Our livelihood, liberty, and national identity may be in jeopardy if we don’t act soon. This is the warning of two-time presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (TX-14) in his latest book, “End the Fed.” Paul cites the inflationary actions of the Federal Reserve Bank as the source for our present economic recession and predicts things are going to get much worse.

The Federal Reserve, Paul says, has led an ignorant Congress to “behave like college students on spring break who are using their parents’ credit cards with no limit.” This seemingly unlimited line of credit augments government by allowing Congress to engage in costly wars, produce expensive government programs, and bail out their friends on Wall Street.

The Fed, as it is known in business circles, drastically inflates the money supply through the vehicle of fractional reserve banking, which requires banks to hold only a small percentage of their customer’s  deposits as they loan out the remainder. It may also alter the money supply through its open market operations, buying and selling treasury securities, and with the discount rate it charges banks for borrowing money from it.

Since the Fed was created in 1913, the purchasing power of the dollar has dropped by 95 percent. “When the Fed lowers interest rates below their natural level on a market, it has the effect of expanding investment beyond a sustainable level,” Paul wrote. “The lower interest rates are creating no new capital; they are merely distorting the signals borrowers use to assess risk,” he said. Through these actions, Paul argues, the Fed enhances the business cycle, producing and prolonging recessions in the economy.

As the Fed creates new money out of thin air, the value of the dollar depreciates, which is essentially a tax favoring the elite at the expense of average citizens because the money they hold loses some of its purchasing power. Paul said, “The early users of the money are the beneficiaries; the government, the banks, and the large corporations.”

Paul argues that the only way for a society to be free is for it to have money of intrinsic value. This is impossible with an economy based on central banking. Central banking and the control of money that it lends to government are absolutely necessary for an authoritarian government to operate, and are absolutely unnecessary for a free democratic society. The fifth plank of the Communist manifesto articulates the economic system of the United States very well: “Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.” Freedom and central banking are incompatible.

Our own Thomas Jefferson actively opposed central banking in the United States, he wrote, “The Central Bank is an institution of the most deadly hostility existing against the principles and form of our Constitution… if the American people allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”

The Federal Reserve Bank is a semi-independent agency that is, in fact, owned and partially operated by private national banks. One major issue that Paul cites in the management of The Fed’s enormous power is that its most important actions are secretive and are unknown even to the members of Congress who are supposed to keep it in check. Currently, Paul is trying to pass a bill in the House of Representatives called The Federal Reserve Transparency Act, which would allow Congress to audit the Fed. The bill has 307 co-sponsors, including Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5).

Paul calls for massive reform to our economic system. He wants to eliminate the Fed from the picture and replace our fiat dollar (paper money) with a commodity currency that is backed by gold. Paul sees his ambition to be a conservative one, as the constitution specifically outlines gold and silver to be the only legal tender and is silent on central banking. Although, some may reasonably dispute this interpretation of the Constitution. In his book he references Article 4 section 10 to support his supposition that only gold and silver can be used as legal tender, but this section of the constitution addresses limitations of the power of states, not the federal government.

With a commodity currency,like gold, inflation would be severely limited, since gold cannot be printed as paper can. Therefore, our federal government would also be limited in the money it can spend on useless wars and government programs. Consumers may see the benefits of a healthy economy without the looming threat of an economic meltdown caused by fictitious investment and the resulting bubbles in the market. Banks would be limited in their lending practices because they could not use customer deposits to loan money. Large corporations would be responsible for their mistakes, without the possibility of government bailout through central banking powers.

It is evident that both the citizens and government officials of the U.S. are addicted to credit as the national debt climbs past a record high $12 trillion. If Paul’s plan for gold backed currency is to become a reality, the U.S. will have to go cold turkey on credit because banks would no longer be able to create money to lend through the fractional reserve system. Ending fractional reserve banking would turn our economic system upside down and the initial results would likely be devastating to business in America, but if Paul is right, the alternative of making no changes would be far more destructive.

Photo: Tannen Maury/MCT Campus

Not only is the Presidential Inauguration one of this year’s biggest events, it’s also one of the fashion world’s best friends. All the fashion designers who had created a dress for the incoming First Lady held their breath on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 as they waiting for the arrival of the soon-to-be first family.

