Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

Ralph Nader's detailed proposals for change are listed on ralphnader.org, votenader.org and books published over twenty years. How could you miss them? Nader is ready to take the government out of corporate control and back into the hands of the people. Nader is not for sale and neither is my vote.

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• Posted by steveconn on October 29, 2008 at 11:07 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

I like how the only person the Kansan thinks can solve our healthcare problems is Ralph Nader. Kudos to them for including a 3rd party candidate. I enjoyed listening to him speak at Abe and Jakes, but Nader is far too tired and old to keep running for president over and over again. He wrote many great books about consumer advocacy and has been a wonderful activist over the years, championing causes like environmentalism, consumer safety, consumer rights and healthcare. Trouble is, every time he runs for president, people brush off his sensible ideas and vote for "the lesser of two evils." There is no doubt that someone like Nader has the ideas to turn a country like ours around, but he is not a member of a major party, so his voice, like many others, gets ignored.

I almost want to vote for Nader, but unfortunately I too will be voting for the lesser of two evils....

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• Posted by sjschlag on October 30, 2008 at 1:27 a.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

There is a reason why the typical person gets progressively more conservative as they get older: It's called wisdom. Intelligent people (those not under the influence of unhealthy, self-imposed guilt) gradually drop their naive idealism and realize what really makes America great and what really makes America work.

The editorial board is for Obama because he's for "change" and "his outlook is refreshing". How nice. How naive. You even admit that he hasn't announced HOW he will change America. The reason he won't say is because he knows America isn't ready for socialism. America is great because we have equal opportunity, not equal incomes.

Obama promises the moon (in giveaways) yet says he will cut taxes? Come on. Any intelligent college student can see through this. Income taxes will increase for the average person who pays income taxes if Obama is the president, not just the most wealthy 5% of the population.

As for his "tax cut": It's really a transfer payment (called welfare) made to people who don't pay ANY income taxes. Yes, Obama wants to take the money from hard-working Americans and give it away in the form of welfare to people who pay nothing in income taxes. Didn't we already clean up welfare under the Republican Revolution along with the signature of Bill Clinton back in the 90s?? Now we are going backwards to give disincentive to work to those who need to get out there and earn their way in the world?

Wake up young Americans!

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• Posted by KU88 on October 30, 2008 at 9:51 a.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

"America is great because we have equal opportunity, not equal incomes."

This is false. America is a country that indeed strives for equal opportunity, however this simply is not true. The United States has a history of oppressing minority groups, and this long oppression has lead to socioeconomic problems and struggles for many minorities. People may feel that everyone in this country has the same opportunity for education and work. However, differences between inner-city schools and schools in wealthier parts of a city are evidence that equal education does not exist. The notion that all people in this country have an equal opportunity to succeed is more naive than Obama's stance on change.

Also, although some people do become progressively conservative as they grow older, the reason for this is not wisdom. In fact, most people with higher educational degrees, such as PhDs, tend to be more liberal.

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• Posted by ebrown426 on October 30, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

To ebrown426......You've been drinking the liberal Koolaid, my friend. America DOES strive for equal opportunity, but not everyone grabs for the golden ring and goes for it. Anybody, in this great country, CAN make more of their life than their circumstances and environment SEEM to dictate. We are NOT in a caste system. It's people like you whose minds are imprisoned with the "we can't overcome our circumstances" mindset that oppress yourselves and others with such negative talk.

The constitution doesn't guarantee equal education opportunities. In fact, the constitution of the USA doesn't address schools at all. If you want to get particular, the US Department of Education is unconstitutional because it wasn't one of the federal powers enumerated in the constitution. Our Founding Fathers didn't address education because they rightly assumed that education was primarily the job of the family. (Obviously, we have evolved into a public school model since then, but the responsibility and emphasis for schooling must STILL be on the parents.) It's the erosion of the CORE FAMILY in the inner-city that leads to kids not having role models to emphasize school and hard work that lead to "unfair" educational opportunities. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You can lead a kid to school, but you can't make him think, especially if his parents don't emphasize it.

