Battleground status for Colo. means students must research issues
Political forecasters predict the Centennial State will be one of the major battleground states in this November’s election.
Anna Forssen, a senior psychology major, is cautiously optimistic about the effect this will have on the Election Day turn out.
“It will probably make more people vote, especially students,” Forssen said.
With Denver having hosted the Democratic National Convention late in August, Colorado had already achieved a heightened visibility on the political playing field.
Now, in anticipation of the attentions typically lavished by political candidates upon battleground states, many are hopeful the value of even a single vote will resurface.
The attitude of voting apathy is easy for anyone-particularly college students-to catch. However, with CU students’ own state set to play a major role in swinging the vote, some students feel the duty to read up on the issues more closely.
Robert Short, a sophomore psychology major, said he thinks political involvement for long-term issues begins early.
“It starts with education and awareness,” Short said.
Andrew Crown, a junior international affairs major, said he believes one obvious battle issue will be the price of oil.
“The price of gas effects young people because a lot of young people have cars,” Crown said. “And the price of gas affects everything, so McCain’s policies on offshore drilling and Obama’s oppositions (to drilling) are something students really need to pay attention to.”
Justin Greenstein, a sophomore political science and communications major, is skeptical about drilling in the U.S.
“I don’t know how much oil we can get out of the US,” Greenstein said. “Obama’s looking at more long-term solutions.”
Some students see the immediate significance of issues which won’t affect them directly for years.
“Students might be concerned about retirement in the future,” Forssen said.
Short said health care is another issue he is concerned with.
“Sweden has a great health care model,” Short said. “It goes back to education.”
Forssen took a direct look at one of McCain’s proposed programs in order to get a more accurate picture of McCain’s positions.
“I read that McCain is thinking about a welfare program where people can choose which plan they’re on,” Forssen said. “He’s trying to privatize it.”
In McCain’s plans for tax subsidies and health care costs, the $2,500 afforded to an individual’s insurance provider will translate into $5,000 toward a family’s coverage.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Forssen said. “There’s no way that’s enough.”
Some election issues remain relatively constant regardless of who the individual candidate is. Forssen said she thinks some deciding policies will be “tuition costs and for females, the abortion issues.”
Some students said it is often difficult to think ahead and consider what will happen in the future. With so many promises on both sides of the campaigns, when can voters expect to see the much-anticipated change?
“Hopefully soon,” Forssen said. “I just hope they stick to their word. It’s better to be hopeful than negative.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Emily Sawyer at Emily.c.sawyer@colorado.edu.