All through the presidential campaign, Michelle Obama made fashion news with her impressive, impeccable style, so when she stepped out of the presidential limousine and the world got its first look at the lemongrass dress with the jeweled neckline created by the not-so-well-known Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo, opinions were instantly formed. Although many different thoughts about the outfit were expressed, Toledo received respectable praise. 

“It’s not just my moment and hers, but it’s the world’s,” Toledo told the Associate Press. She said she chose the color to represent optimism. The choice paid off for Toledo, as displays in New York changed to honor the history-making designer.

The outfit couldn’t have been complete without the stylish green gloves by J. Crew. That sent their website to overload. Obama’s Jimmy Choo shoes were also noticed.

Photo: Gabriel B. Tait/MCT Campus

Natalie Reeves, a student at the Metropolitan Community College-Longview, said, “I thought she had a mature, conservative look that complimented the ideas and views of the family.”

Other students commented that they wished she had been bolder when making her evening appearances at the Inauguration Balls.

“I wish she came out with a bang and showed the nation the young, hip side that Washington is now welcoming into the White House,” said Audra Sears, a Longview student who plans to further her education with a fashion degree.

The First Lady made her entrance at the Inauguration Balls wearing a white one-shoulder dress that had waterfalls of featherlike fabric, accented by small, simple jewels that sparkled in the spotlight. The dress was elegant, but it held the safe, simplistic look people weren’t looking for.

Over all, the nation and the world were once again captivated by the new starlet of the fashion world, Mrs. Barack Obama. Now that the First Lady has conquered the fashion world, satisfying most American eyes, the nation will hold its breath to see whether she can help Pres. Obama change the U.S.A.

Rapper Jay-Z attends the inaugural concert at the Lincoln Memorial (Zbigniew Bzdak/MCT Campus).

It kills me to say this, but it is a good thing that Barack Obama is now the president of the United States, as opposed to John McCain, for a few reasons.

Obama was not my candidate; McCain was. I felt McCain was more bipartisan, experienced and grounded than Obama, as I still do. But McCain couldn’t do what Obama is doing, which, at the risk of sounding clichéd, is inspiring hope. 

However irrational this may be, without the misguided hope and belief that everything inevitably will progress towards being better, it probably wouldn’t. McCain would never be able to overcome the misconception that he was Bush III (and whether that is entirely a bad thing is also debatable) and thus the country would continue down the path of disillusionment that was paved by power-hungry war hawks.

Without the backing and excitement of the country, the next president
would find it impossible to succeed when combined with all of the other
obstacles he or she would face. 

Something else Obama can do that McCain couldn’t would be to gain the interest of the youth. This is primarily why he won. Imagine McCain
being introduced by Denzel Washington and Ray Romano, sung for by the likes of Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Bono, and given the Kanye West Seal of Approval. You can’t.

I am betting the aforementioned celebrities’ comprehension of the political system before Obama ran was on par with a toddler’s understanding of quantum physics. Sadly, it doesn’t matter. The support from these celebrities will be enough to engage the public in American politics like never before. When the country is in the sad state that is in, the ends justify the means.

Towards the end of his campaign, to most, Obama became Nietzsche’s ubermensch. He was more eloquent, suave, sophisticated and domineering than McCain. He approached superman-ish. McCain was the friendly old neighbor, someone you respected and wanted to spend  ime with, but not lead the free world.
Obama’s election also will somewhat alleviate the idea that we are still a bigoted, racist country. The false belief that racism will now vanish  ike common sense on MSNBC is ignorant. But electing a black president should go a long way toward smoothing over a past that has plenty of racist blemishes.

While abundant jobs seem far off in the future, along with a thriving economy, the belief that we are on the right track is something we didn’t have last October. If President Obama is half as knowledgeable, confident and ready as he appeared during his campaign, our situation by default will improve.

The Obamas at the Lincoln Memorial for the Inauguration Celebration, Sunday, January 18, 2009 (Chuck Liddy/MCT Campus).

With the inauguration of Barack Obama our nation is brutally divided. A small majority of our nation view him as a possible answer to our problems, and a large minority see him as just your “typical liberal.” Within each of these building factions, we have extreme polarization taking place.

