form own opinion based on voter opinions, then act with the best interests of the constituency and the nation. They should act on the true needs of the constituency, nation, and to the extent of their own knowledge, experience and discretion.

National Solvency

The ability to balance ethics, justice, and sovereignty. While an elected official must work for the betterment of the planet, should not promote or act in any way that leads to the destruction of the nation or constituency. Every effort should be made to defend and extend the economic interests and authority of the nation. A compromise against the nation in view of any other purpose contradicts the art of representative government.

Ian Foley

Communication Studies

Wilkes 2014

Mitt Romney & His Sly Smile

As a voter, Mitt Romney appears to have a second agenda that I don't trust. His sly smile of overconfidence after each remark makes him look outright arrogant. Romney desperately needs to consider how he looks to the middle class in particular. He recently made a bet in the amount of $10,000 which is utterly ridiculous that he proposes to have that much money to throw away on a bet when Americans are struggling to just make a living. Mind you, the same demographic that would find this bet offensive provides the majority of voters, silly Romney.

I find it "fishy" that he has yet to release his income tax information even after so many have brought the issue into the lime light. His delay in releasing his tax records leads me believe he has something to hide. I suspect that he is making a ridiculous amount of money by putting into practice every possible loop hole he can, to give himself his own personal tax break. How can we elect a president we can't even trust? As the state of the economy worsened, he helped himself become wealthier by paying a lower tax rate than most middle class Americans. This is not a leader. After the debate I found that Romney allegedly makes millions while paying only 15% income tax rate. Americans in the middle class make far less and yet they pay as much as 25%. Corruption has begun even before he has reached the White House.

I understand it is stereotypical of conservatives to be con gay rights; however, I cannot seem to wrap my mind around this bigotry. For Romney to claim that he believes in equal rights for homosexuals but does not support gay marriage is completely contradictory. Equal rights means that every citizen is given the same opportunities. To deny someone rights that are granted to another, like marriage for example, is not equal rights, plan and simple.

Although the primaries show that Romney is the most likely candidate to win the Republican nomination, I will not be voting in his favor unless he shapes up. I understand he needs to appeal to conservatives because that is his only chance in becoming the next president. However, to be a leader he needs to show Americans that he is in this race for their best interest and not his own.

Devoni Novak

Communication Studies 

Wilkes 2013

Ron Paul Got My Vote: South Carolina GOP Debate

My main conclusion coming out of the South Carolina debate is that I wouldn’t vote for anyone other than Ron Paul. The main reason that I would vote for Ron Paul is because he seems to be the most realistic out of all the rich, white, married men. As I was watching some of the other people answering the questions being posed to them, I was getting very confused how these men could have gotten this far. Some of the things they were saying made me want to take a step back and just say, “Really? You would REALLY do that? Wow.” One of the main things that just confused me was when they were debating how Apple makes their products in China. Santorum, Gingrich, and Romney stood there and said that they would try to bring the jobs over to America and make these American companies use American workers. Then one of the men mentioned how the jobs could even come right to South Carolina, playing to the home crowd I see.

I turned to my mother, who I watched it with, and started going off about how Americans would never work for such a low wage that wouldn’t make the products prices skyrocket. Americans would want to be paid top dollar while Asian workers would work for much cheaper. Then my savoir Ron Paul stated his opinion on the matter. And he was realistic saying that prices would sky rocket if the companies did come to America. I may have actually applauded my television after that. Another thing was when everyone except Paul said that they would repeal Obamacare within the first few months of their presidency. Then Paul came on and again spoke the truth, that removing it immediately and completely is not reasonable and sensible. So he came out on top of the debate for me. He seemed to have at least some grasp on reality.

All four candidates are supposed to represent America which is known as a “melting pot” but did we really see any diversity? They were all mature, rich, white, Christian, married men. They all shared the basic principles and even throughout someone would answer the question first and then someone else would jockey on their idea, “Well I agree with So-and-so, and if I were elected president, I would also do that.” Basically the country has to choose from the French vanilla candidates of the Republican Party or our current flavor of Obama-chip. Neither option is really appealing to me. I think we need another party that could actually get some votes. Having two mediocre parties running against each other is only going to result in a snafu for four years. America needs a major renovation of their political system so someone of merit can get us on the right track.

Kristina Seiger
Communication Studies
Wilkes 2014