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Caleb SlinkardJournalism 214Fred Stewart
A&M-Commerce Political Profile
Texas A&M University-Commerce is home to a diverse group of people, each with their ownunique political view. For the majority of students, 2008 was the first time for them to vote for in a presidential election. The policy decisions made by this president and his cabinet will directly affectthese students once they graduate and begin to search for jobs and places to live. What will theeconomy be like in a year, or four? How hard will it be to get a loan for a car or a home once theygraduate? What about social security or health insurance? As first-time voters, these students areentering a political world torn apart by controversy. Throughout the most recent presidentialcampaigns, candidates addressed what they thought the key issues were? But what issues do peoplereally care about? If you were to stop an A&M-Commerce student on the sidewalk and ask them abouttheir political beliefs, what would they say? I've interviewed four faculty and three students to get ataste of A&M-Commerce politics. Their opinions reflect a wide variety of backgrounds, religious, and political views.Here are the two questions I asked:1.What are the biggest issues facing president-elect Barack Obama?2.How should he go about facing them?Participants:1.Elisha Hollis, Senior, Politcal Science Major, Republican2.Dr. Ray Green, Director of Honors College, Liberal3.Ashley Johnson, publications writer, A&M-Commerce, Republican
 
4.Anonymous A&M-Commerce faculty5.Anonymous, Senior, Social Work Major, Republican6.Dr. John Smith, History Professor, Independent Liberal7.Joel Auringer, Freshman Music Performance Major, LibertarianThe participants went into great detail with the questions, so I've decided to list their responses toseveral of the issues that came up.
The War on Terror 
 
Hollis
: I think the biggest issues facing president elect Barack Obama would probably be whatdirection to pursue in Iraq and Afghanistan... In Iraq, I think if he wants to pull troops out he needs totake longer then he has been talking. Pulling troops out is possible but I think he shouldn't just yank them out and let the country fall back into bad hands. 
Smith
: Clearly the biggest issue is the failing economy, with the "War on Terror" being a closesecond...As for the War on Terror, Obama should step up our withdrawal from Iraq, refocus onAfghanistan, and put more effort into intelligence-gathering and diplomacy.
Economy
 
Hollis
: On the economy, I think he should stay away from socializing medicine, especially with theterrible state of our economy it would only lead the nation into deeper national debt. Maybe some other method might be possible where the poor can receive aid but still leave most people on privateinsurance. I think his best bet is not to make rash decisions in the process of bringing "change". Its anice idea but it can lead to very dangerous problems in the future.
 
 
Anonymous student
: I really don't know how he should go about changing the economy, since the presidency is not my job, because it's his job since he's the "professional". We'll see if he knows whathe's really doing, since he's been all talk and had NO chance to walk. His walk is already too loud thatI can't hear him talk! 
Green
: His biggest problem is the economy and its spiral toward oblivion. I do think that it is anopportunity though to fix another issue - our decayed infrastructure. A number of reports have come outin the last year concerning the sad state of our highways and bridges. We don't need a public worksinitiative the size of FDR, but here is a way to employ people during a downturn and get something back for the money. 
Smith
: I think that Congress should approve an alternate bailout plan that would basically pay off all mortgages going back to 2000 and are for original amounts no greater than $250,000, as well as allfederal student loans going back to 1990. The money could go straight to banks and lendinginstitutions, which would clear all relevant accounts as "paid in full," and the banks would still havemoney to lend out. The extra income households would then have could go toward paying off creditcards (which sends more money to the banks) or other debts, or could go toward purchasing a new car,durable goods, and leisure/luxury items (I'd bet this would boost travel and tourism, as folks would goon vacations and spend lots of money in the service sector, thus maintaining as well as creating jobs).People with paid-off mortgages could opt to buy a new home, which would probably stimulate thehousing sector again. 
Johnson
: He needs to start day one with a game plan that breathes life into the economy, or outlines the specific steps required to do so.
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