The problem lies in the fact that these polarizations dominate political conversations. Martin Luther King, Jr. alluded to what Barack Obama may represent and what our union currently looks like decades ago when he said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” What King said must be understood in the context in which he used them, but we can also find a message for today within them. 

Everyone, in regards to how they view the new president and politics in general, should attempt to take a defensive yet critical approach; we must accept but change any disappointment to come, and hold on to the hope of positive change. We must also be informed citizens, and understand what is going on in the administration.

An informed view will come to individuals who take the time to educate themselves. Thomas Jefferson and W. E. B. DuBois both wrote about the importance of education in our society. Too often it appears that voters vote on the person, not the issues at hand. This is dangerous. It invests too much power in the hands of emotion, personal bias, and the superficial. It seems as if in this election, everyone got too caught up in this. The more people I talk to about politics, the more I realize something: the most educated voters vote third party (or Ron Paul).

Why is this? Is it because they simply want to be different? I suppose that is possible. However, I believe this is because they did their research and discovered that their candidate closely resembles their positions on numerous issues. This is the way to vote. Even if this would create a more hectic system of campaigning, it would bring our republic closer to a democracy. However, that is not what we have. We have the elitist two party system, and that will have to do.

So, here we are. We’ve reached a point where we can continue the fighting created by a dual party system, or accept it. In accepting it, we have to realize that the fighting that currently exists cannot continue. It does not mean that one side is superior to the other because they have the presidency or a majority in congress. It doesn’t even really mean we have to “cross party lines” to create alliances. It means that we have to accept differences and critically analyze the workings of our government, compare it to our moral beliefs, and responsibly speak out. We don’t necessarily need to love thy neighbor, but we sure as hell don’t need to hate him either.

The group who will have the hardest part not hating thy neighbor will be conservative Republicans. I don’t mean that to be judgmental, by any means. The truth is Democrats would be in the same camp if the election had gone differently.That does not mean that one must resort to outlandish irrational statements. For example, I had to make a long drive the other night. I was playing with my radio and landed on a conservative radio station. For the most part, valid concerns about big government and experience were raised; however, one commentator referred Obama’s liberal economic policies (such as the bailout) as “the fall of capitalism.”

Is that a rational statement? No, not really. No one man has brought down this country yet, or destroyed capitalism in the United States. Statements such as these are not the definition of responsibly speaking out.

Understand this: there are great similarities between the moralities of your party and the political positions of our new president. Currently, outspoken partisans have succumbed to the ignorance of hatred as a valid position, and used it to deepen a growing wound. But many political leaders are attempting to create a stronger union. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham are an example of these leaders. I challenge the people who fall into this category to defend Barack Obama, and to view him as your leader. He will define the culture, direction, and international respect of this nation for at least the next four years. He is your leader.

However, those who did vote for him need to realize one thing: he will not be able to do everything he promised to do. The chances of him doing so are as likely as him flying from D.C. to New York to save Lois Lane as she falls from the NYSE with the rest of our investments. Some issues will take precedence over others. Right now, the issue at hand is the economy. He cannot do everything he promised to at once; he is not Superman. Another thing must be realized as well: the stances Obama took during his campaign have either been forgotten or forced to moderation. In my opinion, this is a great thing. However, those who were looking for something more or some great “change” are in for a disappointment. The change we are looking for won’t all come from the top. We are a rampantly out of control consumerist society. We are equally responsible for the mess we are in. We have lost sight of what is important, and we have decided to define ourselves with “shit we don’t need.”

Obama does not hold the key to equality in this nation, either. Whether that equality is between sexes, races, sexual orientation or religion, we must bridge those gaps on a personal level. The success of this president lies in our hands almost as much as it lies in his own. I challenge supporters to speak out against Barack Obama. He is not a clone of you. He does not represent your every individual opinion. There will be policies that you will not agree with. He is your leader, but he is also your employee.

After Obama’s inauguration today, he would traditionally be granted about a year-long honeymoon. Why grant him that luxury? He works for the American people. The lack of interest in politics immediately following an election is simply unacceptable. In the semi-democratic nation we live in, the president must answer to us, regardless of whether that person is George Bush, Barack Obama, John McCain or Abraham Lincoln. No government should have the luxury of knowing that people are no longer watching them. If Obama’s presidency is to be live up to expectations, he deserves better of us.

