4A - Thursday, November 6, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 74C e MC4*oan 3a*Ip Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu ANDREW GROSSMAN EDITOR IN CHIEF GARY GRACA EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR GABE NELSON MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views oftheir authors. A vote for reform Despite calm election, changes still needed in process W hat America needed Tuesday was an uncontrover- sial presidential election, free of the election fraud accusations that have plagued its last two presiden- tial contests. Thankfully, that's what it got. But despite the calm, there are still glaring problems with our current system - nation- wide and in Michigan specifically. While 2012 may seem like it's light years away, if we want to avoid a debacle next time around, lawmakers must start thinking about how to solve our most glar- ing election problems now. No longer can pundits and politicians say we don't vote." - Heather Smith, executive director of Rock the Vote, commenting on the growth in youth turnout in this years presidential election, as reported yesterday by The New York Times. CHRIS KOSLOWSKI 1 AE-MAIL CHRIS AT CSKOSLOW@UMICH.EDU S yourntire pcal Conservatism is inseparably deolo was crush ut linked to the greatness of this I could whie and , but I the polls on Tuesday country The mvensent has know a took a jimmy Carter What do you dot taken a hit, but its concepts to give us a Ronald Reagan ane neioqers remain os u Whenfree speech doesn't ,apply I I I We all remember what happened in 2000. Based on a slew of miscast ballots in Florida, George W. Bush stole the election from Al Gore, with a little help from the U.S. Supreme Court. But what is almost as important in that story is what else came out of that election: Congress's 2002 Help America Vote Act. Promising to update voting procedure across the country, this law was supposed to remedy America's most pressing electoral problems. Six years later, it's time to move beyond HAVA. At the state and federal levels, our next pack- age of election reform should focus on two main goals: boosting Americans' confi- dence in our voting system and making the process as easy as possible. One small place to start is the long lines at polling stations on Election Day. There are many voters who arrive at the polls to discover that they will have to wait in line for hours, causing them to leave. Making Election Day a national holiday may be one way to fix this problem. The better solu- tion would be to expand early voting and mail-in voting options. Another intriguing solution would be an online voting option. While such a method would obviously need to be made safe before it could be put in use, giving voters choices other than vot- ing booths results in less congestion at the polls and more turnout. And when it comes to the actual voting booths, our government hasn't fixed the glaring problems with electronic voting machines. Many states don't back up elec- tronic ballots with paper ones, and as evi- denced Tuesday,electronicmachinesare still unreliable. The companies who make these machines haven't fixed the many glitches that leave them open to fraud either. concerns also plague the pre-Election Day stages. The voter registration process continues to be inconsistent and subject to partisan meddling. With cut-off dates scheduled weeks before the election, some voters miss out because they don't register in time. A same-day registration option would address this problem and improve voter turnout. Though these reforms often receive the most attention, Michigan, in particular, has some troublesome voting laws of its own. Chief among these is Rogers's Law, which requires that the address on a vot- er's registration card matches the one on the person's driver's license. Many stu- dents are stricken from the voter roster and don't even find out about it until they get to the polls and are turned away. Other con- voluted rules like Michigan's ID require- ment, its requirement that first-time voters who want to vote absentee return to their home clerk's office and its lax restrictions on voter registration purges only further complicate voting in Michigan. The next national election may be two years away, but that's no reason to put off fixing America's voting system. Thousands ofAmericanswere unable to or discouraged from voting because of problems with the current system. Our federal government and state governments owe them a speedy solution. By the time the next election rolls around, no willing American voter should be barred from the polls. Like all of you (hopefully), I love my right to free speech. The First Amendment allows me to say things like "Pol-- itician X is a big fat doodiebead" with- out worrying about gettingshot, provid- ed that Politician X is not Dick Cheney. But some people -x and I know people = will raise a lot ofE pitchforksaboutthis EILEEN statement - take STAHL the First Amend- ment too far. No, I'm not advocating censorship; I'm talking about people who think free speech applies universally to themselves, even when it disproportionately obstructs the speech of others. What brings me to say this is the recent ban on political gear at the polls. About a week before the election, a dis- trict judge upheld the ban against par- tisan paraphernalia within 100 yards of polling sites - including political T-shirts - and there were those who claimed this was a dastardly plot to keep expected legions of kids wear- ing pro-bama gear from voting. Fortu- nately, some groups like the Michigan Student Assembly's Voice Your Vote commission stepped in to hand out plain white T-shirts to anyone wear- ing political clothing near the polls. So, problem solved, right? For the most part. However, there emerged a small but vocal group who maintained that this legislation violat- ed - you guessed it - our free speech rights. According to them, people have the right to show support for whom- ever they want wherever they want, 24 hours aday. Anything less than that is a First Amendment restriction and, therefore, a travesty on par with fas- cism, Republicanism and terrorism. If you get right down toit, yes, this is