COLUMN: Democrats offer the best in '96

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by Sheffy Gordon

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I don't know if you are reading this Democrat article to feel more smug about the vote you plan to cast or to look for fuel for a letter to the editor in next week's Thresher , but instead of feeding you partisan lines that the so-called political conventions and debates displayed for both major parties this year, I want to appeal for your vote. I'm not running for office (nor will I ever), I simply request that you take 15 minutes to vote.

You may be confident that a certain candidate will win, making voting superfluous. This is a grievous error. It's overconfidence.

With respect to the presidential election, Texas, the third largest electoral power, is up for grabs with any differences in recent polls falling within the margin of error.

But this election is not just a presidential election. Major ideological differences separate the senatorial candidates. In the ideal American democracy, not only is it every citizen's civil obligation to choose one's representation in government, but also, if dissatisfied with the options , any citizen -- billionaire or worker -- can run for that office.

In Texas, a working schoolteacher by the name of Victor Morales was unhappy with the way Phil Gramm, also a former educator (at Texas A&M University), was ignoring the students of Texas and the nation. Though a former financial aid recipient himself, Gramm repeatedly voted to reduce federal funds for education from the primary level through college loans. The reality of the campaign has demonstrated that although one is not required to have money to run for office, it certainly helps. In the age of TV, it is hard for a working citizen to take on a candidate with the support of the religious right.

If you live at Jones or Brown and remember voting for Sheila Jackson-Lee two years ago in the 18th U.S. Congressional District, come Tuesday you may wonder why she isn't on your ballot. Thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court mandate, the district you live in has been redistricted because too many blacks lived in the 18th, and it was contested on being drawn on racial grounds. Rice is now entirely in the Texas 25th, which is currently represented by Ken Bentsen, a moderate Democrat with a history of supporting Rice.

His district is one of the "targeted" districts by the national parties as a seat that can go either way (or in this case, one of 11 different ways). The conservative 5th Circuit Court redrew the 25th so it is now has a slight traditional Republican bias. Ignoring the results of the primary, your vote in this race could impact the outcome with so many candidates in the running. In fact, this vote may be one of the closest races you will have the opportunity to influence. Don't let someone else determine who your representative will be.

Candidates will listen to their "constituency." They need their support in order to keep their jobs. Therefore, in order for the system to work the way it was designed, you must prove to the candidate that your opinions matter.

The reason Congress has turned its back this past couple of years on education, on the environment and on guaranteed health care is because they can get away with it. The national turnout among 18-24-year-olds in 1994 was under 20 percent, down from 43 percent in 1992. It is no wonder that politicians respond to those big industries that come in to rewrite the Clean Air Act and push for offshore drilling and deregulation of nicotine ads to kids. (Actually, I just heard a study that nicotine kills certain cells, which in turn, causes Alzheimer's -- it's a shame that people who start smoking when they are in junior high school will not live long enough not to get Alzheimer's).

I will concede that this year's presidential election had already turned ugly before baseball season started with the Republicans slinging mud at each other and each candidate wooing the endorsement of the Christian Coalition.

Many Republicans were turned off when Pat Buchanan boasted that he helped author the party's platform. We have heard Clinton and Dole exchange punches on the character issue, on age and on ethics

All the slander aside, I think fundamentally this election is straightforward. Economically, Dole, with his good buddy Jack Kemp have resubmitted a version of Reagan's economic plan with a 15 percent tax cut across the board.

Clinton has challenged the security of Dole's plan under a balanced budget and questions where the cuts are coming from. When it came down to protecting Medicare or education in last year's budget, Clinton did not back down, and Congress had to concede in last January's standoff. Who will stand up for education if Dole cuts out the Department of Education (as he plans to in his move to further privatize student lending)?

So as this long election year comes to a climax, make sure you consult a non-partisan voter's guide (provided free at the Student Center and at central locations on campus) so you can be an educated participant in the democratic process.

And if you were interested in my endorsement as ringleader of the campus Democrats, my vote goes to the "Yellow Grating of the Computation Engineering Building" for homecoming queen.

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the November 1, 1996 issue.

Copyright © 1996 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved.
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