Heated Presidential Election 2012

Heated Presidential Election 2012

by Sophia Tagliarino

Reporter, Flyer Flash

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With the Presidential Election coming up in early November, the buzz concerning who’s to be President has reached the excited mindsets of the students here at Dixie.
 

Firstly, there’s the candidates to consider. Corey Fernandez thinks the current President Barack Obama has run his course, “He’s a bad President; he’s making us more in debt.” Obama’s previous presidency is indeed questionable, but despite of it, he is striving for another term.
 

(Photo: Emmanuel Dunand, AFP/Getty Images)

Obama’s running mate will be Joe Biden, his campaign adorning the slogan “Forward.” In a March 2011 Pew poll, Obama held an advantage of 47 percent to 37 percent in votes.
 

The Republican Representative, Mitt Romney, obviously has a better reception at Dixie High School. “He’s Mormon and he’s gonna be elected for President,” claims Skyla Price, addressing his controversial religion right away.
 

Alongside Romney will be Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, and their slogan is “Believe in America.” Like Obama, he’s striving to deal with the various challenges facing America today, each planning to do so in their own way.
 

Lots of issues surround the election in such a way that they will eventually determine who wins, based on each candidate’s solutions for the problems, and the credibility they steadily gain with advertisement of their campaign.
 

Students had much to say about each issue, sometimes even recommending which presidential candidate should be the one to take care of it.
 

“Education to the two political parties is like Canadian bacon; Canadian’s take credit for its mass improvement but we all know its still just ham,” says Mason Aldred, alluding that the many debates over education are only there for the benefit of each opponent’s campaign.
 

Bryce Webster spoke strongly about America’s debt, and the current government. “The government keeps spending money we don’t have, so they’re idiots.”

A topic that has been addressed lightly during the campaign is that of girl’s participation in the drafting for military service. Kelsi Hall admits that it would be scary and concludes that there shouldn’t be a draft for either sexes: only volunteering. “(Otherwise) it’s like the Hunger Games.”
 

Tax is the main provider of funds for schools, so the debate indefinitely concerns Dixie High school. Zach Emerson demanded that more Americans, the 46 percent that rely on the government, need to pay their income tax and that Mitt Romney is more than willing to provide more jobs for it.
 

Samuel Porras has an interesting take on foreign affairs, “We need to think about our own problems instead of foreign ones.” Foreign dependency is also something to take into account.
 

A chillingly vindictive declaration about the government’s interference of healthcare brings to light the passion students feel for their country’s dealings. “The government doesn’t need to help us with health care. They shouldn’t worry about the personal lives of every citizen,” dictates Kammi Anderson fiercely.
 

Brushing up on each presidential candidate’s agenda might be a smart thing to do. What do Dixie students know about the many promises made by the possible Presidents? Michael Isom relayed that he doesn’t know what any of Obama’s promises to America are.
 

Thankfully, Jacob Beers helps fill in the president’s agenda, “He promises jobs, money for college, Obamacare and Romney’s demise.”
 

President Obama (left) and Mitt Romney (right) are
preparing for the election in the coming weeks.
Photo Courtesy of U.S. News

Joe Mitchell is well versed in Mitt Romney’s promises, “He’ll reduce the national debt and restore order in America.”
 

Most are taught that every vote of the people counts in an election, but that notion only extends so far. Mr. Meadows, a teacher of AP US Government, explains what the Electoral College is, and exactly how it affects the voting process.
 

He concedes that each state is given a number of representatives based on the population of each state. For instance, scarcely occupied Utah has 4 representatives, while highly populated California has around 50.
 

The representatives come together and tally the people’s votes. They pledge beforehand to vote for the simple majority, but technically they could vote otherwise.
 

So in other words, why vote? Why should Dixie High students be concerned about the elections if it seems like their votes don’t even count?
 

Not only does it help Americans feel their participation vital, it lets representatives know the favor of the populace. Students have direct participation in who gets elected, whether or not the representatives choose to go with their decision.
 

The elections seem important for some students, and less vital to others. Eighteen year old senior Dalton Hunt isn’t really looking forward to voting while Shaylee neil says, “I am looking forward to it; I think it’s important.”
 

While naysayers such as Tristan Cowles believe that this Election will not affect the school at all, for Dixie High School, it’s important. School policies are pending for change, whether they concern school funding for classrooms, cafeteria food, buses and teachers’ salaries.
 

Dependent on whoever should win, lots there are lots of changes to be had that involve all.