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Countdown to election: 27 days, students voice economic worries
SHANESSA FAKOUR
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: News
Before Presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain squared off in their second debate of the election season, students spoke with The Red & Black about issues that matter to them.
McCain promised to balance the budget by 2012 by placing a one year moratorium - or a freeze - on discretionary spending offering tax cuts and reviewing government programs for efficiency, said David Kirby, a College Republican and graduate student from Acworth, in a phone interview Tuesday.
"The last thing we need are higher taxes," Kirby said. "How will that balance the budget?"
With the economy suffering due to the financial crisis, many University students say they are concerned about their futures, said Louis Elrod, a junior from Mount Airy and president of the Young Democrats.
Obama's plan is to eliminate tax cuts for the wealthy and increase tax cuts for the middle class.
"It's simple basic economics that you can get the same amount of money into the budget while actually hurting less people's pocket books," Elrod said. "Essentially, we could be helping more people and still have the same budget."
For higher education, "Obama wants to create a tax credit that will ensure that the first $4,000 for college education is free for most Americans," Jaiah Scott, senior and executive director for Students for Barack Obama in Atlanta, said.
"John McCain wants to eliminate spending earmarks which will improve unversities' research," James Beach, a sophomore College Republican from Monroe, said.
Both candidates have said that the financial aid process is too complicated and needs to be simplified for students and their families.
After the debate, not all students had decided who they will vote for.
"The biggest issue to me is more of which person I feel like would be a better leader for the country," said Will Linthicum, a senior from Alpharetta. Linthicum said he's undecided, but the biggest issue worrying him now is the economy.
"It's a little bit concerning," he said of graduating soon in the current job market. "I'm just hoping the economy [improves]."
McCain promised to balance the budget by 2012 by placing a one year moratorium - or a freeze - on discretionary spending offering tax cuts and reviewing government programs for efficiency, said David Kirby, a College Republican and graduate student from Acworth, in a phone interview Tuesday.
"The last thing we need are higher taxes," Kirby said. "How will that balance the budget?"
With the economy suffering due to the financial crisis, many University students say they are concerned about their futures, said Louis Elrod, a junior from Mount Airy and president of the Young Democrats.
Obama's plan is to eliminate tax cuts for the wealthy and increase tax cuts for the middle class.
"It's simple basic economics that you can get the same amount of money into the budget while actually hurting less people's pocket books," Elrod said. "Essentially, we could be helping more people and still have the same budget."
For higher education, "Obama wants to create a tax credit that will ensure that the first $4,000 for college education is free for most Americans," Jaiah Scott, senior and executive director for Students for Barack Obama in Atlanta, said.
"John McCain wants to eliminate spending earmarks which will improve unversities' research," James Beach, a sophomore College Republican from Monroe, said.
Both candidates have said that the financial aid process is too complicated and needs to be simplified for students and their families.
After the debate, not all students had decided who they will vote for.
"The biggest issue to me is more of which person I feel like would be a better leader for the country," said Will Linthicum, a senior from Alpharetta. Linthicum said he's undecided, but the biggest issue worrying him now is the economy.
"It's a little bit concerning," he said of graduating soon in the current job market. "I'm just hoping the economy [improves]."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 7
Basic Simple Economics?
posted 10/08/08 @ 11:45 AM EST
I don't know what economic class taught you that increasing taxes on corporations and small business owners that PROVIDE jobs is a good thing? I'll try and put this as simple as I can, if you increase taxes on people that provide jobs to others, then they are going to have less money on the books. (Continued…)
CoastalDawg
posted 10/08/08 @ 1:44 PM EST
If you like the gasoline lines and jump in prices that we experienced recently, if you enjoy bailing out institutions such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and various other institutions who were pressured to provide mortgage money to those who could least afford to repay (thank Bill Clinton for that one), if you LOVE wondering whether or not you will have money to finish school or have money left in your retirement plan, you will LOVE the socialistic acts of an Obama led government. (Continued…)
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