The erosion of the core family in the inner-city goes back to the WELFARE state that I mentioned in my first post. Which party promoted the welfare state? The democrat party. Which party wants to strengthen the welfare state by giving the money from hard-working Americans to people who don't pay any taxes in the name of "spreading the wealth", as Obama puts it? The democrat party. When people have no incentive to work because money is given to them, they have less incentive to finish school and work hard. Unwed mothers have incentive to have more children without the support of a loving father figure when they are rewarded with more welfare for more kids if they aren't married. Fathers are discouraged to work when they are given a hand out (welfare) and they aren't "needed" by the mothers if the mothers are getting welfare from the government to reward being unwed with children, so men lose self-esteem and the esteem of their children and become worthless role models.

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• Posted by KU88 on October 30, 2008 at 12:54 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

To ebrown426 (continued) I still maintain that people, in general, become more conservative as they age because they become wiser to the world. People with higher educational degrees, as you mentioned, tend to be liberal because of a number of factors, among which are: 1) they also tend to grow up in higher socio-economic households (or have risen into a higher socio-economic position) and they tend to have the unhealty guilt I mentioned in my first post because they feel like they don't deserve to have a better life than people who come from modest means, 2) they are brainwashed by university professors into the liberal "group think" that pervades most college campuses, blinding them to reality outside the Ivory Tower world of higher education.

The Real World--Main Street and Wall Street--tends to be populated with more people who would call themselves moderate to conservative because these people are grounded in what makes the USA really work.

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• Posted by KU88 on October 30, 2008 at 12:56 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

Education does NOT equal wisdom, it comes with life experience, and most PhD's have none as they are sheltered in their little school worlds instead of going out and doing real work in the real world. Also, you generalize too greatly, maybe most liberal arts PhD's are liberals, but not most scientific ones (maybe because they can do math, idk)

Either way the Kansan is wrong. I find it amusing how they call out Palin's lack of experience in forget Obamas. Also, he has made economic promises that are mathmatically impossible. For one, lowering taxes for 95% of Americans. If you look at the numbers, 45% of AMericans in effect don't pay taxes as they get every penny paid in back once they file. Many actually get MORE back than they paid in. If that's not distribution of wealth, I don't know what is (If you want to try to call me out on this, I'll show you how easy it is to get more back than you pay in) How can he lower taxes on those that dont pay them anyway? It's a mathematical impossibility.

Also, taxing companies just drives them away. Why pay taxes here when they can pay next to nothing in China? Companies can and will do it. Also, taxing CEO's just results in companies paying out more, as many CEO contracts are written such that the company pays the taxes, so it's not exactly helpful.

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• Posted by cath0830 on October 30, 2008 at 12:57 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

BTW-this is from an articl on Clinton from March, and includes a direct quote from her: Hillary Clinton told reporters that both she and the presumtive Republican nominee John McCain offer the experience to be ready to tackle any crisis facing the country under their watch, but Barack Obama simply offers more rhetoric. “I think you'll be able to imagine many things Senator McCain will be able to say,” she said. “He’s never been the president, but he will put forth his lifetime of experience. I will put forth my lifetime of experience. Senator Obama will put forth a speech he made in 2002.” Clinton was referring to Obama’s anti-war speech he delivered in Chicago before entering the United States Senate.

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• Posted by cath0830 on October 30, 2008 at 1:02 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

cath0830....You won't make any ground on the "experience" issue with college students. They like things "fresh". They like the "refreshing outlook" offered by Obama. Face it, college students have no experience, so they don't expect it or hold it in high esteem from their leaders.

They are so immersed in liberal thought from college professors that it takes a special kid to be able to discern truth from spin. Sadly, most just accept the liberal drivel they hear from their instructors as fact.

This "endorsement"--I use the terms very loosely--by the UDK was supported with such weak arguments that it is apparent the editorial board does not have the ability to think critically.

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• Posted by KU88 on October 30, 2008 at 1:15 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

cath0830....You won't make any ground on the "experience" issue with college students. They like things "fresh". They like the "refreshing outlook" offered by Obama. Face it, college students have no experience, so they don't expect it or hold it in high esteem from their leaders.

