Editorial : Results of midterm elections should matter to students
Today is the 2010 midterm elections. New York state residents will be voting for their congressional representatives, in addition to New York’s next governor.
There was an incredibly low turnout of Syracuse University students at the primary elections in September, and experts expect similar results for today’s election. It’s not a presidential election, but students should keep in mind that the president does not make all the decisions.
President Barack Obama may have campaigned on the platform of health care reform, but it was ultimately Congress that drafted the bill.
College is a four-year bubble, and it is easy for students to lose sight of the importance of midterm elections. Many of the policies proposed and put into effect by state representatives, senators and governors may not mean much to us now, but those policies will have a huge effect on our lives once we graduate.
Issues involving tax cuts, employment rates, health care and the cost of higher education will affect our careers, families and college debt. The governor’s race is particularly important to students from the State University of New York system. The 2009-10 fiscal year budget under Governor David Paterson cut millions of dollars from SUNY schools.
Although Syracuse may not be our permanent residence, we do live here for four years of our lives. The decisions made within New York state and Onondaga county do affect us.
Even if you did not vote, take the time to read the election results, learn who won and understand their platforms. We need to be informed and aware of who is making decisions.
