“I’m really sick of the election. Most mornings, I hear at least 10 minutes of news before I can get my dad to let me switch the radio to music. Every time, it’s the same talking points. The same lies and distortions from Romney (or “Governor Mittens,” as I’ve taken to calling him). The same set of goals Obama’s been pushing unsuccessfully for a few years now. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard the phrase ‘Swiss bank account,’ I’d be rich enough to have one myself. I didn’t watch the debate, but I gather that the candidates pretty exclusively talked about economic issues. It’s hard to talk about any one economic problem without discussing all the others. However, taken on its own, I’d have to say that energy was the debate’s most important topic. Although the climate crisis has received almost no attention in this campaign, it’s one of the few issues we must deal with today that anyone will care about in a few hundred, let alone a few thousand, years.”
Alex Loznak, sophomore
Roseburg High School
“The economy is a pressing issue that must be addressed, but we cannot even begin to think about it if our relations with other countries are not doing well. Foreign policy is where it all begins. Everything that happens around the globe affects all of our domestic issues. We cannot afford to take a risk and elect a leader who does not have a rational approach to our relations with foreign countries.
“It is disappointing that neither candidate or party has spoken much about foreign policy. And most of the time when they have, it is to bash the other side, without offering any solutions as to what they would do to solve the problem. It is understandable why candidates don’t want to broach the subject of foreign policy, because they could lose support. But wouldn’t you appreciate a politician to be bold and stand up for what they believe in, than to be constantly pandering?”
Dora Totoian, freshman
Roseburg High School
“The most important issue in this election is the state of the economy. Unlike other issues, we can see and feel the effects of the economy all around us. Since 2008, the unemployment rate rose over 3 percent, and the federal debt has gone from $10 trillion to $16.4 trillion. Those are big numbers! So we are left with the question: Who is going to best get us out of this mess?
“The state of the economy under our current president speaks quite clearly. Mitt Romney has shown specific plans to cut taxes and government spending. It is up to us to choose the one who will do the best job. In the words of Thomas Jefferson: ‘The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.’”
Kelsi Miller, freshman
Home-schooled
Email questions for Truth of Youth to ibajandas@nrtoday.com. To join the Truth of Youth panel, write to Inka Bajandas at 345 N.E. Winchester St., Roseburg, OR 97470 or email ibajandas@nrtoday.com.
