Opinion
Democrats disappoint student
November 29, 2007
Before I get started, I feel like I should clarify a few things. First, I consider myself a liberal. I believe in individual rights and all the other idyllic baggage liberals carry along with them. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to the dozen or so people who read my column who are mostly my friends. Secondly, I was as excited as the next young bleeding heart liberal when the Democrats took control of Congress a little over a year ago. I envisioned something roughly similar to when the Beatles came to America in the ‘60s. These hot young rockers who would revolutionize the way our nation has been run. Instead I got something more like Herman’s Hermits; not to take anything away from Herman’s Hermits, but they are no Beatles, Henry VIII aside.
For the first six years of Bush’s presidency I sat idly by and watched. Being sixteen when he was first elected, there wasn’t much say I could have in the process. Even if I had a fake ID, voting probably wouldn’t have been a priority. For six years, I bought into the ra-ra of anti-Bush propaganda. I was appalled when the PATRIOT Act was passed and my rights were being infringed upon. I don’t need the government looking at the three or four books I’ve checked out from the library during my college career. I had high expectations for the new liberal revolution. I half-way expected a free education and universal health care for everyone. I envisioned some kind of utopia. Doesn’t utopia mean impossible dream or something like that? Regardless, my dreams have, thus far, been dashed.
Instead of translating the anti-Bush slogans and campaigns into positive change, Congress has been repeating the same anti-Bush slogans. Instead of doing something about the rising cost of gas or protecting our borders, my elected leaders are meeting with the leaders of Syria. Congress has even been threatening to vote down increased funding to our troops in Iraq. I don’t support the war, but there is a clear distinction between not supporting the war and not supporting the troops. There are so many things that could be done. It might not be like the Beatles revolution of the ‘60s, but a Kennedy revolution of the ‘60s wouldn’t be so bad.
How could something with so much potential go so wrong? My dreams of a new world have been replaced with a world that is much the same. It seems like the Democrats are positioning themselves up for the Presidency next year without a care about the repercussions. I hope the Democrats take a long look at history. The Democratic Party I voted for is one that supports civil rights, not opposes our troops.
-Joe is a fifth year senior from Appleton, Wis. He is a political science and international studies major. With any luck Joe will be graduating this coming May. He has been involved in several activities on campus, including a stint as last year’s Student Senate President.
Joe Eggers is a fifth year senior from Appleton, Wis. He is a political science and international studies major. He has been involved in several activities on campus, including a stint as last year's Student Senate president.