With unemployment over 8%, the country’s debt at $16 trillion and gas prices rising over $4 per gallon or more, the upcoming election seems more important than ever.
   The candidates, democratic incumbent President Barack Obama and republican former governor of Mass. Mitt Romney, are battling issue by issue in this year’s campaign.
   “The economy is certainly the #1 issue right now,” Mr. Mark Zahorchak, Law/Ec teacher, said.
   Seniors Regan Lydick and Hannah Reynolds are both politically opinionated, with Lydick being a democrat while Reynolds is a republican. Both students agree with their party’s choice of candidates, and disagree with each other on what the important issues are.
   “[I like] the fact that [Governor Romney] wants to repeal the health care bill,” Reynolds said. “But not only that, he wants to lower the cost of health care.”
   Lydick, on the other hand, is in favor of the health care bill, and also President Obama’s other social reform endeavors.
   “I like marriage equality,” Lydick said. “Because everyone should have the right to marry the person they love, no matter the gender.”
   Just as they have different views on what the big picture is, the girls share opposing views of their candidate’s adversary.
   “[A Romney presidency] could potentially hurt the middle class economically,” Lydick said. “And lead to changes on views on different social issues when the next president may be able to appoint a few Supreme Court justices.”
   Reynolds worries about President Obama’s foreign policy, cuts in military funding and the high deficit.
   The concerns about the other party’s agenda could stem from the negative ads and polarized parties. According to Mr. Zahorchak, although polarized politics help someone win an office, they are damaging because they make it difficult to govern.
   “People get sick of [the ads] and it sours [politics],” Zahorchak said.
   Lydick, too, recognizes the way partisan politics are handled in D.C.
   “I still feel like [President Obama] couldn’t pass everything he wants, because of the republican majority in the house,” Lydick said.
   Despite not seeing eye to eye on the issues, Lydick and Reynolds agree that everyone should exercise their right to vote.
   “Everyone should express how they think a country should be run instead of sitting back and complaining, not taking an interest in how their country is run,” Reynolds said. “People should educate themselves in politics instead of voting for the most popular candidate.”
   No matter who voters elect into the White House on November 6th, or how nasty this election and current politics get, there’s always a silver lining to remember.
   “We still have elections,” Zahorchak said. “It might not be a perfect system, but it’s the best in the world.”

Election

Amanda Riehl