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August 07, 1996 - Image 4

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Publication:
Michigan Daily Summer Weekly, 1996-08-07

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4 - The Michigan Daily Wednesday; August 7,1996
Edited and managed by LAURIE MAYK ERIN MARSH
students at the Editor in Chief PAUL SERILLA
University of Michigan trin Ci Editorial Page Editors
A A r 4UnlessOtherwise noddo wignedoedtnorals Iec the pinison ofhe
f420 Maynard Street najority otie DailS c eutorial board. All ot er articles, letters and
A nn A rbor, MI 48109 cartoons notot necessarily aflect the opinion f he Michigan Dail.

P rimary elections were held throughout
the state yesterday, and if history is any
indication, voter turnout was appallingly
low. People give many excuses for not vot-
ing, but the consequences of this are sig-
nificant. Citizens are not only failing to
carry out their civic duty, but greatly limit-
ing their options come November.
Primaries play an important role in our
electoral process. Equally as important as
general elections, primaries serve to nar-
row the field of candidates. Often decided
by slight margins, the outcome of a prima-
ry can produce well-qualified, dedicated
individuals intent on serving all of their
constituents. Or, in an extreme case, when
voter disinterest is at its highest, the result
may be extremist candidates of question-
able character and intentions.
In many instances, failure to vote in pri-
maries is as bad as missing an election.
The winners of Democratic Congressional
primaries in Detroit are invariably those
who are elected in November because of
the area's predominance of Democrats.
The same can be said for dozens of com-
munities in Michigan, from the strongly
conservative western regions of the state to

Priary inications
Voter turnout must increase by November

labor strongholds in Flint. For many parts
of the state, the real winner of the
November election is determined in the
primaries.
Many express feelings of frustration with
the current political system as their reasons
for not voting. But with the showing of third-
party candidates in recent elections, dissatis-
faction with Democrats and Republicans isn't
reason enough not to vote when viable alter-
natives exist. And for those who say they
don't have the time, the question is quite
straightforward: For something that only hap-
pens once every two years and requires so lit-
tle time, why not make the time?
All of that said, it is still too late for
those who didn't vote. But what can they
do? Be sure to vote in November. This elec-
tion year is especially important because it

is a presidential election. With that comes
the choice of deciding where students want
to take the country. The issues become
more important. Students' votes can decide
where the nation is headed in regard to
reducing the budget deficit, reforming wel-
fare, fighting crime, establishing job securi-
ty in a changing economy and funding
higher education for the country's youth.
The two major political parties differ sig-
nificantly on the issues, and the outcome of
the election will determine whether the
country moves forward or back.
But students can only vote if they are
registered. Registration is the important
first step for the young to become politi-
cally involved and have their voices heard.
Students have the option of registering to
vote either in Ann Arbor or back home,

regardless of permanent residence loca-
tion. Registration nowadays is extremely
convenient and can be done in a variety of
ways. Residents of the state of Michigan
can register when they renew or apply for
a driver's license through the Secretary of*
State. Many other states also have similar
systems.
Students can register the old-fashioned
way by stopping by their local city clerk's
office. Some cities allow citizens to do this
by mail as well. Additionally, several groups
on campus stage voter registration drives in
late September. Among such groups are the
College Democrats and Republicans and the
Undergraduate Political Science
Association. All of these options make it
easy for a student to register. The choice is
theirs - on campus or by mail.
The important thing is to vote. Access to
voting is made easy by the various registra-
tion options. And polling stations on elec-
tion day are placed around campus, so stu-
dents do not have to travel far and can fit it
into their schedules as they choose. All the
obstacles to voting have been removed -
there aren't any excuses not to vote this
November.

Forced out Co bating terrorisi
Conservative community cheats its students Bill has positive and negative provisions

E arlier this summer, the Michigan State Senate and House of Representatives voted
to ban gay marriages - a move that violated the civil rights of gays and lesbians
everywhere. The legislature sent an underlying message along with the bill- a mes-
sage that encourages discrimination, homophobia and unsubstantiated fear.
Harassment and discrimination is nothing new to the gay, lesbian and bisexual co:-
munity. It forces them out of their homes, their jobs and thei1 communities Pe
expressed by a fes is ampltfied so urbearable les ls, as ani igioiont mmn'city s ( es
itself appe'ar large r than it actually is.
However, soinstimes the ign raist homophobie miinoroty slinws OP in. p wefu piaces
Thismadethen news lstweek as scho bdriis rdinalons erv. iviisuthweso
Mihian forc i t 5ne of( it s mos)v ibl teces. h By c CeIrsholbad
is igated. ad o manaie hihive hirsmn n nmstwihldGry
Cr5 cah ByI C. trH d col ece , to (sg as ek rn wsa se o
iarginhat iss thn sup ive, tears
It S
t.d ensiicis ere to presiEw - .s e cn y dii P. s1 Th
thei rPts anad wilse the dseIits is 'hins tducaion To den thsV tdnsa c
thesir paCs in tbc osmnsisty is abhorrecc.
The Byroii Cenuter school Isoard ,nd select soonbe isf Ithe co snis ty 1have di se them-
selves - not to mention Geirry Crane - a signifie..ni disservie. ThIeI ignsorant few havse
elseated their students of s fair and dii erse education. aisd as she same time, gis en ihens smss-
representation of the world. It will siow be up to the students to discos er for themselves she
injustice -and emerge as more intelligent people tlan their school and communisy leaders.

L ast week Congress began hastily piecing together a bill to strengthen the nation's
efforts in combating terrorism. Though the bill, which has strong presidential sup-@
port, did not make it through Congress before its monthlong recess began last weekesd,
the bill carries all the mrkings of shoddy patchwork politics that dominate election
yesrs. The bill has significasit Merits but also has the potential to set dangerous prece-
dets ii the ares of inidis dual rights.
Osse sfs Pig es S pr ems with the bill is its ient to iicrease the wiretaps ig abl-
isles I' Phe 1FB1 nid ichr laws enftoreent ageneces, maily through slse use of high-
seel oi e aping ui s. As, th bill in pr'senitI fom wvoold re'duce tIhe ce eks Isiw
en see agnis haS Ii'i trghii' e aproilsfr wiieap. Theseii pr iins
see t b arelacme'ii rth FIs reuei.as flls foPa$50 ilis oehal
ra-5 or-rqetdta th'iflhls ih wh7l yea). e i S
hasst ld y ttah g t s prvsn ' mNg p iyl, 'i reln.' a
Th Pbl -al o agm t eitou ist som eia exloivefr .zr n
niinadis as sparke the isa sliths N.aid tal i As~satesn whicIs fig'Is t
ioectIthc ansotyity f ef'Irar e-rs faggans pose iso ihreat ts he sveiagC ccrse
'stioa fiearmss user snd sisey woold speed she sCearch for suspects ii nbomiings. The
NRA's asrgsoseas is sieeped sin dogms not cimmnsi sens e -Cosigres s caisnset prsdisce
cie scix e teicisis I 'gisl ians witI eu taggasits Pcinsg p 5 o f is.
A rational approach most be taken to conaa an iriasional foe, free of she peilisics
asid snares sisal are as prcas a threat to our security as domestic and foreigs eunemiues.

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