Politics

Bourne with an Opinion

Six Mile Poll

Lack of interest in politics, weakness for today's youth

By Sandy House
Staff Writer

Campaigning, mud-slinging and debating are what politics are all about. Recently I had the privilege of experiencing this first-hand.

I was invited to be a panelist in the 11th District Republican Congressional Run-off debate between Cecil Staton and Phil Gingrey, held Aug. 27. I was probably the youngest person that was voluntarily there.

It was a run-off debate to decide which Republican candidate would go up against Democrat Roger Kahn for the recently created 11th District congressional seat.

My generation is not concerned with politics when really we have every reason to be. It is our future that today's politics are dealing with.

As Republican politician Staton said, "Social Security is actually just a bunch of IOU's that your generation is unfortunately going to have to deal with."

I believe that we are able to vote at age 18 because that is when politics begin to apply to us. Money out of my paycheck goes to the government every two weeks. I have to file taxes every year just like my parents do.

Voting is about choosing the candidate that I would feel comfortable about putting my life in his hands, because that is exactly what I am doing. And by not voting, someone else is in charge of whose hands my life goes into.

My generation's lack of interest in politics will be our downfall.

First of all, I learned a little bit about the candidates. Republican leader Gingrey has served two terms in the Georgia State Senate. Gingrey completed his medical training at The Medical College of Georgia and then moved to Marietta, where he set up a pro-life OB-GYN practice. In the past 26 years he has delivered over 5,200 babies.

Gingrey believes the paramount duty of the federal government is to protect the citizens in our homeland.

"We have seen the rekindling of patriotism in America. This new flame must not be diminished lest opposing ideologies snuff it out. As your congressman I will never flinch from my duty in maintaining our country's readiness necessary to protect us all and raise high the banner of freedom," said Gingrey in response to last year's attack on the World Trade Center.

He sounds great, doesn't he? The only sound I hear coming from Gingrey is the sound of money jingling in his pocket.

Judging by the multiple post cards and flyers he gives out, his values are not the only thing he is riding on. Gingrey is also the first to throw mud in any debate, which is what most people apparently look for in a politican.

The other candidate is political newcomer Staton. He won my vote for many reasons. Staton was raised much like I was, with a mom and dad who worked long hours to make ends meet. He was the first member of his family to graduate from college, and then he became an ordained minister.

Staton is pro-life and opposes euthanasia. His interests are in giving children a better education and protecting Second Amendment Rights.

In response to cutting taxes Staton said, "The liberals are wrong; families are not undertaxed. I will fight to cut taxes for American families while balancing the federal budget and cutting government red tape."

While I personally would like to have seen Staton elected into Congress, the race really was not about who I liked best, but it was about which Republican candidate could beat Democrat Kahn. Staton, being a newborn politician, did not look promising in that arena.

But, according to the election on Sept. 10, that won't matter because Gingrey will face Kahn for the 11th district congressional seat.