Personally speaking, I believe in him. I believe that with time, he can unite this nation, lead us in the right direction in a responsible manner, and make us feel proud of who each of us is as an individual and as an American. However, I know that this belief cannot blind me; it cannot restrain me if I ever see injustice, an abuse of power, or plain ignorance working in the name of the United States and her citizens.

Regardless of how you look at this, the inauguration of Barack Obama is a historic event. Those who are caught up in the fever of his inauguration simply want to believe, want to hope for something larger than themselves. And rightfully so–it has been awhile since we’ve had a leader who can communicate to the American people like Barack Obama can. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a leader who can motivate the masses. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a leader with an academic resume like Obama’s. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a leader who can allow people to hope and believe. However, we need to believe responsibly. The moral resume of politicians is not impressive.

There are the Andrew Johnsons, Richard Nixons, Eliot Spitzers, and Rod Blagojevich’s of the world who have given political leaders a bad reputation. However, there are also the FDR’s, Nelson Mandelas, Ronald Reagans, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s who inspire others to do great things. Hopefully, the latter group defines Barack Obama.

Maybe I’ve been caught up in the hope and possibilities of what can be. But why not hope? Why not hope for the best but understand the extent of the challenges we face? Martin Luther King Jr. spoke powerfully about hope. Barack Obama and the United States of America have the ability to expand on his hope.

Hope – Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. [It is] a belief in things not seen. [It is] a belief that there are better days ahead.

Obama makes history – Audio

Obama family after acceptance speech in Chicago, Nov. 4 (Phil Velasquez/MCT Campus)

After a grueling 21-month campaign, Barack Obama was elected the first African-American president of the United States of America.

The history making election was a landslide victory for Obama who acquired 338 Electoral College votes, to John McCain’s 163.

As 44^th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama will inherit wars overseas and a failing economy.

“For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century,” Obama said.

“I love it,” Longview student Demeon Tuck said. “We made history!”

Obama’s victory is a result of strategic wins in multiple swing states. Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada were key states for George W. Bush in 2004, but contributed greatly to Obama’s victory this year.

“It was long but it turned out good,” student Erica Bran said.

On a larger scale, Obama’s victory was due to a coalition of voters. For example, the Obama Campaign’s ability to relate to young voters was important.

Unity was something both candidates focused on.

“And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn,” Obama said, “I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.”

In Phoenix, John McCain stressed the same unity in his concession speech.

“I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences,” McCain said.

Election night was huge for Democrats in Missouri as well. Emanuel Cleaver, Chris Koster, and Clint Zweifel were victors in the Democratic Party who were present for the Biden rally at Longview’s Recreation Center. Democrat Jay Nixon defeated Republican Kenny Hulshof for governor of Missouri. Only one Republican gained a major victory at a state level in Missouri: Peter Kinder defeated Sam Page for lieutenant governor.

by Bryan Gentry and Steven Anderson

Slideshow in Power Point
Audio

Joe Biden speaks at Longview’s Recreation Center (Jordan Lee/The Current).

Democratic Vice President elect Joe Biden rallied liberals and persuaded moderates at a last minute rally at Longview Community College Recreation Center one day before the national election.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II

Biden was accompanied by his wife Dr. Jill Biden, Senator Claire McCaskill, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, and state candidates Sam Page for lieutenant governor, Chris Koster for attorney general, and Clint Zweifel for treasurer.

“What a great way to start the week in eastern Jackson County,” said McCaskill as she introduced Jill Biden who then introduced her husband.

As the crowd chanted “Joe, Joe, Joe!” Biden took the stage and made the Obama-Biden message clear, “Change is on the way!”

“We are on the cusp of a new brand of American leadership, because that’s what we need,” Biden exclaimed to the crowd of about 1250. “We have the opportunity to change our circumstances and change them we will!”

Biden reminded the audience that education is an important platform for Democrats this year.

He said, “Any country that outeducates the U.S. can outcompete the U.S., and we cannot allow that to happen.”