technically a FirstAmendmentrestric- tion. Of course, opponents of this ban are acting like free speech has never been restricted in the history of the United States. The truth is that free speech is often compromised in order to protect the rights and well-being of others. In the classic example, it's not your right to scream "fire" in acrowded, theater and cause a dangerous stam- pede. As it stands, the ban against political T-shirts at polling sites is an extremely minor sacrifice that helps ensure other people get an unhindered chance to voice their opinion. I have a little secret for you: People are ridiculously easily influenced by their peers. There have been a lot of studies done regardingthe bandwagon effect in the political arena, and find- ings consistently show that people often vote for a candidate as a result of peer pressure, whether or not they agree with his or her politics. Let's look at my friend Joe the Lum- berjack. He lives in Washington as a proud member of a thriving lumber- jack community. However, despite the pro-lumberjack propaganda he faces every day, he finds himself secretly wishing to support the tree-loving Ralph Nader. He gets up his courage to go to the polls, but what does he see? Everyone wearing John McCain T-shirts! Suddenly, he realizes Nader doesn't have a prayer and he must be making the wrong choice. His mind is swayed, even though his stances on the issues aren't. Joe is just one example, but if you allow millions of people to be walk- ing billboards for their candidates of choice at polling locations, it can cer- tainly turn the tide in an election. Joe's buddies may notenter the voting booth with him, but it's a fact that the band- wagoneffecthas been showntobe very effective in political context. EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: You're free to support your candi- date for the months leading up to the election and however many months after. And that's beautiful. But Ibelieve in courtesy. It is courteous to stop shoving your political views down others' throats for the 10 minutes it takes them to perform one of the most important duties of an American citi- zen. I promise, you can put your T-shirt on right after. Therefore, although it is ultimately Joe's choice, he has the right tI spend 10 minutes in the polls undis- turbedby political advertisement. Just leave your campaign shirts at home, please. Because. even if you only intended to support your candidate, political T-shirts in this context are very much a form of advertisement - which happens to be one of the things not universally protected by the First Amendment. In fact, there's a lot not protected by the First Amendment. You can't publish libel. You can't vio- late copyrights. And you can't film pornographic movies with minors in them. See a pattern? These could all potentially harm people. You're not "harming" Joe by put- ting a gun to his head, but you're cre- ating an emotional hindrance to his free expression. You can afford to make a minor sacrifice. It wouldn't be the end of the world if this legislation weren't in place, but as it stands, it's a good thing. Eileen Stahl can be reached at efstahl@urich.edu. a 6 a SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU Appreciating Obama, while disagreeing with his policies predicted an era of to "move to Canada We are all Ameri and love my counts ticular candidate sI TO THE DAILY: American dreams,1 In 1854, delegates gathered in Jackson, Mich. have the freedom t< because they were frustrated with the current Let's all just take s political situation and appalled at the lack of historic moment an dignity afforded to black people in this nation. partisan divides. They vowed to fight against slavery and to ensure that dignity be given to all Americans, Christopher Wee regardless of race. The dream of the Republi- LSA junior can Party has been fulfilled today. Truly this season, this candidate and. this time have been that of a government shaped StolenpiCn "by the people." It remains to be seen wheth-o er President-elect Barack Obama will govern e Str for the people, but I fervently hope and pray he' will. On campus, the College Republicans TO THE DAILY: will work toward making sure that the govern- Something horrit ment functions in a manner that protects our housemates on Tue interests. We will still be raising issues, aware- table was stolen, fro ness and being an active voice in the debate on single one of us in our nation's direction. troubles me, and I'll I would like to take some space to thank our First, stealing is, partners in this debate, the College Democrats, it would occur to who, with the exception of some vandalism piece of furniture fr on Election Day eve, have been honest, forth- ently I was wrong. right and open in their campaigning. It's been a Second, this was; true pleasure working with them now, and we ly an easy one to car look forward to ensuring this great debate and two really mean p excitement does not fade away. express intent of t I drove three hour Brady Smith on Craigslist. It'sn The letter writer is the chair of the University's picnic table with a chapter of the College Republicans it. On nice days, I" doing homework on always made it av Post-election partisanship alwdysngateigh on during the Nigh not in our best interests party (except thisy If these thieves th table, they could h TO THE DAILY: wanted. As I took my John McCain signs down and Finally, we wer put my campaign apparel into storage, I listened people who stole it1 to President-elect Barack Obama talk about the when we were arou resurgence of the American Dream. Despite what they might d my initial disappointment and disagreements know the economy with him on numerous issues, I went to sleep students do things content as I relished what his historic victory want whoever tool means for this country and the world. they made me andn But I was quickly disappointed by the reac- really sad. tion of some students to the result of the elec- Also, if someone tion. Through informal conversations and picnic table in the p Facebook status changes, I became disheart- neighbor in the fac ened with the pessimism and partisanship in person to return m this