They are so immersed in liberal thought from college professors that it takes a special kid to be able to discern truth from spin. Sadly, most just accept the liberal drivel they hear from their instructors as fact.

This "endorsement"--I use the terms very loosely--by the UDK was supported with such weak arguments that it is apparent the editorial board does not have the ability to think critically.

Parents of high school aged children and younger, please read: Teach your children to think critically! It is the ONE trait they can take with them wherever they go so they are not duped by "group think" from the right OR the left.

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• Posted by KU88 on October 30, 2008 at 1:17 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

My only point in bringing up education was that education can lead to success. If everybody in this country does not have equal access to education, then they also do not have equal access to success. That was my point. Also, as you mentioned, if parents are not invovled in their children's education then children will likely not suceed in school. Therefore, children living with abusive or neglective parents will likely not do well in school, not receive a good education, and not gain the tools needed for success. This country has an obligation to help those living in these environments, and not just those lucky enough to be brought up in a white suburban neighborhood.

People do not choose to live in poverty, they simply can't dig themselves out of the hole that society has helped to dig for them. People can have all the incentive in the world, but if they lack the tools to attain success (such as money to go to college) then incentive is no use. Are there people who have risen from poverty to middle class? Yes, and their stories make great movies. However, there are even more who have fallen through the cracks and are usually forgotten.

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• Posted by ebrown426 on October 30, 2008 at 2:09 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

Those who rise up PICK THEMSELVES UP AND DO SOMETHING. It's not handed to them. With a good GPA you can get into many private schools (such as Darmoth) and owe NOTHING because they offer free tuition to people whose parents make less than 75k per year. All it takes is grades. Kids in inner cities don't score as high not because of lack of school availablitiy, but lack of guidance and discipline. Throwing more money at the problem won't fix that reality. If you want to help, be a mentor to those kids and get involved. They need positive role models to inspire them, not some one to stand back from a distance throwing money to make themselves feel better for non-action.

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• Posted by cath0830 on October 30, 2008 at 2:41 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

ebrown426.....You ar blinded by liberal rhetoric.

1) "Everybody in this country does not have equal access to education." This is patently FALSE. Because of our public education system, ALL people regardless of race, color or creed have access to education. Are all schools equal? Of course not. But if a kid goes to any public school and applies himself, he CAN do well and he CAN go to college where he CAN excel on MERIT.

2) "This country has an obligation to help those living in these environments, and not just those lucky enough to be brought up in a white suburban neighborhood." While this is not technically a true statement--the country really doesn't have an education obligation to kids of any socio-economic background--the USA DOES invest in kids from poor neighborhoods through public education. It's equal opportunity. You can't ask for equal RESULTS, just equal OPPORTUNITY.

You complain about the public schools in poor neighborhoods not being equal, yet liberals refuse to allow school choice through the voucher system because the teacher's unions have undue influence with liberal legislators. If kids in poor neighborhoods were given CHOICE to attend private or charter schools that are much more successful than the losing public school model, they would have all the opportunity of kids in the suburbs except the intact, supportive families, which leads me to your fallacy #3:

3)" People do not choose to live in poverty, they simply can't dig themselves out of the hole that society has helped to dig for them." This is sooooo wrong. People CAN and always HAVE lifted themselves out of poverty. Statistics show that the population of the USA is very fluid when it comes to moving up and down through socio-economic classes. It is NOT static, blowing up your myth.

If there is one thing keeping people IN poverty, it's the disincentive to WORK that is instilled in people by the democrat-perpetuated welfare system. It's like democrats are giving people "economic crack" and then wondering why "the poor are always with us."

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• Posted by KU88 on October 30, 2008 at 4:45 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

man, this discussion has turned really red here.

