Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

EDITORIAL: Obama or Paul for President
Staff Editorial
Daily Egyptian (Southern Illinois U.)
02/01/2008

(U-WIRE) CARBONDALE, Ill. — That's right, we said it.

The Daily Egyptian encourages everyone to vote for Barack Obama or Ron Paul in the primary election Tuesday.

One might wonder how we came to this dichotomy of a decision. That's the funny thing about voting — when everyone participates, the results can be surprising. Our choice represents who we think has the best ideas to take care of the issues we find most important: Iraq and the environment.

On Iraq

Obama and Paul share the sentiment this editorial board has held for a long time.

"What I'm opposed to is a dumb war," Obama said in 2002.

He had it right from the start. Though a spattering of goodwill in the troubled country has occurred, the order to bring our troops home is long overdue. Many of our family members and friends have gone to serve in the Middle East because of flawed politics.

Lives should not be risked based on mistakes.

Not to mention the money. In November, the Congressional Research Service reported that the Department of Defense was spending about $9.6 billion a month to fund operations in Iraq. With the national debt breaking the $9 trillion mark, the last thing we need to be doing is funding a war with no definite end in sight.

Obama and Paul both pledge to withdraw the U.S. immediately. We believe them.

On the environment

The world's glaciers continue to shrink. Hurricane Katrina rocked New Orleans; a weather stew in which many scientists insist global warming was the key ingredient. Carbondale had a 73-degree day in January.

Some of us remain skeptical over whether global warming is real, but one thing is certain - alternative energy sources and conservation are two things our next president needs to make a top priority.

Paul does not support current regulations that allow large companies to pay to pollute. We agree. Pollution is pollution. It is bad for everyone, and no one should be able to pay his or her way out of being responsible.

Obama wants to set a carbon fuel standard. This standard would regulate the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by cars, trucks and all other transportation vehicles. According to Environmental Defense, cars make up almost 20 percent of U.S. global warming emissions each year.

We understand this is just the brink of the issues and solutions. If Paul or Obama are in office, we think they will take the issue of global warming seriously.

On voting

In short, it is very important for citizens to go to the polls Tuesday. Which candidate wins the state is important. Choosing the delegates who will represent your candidate of choice is the key. Illinois has 185 delegates, 100 of which are divided into the 19 congressional districts. Party leaders will get 32; the rest are awarded at-large on Election Day.

These are the people that matter. These are the people who will vote for your candidate at their respective conventions. Don't just mark your choice for candidate. Mark your delegates.

The ones with Obama and Paul in parentheses, please.

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