country. Some elated Obama supporters declared that only now do they "believe in Geneva Shaunette America," while disgruntled McCain backers Kinesiology senior "socialism" and threatened cans, and I am still proud of ry. The election of any par- hould not make or break our because in this country we o forge dreams on our own. some time to appreciate this nd work toward healing our c table indicative eak in students ible happened to me and my esday last week: Our picnic m our front lawn, with every the house - at 9 p.m. This . tell you some reasons why. wrong. I never thought that someone to steal an 8-foot rom a bunch of girls. Appar- apicnic table, and not exact- rry. This means that at least eople got together with the aking my picnic table that s to pick up after buying it not like we don't share our nyone who wants to sit on ve come home to neighbors n the picnic table, and we've ailable for strangers to sit htmare on Elm Street block year, because it was stolen). ought it was a cool picnic ave sat on it anytime they e home, meaning that the had the audacity to be mean nd, which worries me about do when I'm not around. I is in the hole, and college they shouldn't, but I just k our picnic table to know my housemates really, really, down your block got a new ast week, please punch your e and then politely ask that y picnic table. Nina Amilineni, Emad Ansari, Elise Baun, Harun Buljina, Ben Caleca, Satyajeet Deshmukh, Brian Flaherty, Matthew Green, Emmarie Huetteman, Emma Jeszke, Shannon Keliman, Edward McPhee, Emily Michels, Kate Peabody, Matthew Shutler, Robert Soave, Eileen Stahl, Jennifer Sussex, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Margaret Young PAUL LEAHY | T A revolutionary celebration It began asa rally in the Diag. They sallied forth from all corners of the campus, of all hues and creeds. They chanted "Yes we can" and "Yes we did"; "Obama" and "U.S.A." Who they were was insignificant. What they stood for both liter- ally and figuratively was a sacred idea that from time to time requires the blood and sweat of patriots and tyrants. They were students but foremost they were Americans. From the Diag they marched, led by a diverse group, including a few friends of mine. They came to the junction of North Univer- sity Avenue and State Street, where they another generation years ago staged sit-ins. The crowds swelled and bubbled with energy and excitement. Next they marched like pilgrims in spiritual ecstasy down State Street to the Michigan Union where another young reformist president, John F. Kennedy, announced his intent to create the Peace Corps in 1961. Here the march became an outpouring of patriotism unlike anything I've seen since the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. Students flour- ished flags and chanted "U.S.A' again, but this time they sang the National Anthem. Drums and cowbells filled the night sky with melody. They took to the streets still again, this time crossing onto South University Avenue and arriving atthe President's House, shouting, "Wake up Mary Sue." Young men perched in trees and the crowd pushed forward down the street. As they passed East University Avenue, the pace quickened and the march turned into a charge reminiscent of that in Eugene Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People." I thought to myself, "Sweet God, it's a revolution and I'm in the van- guard." They reached the intersection of South University Avenue and SouthForest Street, where theyagain staged sit- ins and chanted. The crowd had grown exponentially since departing Mary Sue Coleman's house. Sittingattheintersection,the crowd graspedwhatbecame their ultimate goal: the Big House. Word spread like hope through the crowd, and the forward elements began to turn back down South University Avenue the way they had come. Yet another crowd had coalesced outside Coleman's house. Returning now, the second crowd collided with the first in a bout of celebration. I moved forward with a group trying to continue to the Big House, but to no avail. The combined crowd turned back down South University Avenue, proving this first surge was a false start toward the Big House and deferring the promise of progress alittle while. Still, we had been warned to expect setbacks and false starts. Finally the crowd returned, like Joshua's army before the town of Jericho, to the pulsating beat of drums as young men and women danced in the streets - their bodies quivering in excitement and anticipation, .communicating the latent sexuality that inhabits moments like these. The uncontrollable character of crowds ensured that an under- current of possible violence accompanied these emotions. At any moment the gathering could have turned violent. Yet caught up in the elation of the moment and mindful of the message they had heard, remarkably fewif anyviolence or acts of vandalism occurred. A much-diminished crowd reachedthe Big House around 2:30 a.m., preceded by police officers. Arriving at the Big House, they finally realized their dream, so long deferred. They rejoiced awhile to music from the drums joined by an assortment of horns. While the crowd departed several minutes later, the makeshift band struck up the messianic "Battle Hymn of the Republic." I departed this festive company minutes later, though I can't help but reflect upon this movement and attempt to assign some significance or meaning to it. Ukraine had the Orange Revolution, Kyrgzstan the Rose Revolution; the students at the University of Michigan and across the coun- try had a Blue Revolution. We awoke yesterday tired and exhausted, wondering what exactly our actions achieved. If nothing else, we will reflect on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning and remember the passion, the ideal- ism and the revolution. But most of all, we will remember what it truly means to be American. Paul Leahy is an LSA senior. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be less than 300 words and must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. Letters are edited for style, length, clarity and accuracy. All submissions become property of the Daily. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedaily@umich.edu. a &$t