All I can add to this is that there is no obvious solution to our healthcare, international policy, economic, gap between rich and poor, and transportation/energy problems. Neither party has an adequate solution- the republicans fail to realize that times have changed and that family values and responsibility (unfortunately) are a thing of the past. Democrats want robin hood the rich and give to the poor, but what about the middle class? How about we get back to basics. What should our government do? What services should it offer to EVERYONE? In this economic crisis we shouldn't be thinking about the very rich, or the very poor. We shouldn't be thinking about what's good for the person who works 80 hours a week for minimum wage, nor about what's good for the guy who lives in his parent's basement, refusing to work and living off of a welfare check. No, we should be thinking about what is good for our nation as a whole. What services will benefit everyone, not just help out a few. That seems to be everyone's problem with government services- we pay for them but can't always use them. That is what I think leads to polarization.

tl;dr- Republicans got it wrong. Democrats got it wrong. Focus on what's good for the whole, not just the extremes.

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• Posted by sjschlag on October 30, 2008 at 4:55 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

I listened to a radio program today that patched together all of Obamas promises. Do you realize he has promised everything to everyone? I hadn't. It all depends on the crowd he was speaking to. Go back and look. Amazingly he promised more and less military spending. Tuition help? No problem. Whatever help you want, he has promised. Its funny how this current economy was created by a Democrat congress and democrat policies and now when it blows up in America's face, they blame bush

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• Posted by don1 on October 30, 2008 at 7:37 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

sjschlag.....You ask "what should our government do?" Well, a good start would be to go back to the constitution and see that the FEDERAL government has very limited powers when it comes to the everyday lives of citizens. Yet the federal government has usurped the power of individuals, local governments and state governments in many areas. The USA was established as a federation of states, each of which should have its own ability to govern the people of that state. I challenge you to go read Article 1, Section 8 of the constitution. This section lays out the scope of the US Congress. You can clearly see that the US Congress has overstepped its bounds.

Take education for example. Where in the US constitution does it state that the federal government should stick its nose into educating the people? The job of education is best performed at a level closest to the family, NOT the federal government. The US Department of Education is unconstitutional.

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• Posted by KU88 on October 31, 2008 at 8:19 a.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

I apologize for Sam's comments. He is in the process of being converted to a conservative ideology. He was a hardcore liberal only a few months ago.

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• Posted by connerm on October 31, 2008 at 10:40 a.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

The majority of Americans have not defaulted on mortgages but every tax payer is going to be paying for those who did. The government is notoriously awful at running programs. It is inefficient, wasteful, has bad oversight and is unreliable. Obama is a wishful image that people think will somehow change this. It's just not true. Don't put more money and power in the federal government. It doesn't work. Secondly, our economy is not our biggest problem. It looks like it now, but in the end there are several other countries out there that want our economy to rebound because they depend on it (China, Britain, Russia,). International security is our biggest problem. We will face another attack from abroad. We are constantly trying to keep nuclear technology out of the hands of terrorist states. Obama seems to think we can accommodate these people and pacify them. It didn't work very well in the build up to WWII and it's not going to work now. Don’t be fooled by what you read and see on TV.

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• Posted by Abita on October 31, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

"Take education for example. Where in the US constitution does it state that the federal government should stick its nose into educating the people? The job of education is best performed at a level closest to the family, NOT the federal government. The US Department of Education is unconstitutional."

I agree- the federal government should stay out of education. It should remain in the hands of local government, where it can be tailored to local interests and needs. In efforts to create a national standard for education through No Child Left Behind, many schools were forced to cut special programs in music and the arts so they could offer classes for students who didn't meet the national standard. Traditionally, schools would have had vocational classes for students who could not succeed academically, but under the federal government's one-size-fits-all platform for education, these programs don't fit the agenda. I would like to say that my ideaologies fall along the lines that I am liberal with regards to which services local government should offer- more amenities that the public can use often brings people to cities. However, social programs when undertaken on a national level have usually proven inefficient. I have stated repeatedly in debates with friends that a national universal healthcare system wouldn't work- our country is too big and the need too great. However, a state of Kansas run system could possibly work better and more efficiently and quickly distribute the care needed.

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• Posted by sjschlag on November 2, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.
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Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

Kansan, stay the heck out of elections.

So far, all you've done is cough up what the Democrats are saying and endorse them. You do a lot better when you report on menial and unimportant things.

I'm not flaming you for your choices, but just how terribly executed and thought out they are.

Stick to what you know - pointless and meaningless college reporting.

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• Posted by handy on November 3, 2008 at 12:17 a.m.
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