Jill Biden spoke about Longview's national reputation (Jordan Lee/The Current).

Although the college did not endorse the visit due to its non-partisan status as a public institution, there was an implied connection. Jill Biden’s tie to community colleges is well known. Being an English professor at the Stanton/Wilmington campus of Delaware Technical & Community College, Jill Biden talked about her belief in a strong education in America.

She congratulated Longview on being the first community college named a College of the Year in 2001 by TIME Magazine/The Princeton Review.

When Joe Biden took the stage, he alluded to his wife’s statement congratulating Longview President Fred Grogan, “Number one is pretty darn good, man. You’ve got the best students in America.”

Biden went on to say, “What a beautiful, beautiful campus.”

Democrats in attendance spoke powerfully about the Nov. 4 election. McCaskill praised Obama’s choice of Joe Biden as a running mate and attacked the GOP candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin.

McCaskill

McCaskill said, “In that process, [I believe] Barack Obama showed the kind of judgment we need as the President of the United States of America. Barack Obama chose the very best person… And, well, let’s just say John McCain didn’t.”

Biden talked about the changes needed in creating new jobs and better health care. He said Americans should respect those who serve in the military, but they also have to find other ways to serve the nation.

“When this election is over,” he said, “we have to unite this country. A country divided cannot lead the world. We need Republicans in the Congress to join us.”

Biden ended his remarks with a campaign slogan, “It’s our time. It’s America’s time to take back this country!”

Those in attendance were extremely excited about the visit.

“He’s a good guy,” Longview student Bonard Chery. “He has a good plan for everybody. Everybody needs a good job and better education. We all need change!”

The event did not come without some opposition. The rally raised concerns from faculty for a few reasons.

Longview’s chairman of the division of social sciences, Dr. Elliott Schimmel, a self-proclaimed Democrat, is one who opposed the Biden rally.

“I know that other institutions around the nation do this, but it just seems academic institutions should not be tied to partisan purposes,” Schimmel said, “especially during a time when classes are being held.”

“What about parking [problems]?” math instructor Suzanne Smith asked. “I don’t think this is fair to our students and teachers to allow this at such late notice.”

Humanities Chair Grahn, right (Jordan Lee/The Current)

However, humanities chair Diana Grahn smiled as she left the rally, “It was interesting that Jill Biden had informed Joe Biden about our College of the Year status which recognized our efforts in writing across the curriculum.”

Melissa Nitti, regional press secretary for the Obama-Biden campaign, said that Lee’s Summit, a swing area that went Republican in the last two elections, was picked for the rally to bring the Democrats’ message to the undecided in this locale.

The gymnasium was rented by the campaign, and the event was totally under the management of the Democratic Party. No college arrangement, except for parking considerations, was involved.

Did everyone get the memo? With record voter turnout, our 44^th president has been decided. We live in a nation of majority rule, and before the last poll closed Tuesday night Mr. Barack Obama was declared the next president by a landslide.

Only 270 electoral votes are needed to take the presidency, and my last glance at the television screen before bed told me that Obama was nearing 350. Even when McCain conceded in his respectful but proud speech, his supporters held on desperately, clinging to the fact that only 50 percent of the votes had been tallied. The Obama crowd began their celebration; however, the minute the Associate Press labeled him the new chief.

Tears, I’m sure, were shed on both sides. Obama fans will be singing victory for weeks and months to come. Staunch Democrats are delighted that the Republican dynasty has once more been disrupted. Republicans will be picking themselves up from the floor, bracing themselves for the nation to turn upside down.  The religious fanatics in the crowd are already crying, “The end is coming.” And yet, before Florida has officially been recounted for the fourth time, our nation is as disconnected as pre-911!

Obama and Biden want change. McCain and Palin believed that all too often the government is the problem when it should be part of the solution. But here’s my query, if our nation is based on the precept of “of the people, for the people, by the people” where then should all those changes and solutions begin?

Perhaps with the people?

Yet, I can guarantee that people will be grumbling for months and, let’s be blunt, for the next four years that their candidate didn’t get into office. Don’t hold it against me, but I couldn’t care less. I pulled myself out of bed at 6 a.m. to cast my ballot. And, no, my nominee did not pull through; but I will not join the ranks of the whiners.

I am first and foremost an American. I stand behind our leaders, our military and our system. That system that I so devotedly serve says that majority rules and minority is simply respected. My frustration remains with the fact that people will not move on.  I have the freedom to vote which I dutifully exercised. The outcome may not suit my wishes, but it does not mean that my voice in this nation has been silenced. Every one of us retains the right to be heard. And if it is change we so dearly desire, then why have we already fallen back to our old habits?

We elect these politicians and then completely dump the responsibility of running this country entirely in their laps. Just because the national ballots will be stored for another four years doesn’t mean our duty gets to sit on a dusty shelf too.

Let’s, for once in our national legacy, prove our America to be in a united state. I may not have voted for Obama, but I promise I will stand behind him. I will disagree with half the things he does; it’d be the same story even if my man McCain was in office. There is no GOP’s guy or the Democratic Party’s man anymore. We have a new elected president of the United States of America. Guess what? That means Obama is my president too.

So when will we actually dismount our proverbial high horses and begin to string this nation back together like we keep talking about? The Kennedy era adage may be cliché and passé to some, but rather than ignoring it maybe we each should seriously ponder, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”

Joe Biden’s rally organizers were so feverishly set on pleasing everyone, had there been a large cannibal population in the Longview area the audience may have been served human flesh.

The rally opened with music blaring over the speakers from a wide variety of genres. Kanye West’s song “Touch the Sky” headlined and was played many times. Angels and Airwaves’s”The Adventure” represented the alternative audience, Rascal Flatts’ “Life is a Highway” represented the pop/country crowd and Aretha Franklin’s “Freedom” gave a soulful feel.

Around 9 a.m. the music mercifully stopped, allowing for an opening prayer. But much like how the music wasn’t music for music’s sake, the prayer was a tool to squeeze votes out of an area that has a large Republican demographic. The prayer included wishes for a democratic victory. “All religions drink from the same cup,” said preacher Tom Haley. He then concluded with “shalom, salaam, peace, and amen.”

The act was meant to come off as a uniting gesture toward all religions and voters. Rather it came off as a cheap way to win over voters who may be of one of those various religious persuasions.

This also should raise questions about separation of church and state. Religion has been banned from requirement at public schools and government in general. So why does it always turn up in campaign rallies? Voters are voting for politicians not pastors, and oftentimes it comes off as if they are trying too hard.

People may not realize how much the way they vote indicates what they really believe. It shows what is most important to them.

While most Americans would say they believe in a God, their voting demonstrates otherwise. Voting is often based on personal opinion not moral facts.

Some persons do not believe that any God exists: then their voting will be based on their personal opinions or what they believe will help them the most. Their personal opinions are not based on anything absolute. Decisions could be based on personal observations or experience (the parents of a murdered victim will likely be for the death penalty regardless of the amount of tax money that goes into it). Because a lot of people vote like this, choice fluctuates (personal opinion will be different from person to person).

If, however, a person firmly believes in a God, he or she is accountable to that God with how they vote. If the God those persons believe in firmly teaches the value of each life, for example; then it would be obvious that they should vote against abortion. At this point, it would not matter what his or her opinion is. The person may be compassionate toward rape victims, however, the strong belief in a God who holds the value of life will compel him or her to vote pro-life. This would mean that all other factors (economic and other social issues) would be secondary. This person would have to compromise in other areas simply because of a strong belief in a God who has spoken clearly on this issue.

There are long-term effects to how people vote according to such beliefs. For instance, President George W. Bush appointed two Supreme Court justices. Both of these generally conservative justices, John G. Roberts, Jr., and Samuel Alito, will continue to serve long after President Bush is out of office.

Because of Bush’s firm belief in pro-life, these two justices which he appointed (also pro-life) may end up overturning the 1973 pro-choice decision, Roe vs. Wade. If that were to happen, it would have a huge impact on an important mindset the American people have had for over 30 years: “A woman has a right to her own body.”

Other issues that will certainly come up in the next eight years include: stem cell research, cloning, environmental issues and gay rights. It is important for the public to consider these issues carefully beyond just a personal opinion.