Illustration by Cody Angell
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Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wednesday November 13, 2002
Last Tuesday, Americans went to the polls and voted in favor of a more right-wing America. In Congress, Republicans gained four seats in the House of Representatives, giving them control of 228 of 438 seats, and picked up two in the Senate, giving them a 51-47 margin over the Democrats, with one Independent and one race still undecided. Republicans also gained control of the majority of state legislatures, and for the first time in 50 years, there are more Republican than Democratic legislators in the country.
Statewide, Democrats did a little better, as Arizona elected its first Democratic governor, in 20 years, Janet Napolitano. But the state
Legislature has become more predominantly conservative.
What will these election results mean for Arizona ÷ and America?
Look forward to a brighter future, more money
If you're one of the thousands of hard working, patriotic Americans who voted in the last election, congratulations are in order. You participated in our great system of democracy and helped shape the future of this great nation.
And if you voted for your friendly local Republican, a special thanks goes out to you. You secured for all citizens at least two years of responsible, sensible leadership.
We've got a lot to look forward to. Probably most important is that we'll get two years of judicial nominations that will let our courts conduct their business in a reasonable, conservative fashion. We won't have to worry about do-nothing liberal judges who legislate from the bench and attempt to corrupt our social values.
We won't have to worry about a Congress or a President who want to rob us of our Constitutional right to defend ourselves and hunt with firearms. Most of all, we can all take pride in the knowledge that our representatives will work to make sure that we keep as much of the money we earn as possible.
Now we've got a Congress that understands (most of the time) that government is not part of the solution, but a part of the problem.
Jason Winsky is a political science junior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
Bleak future ahead: more division, less progress
The effects of this election will be felt for many years in every corner of our country and our state. In Arizona, at least we elected Janet Napolitano, Terry Goddard, Raul Grijalva, Adelita Grijalva and Richard Elias. But the victories were bittersweet. Raul Grijalva will have to work with a Congress that is dominated by Republicans, and Napolitano will have to work with a Legislature that swings even farther to the right than its predecessors, if that's possible.
We must keep our fingers crossed that the new Legislature is willing to work with Napolitano and will act out of character in accepting some of her progressive proposals, including increased air quality standards, a comprehensive forest management plan and closing tax loopholes to funnel more money into education.
On the national level, the super-wealthy corporate reptiles, as political activist Doris Haddock puts it, have taken over every branch of government. The Republicans won this election nationally not by speaking to our nation's strength and endurance, but rather by playing on its fear and weakness. Under the guise of national security, any environmental protection or social program the far right ever decided it didn't like will be eliminated, and never-ending tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent of the nation will continue to drive Reaganite deficit spending.
Kendrick Wilson is a political science sophomore. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
Democrats and Republicans: What's the difference?
Since I think I have satisfied my fair share of Repub-bashing and Georgie jokes, I am going to retire the mockeries (just for this week) and talk about why I have had enough with the whole Democrat-Republican drama.
Frankly, from what I understood, the Democrats are supposed to be about more government and less industry, while the Republicans are more about industry and less government.
However, the more I learn about the political process, they seem to be actually one huge party in themselves with different labels. If the Republicans are supposed to be less government, then why are they the big proponents of the Homeland Security Bill or the "Republicans Taking Over America" bill. (Was that another Republican joke?)
As to why the Democrats are useless: The whole purpose of a two party system is so if one has an idea that many Americans disagree with, the other side is supposed to represent the opposing viewpoint.
After watching the Democrats either being silent or ÷ even worse ÷ supporting the Republicans on many important political ventures, what is the point of two parties? Whether it is Republicans in control of the Legislature or the Democrats, it doesn't seem to make too big of a difference.
Mariam Durrani is a systems engineering senior. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
2002 was great, but it's time to work on 2004
When the election returns finally started coming in late Tuesday, a colloquialism came to mind. It probably came from a movie or something, but it has bearing: When the gods want to punish us, they answer our prayers.
The hopes of many Republicans will come to fruition in early January, when the victorious ÷ especially in Arizona ÷ take office. What will come of this unprecedented victory by the political pachyderms?
Things will change at the margins, but there won't be any broad social overhauls. White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer made a great effort to avoid associating this victory with a mandate. Voters are divided across the nation. The gubernatorial race in Arizona came down to 11,000 votes out of the nearly 1.2 million that Arizonans cast.
The most interesting results that will come from this election are the 2004 and 2006 elections. With Republicans in control, the hard part will be holding on. Unfortunately, with a focus on survival, bold innovations will be scarce.
In Arizona, a solidly conservative legislature means no tax hikes. While that's good for Arizonans, it's also good for the new governor. She'll say, "Look, I fixed the budget without raising taxes." That doesn't bode well.
Have the prayers been answered? Probably, but we'll see.
Jason Baran is a public admin and policy graduate student. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
Magic 8-ball says: Îfuture unclear, ask again later'
So, the GOP has control. Is this a good thing or a bad thing for the universe?
Um · don't know. Not a prophet.
But how about those elections, huh? Pretty fun stuff.
People at the polls, voting. Getting stickers. Signs around town with people's names on them. Democrats coming to my door with leaflets. Getting lots of official election mail. Getting a voter I.D. card in the mail. Losing the voter I.D. card. Finding it, then losing it again. Then getting another one in the mail. Then losing the new one. Then finding it and not having to use it at the poll. Then giving it away on a whim and driving to Mexico.
But how about those elections, folks?
Are the next four years of American history going to be your fault? I hope you didn't elect anyone who's going to drive our grand country into the mud.
Well, there's no way to know yet, so let's all just calm down.
Take a breath, relax, fire up that medical marijuana at your own risk.
If you say we're screwed now, you'll find reasons to back it up before you cast your next vote. If you think the GOP-dominated elections are the best thing for America since oatmeal, you'll also find reasons to make it true.
You can wait and see. Or you can tow the party line like a good little chimp.
Daniel Cucher is a creative writing senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
Our country is not for sale
Republicans do not have the majority voice in this country.
Rather, it is those who paved their way into office with campaign contributions who now have U.S. citizens in a stranglehold ÷ American corporations.
We, the middle and lower income class people who are the supermajority, can claim taxation without representation. Although there are some true Democrats scattered within state legislatures and Congress, we are being governed federally by the elite 10 percent of the country.
The "Republicans" today are not traditional Republicans, but rather the rich wearing the wolf mask of the R-Party. Hell, Jimmy Carter was more of a Republican than Dubya ÷ he was for reducing government size and spending, while Bush wants to manipulate the government into giving subsidies and advantageous opportunities to his Rockefeller-esque pals.
Unless your daddy is a CEO of some big company, the "Republicans" are going to screw you along with the poor, the environment and workers' rights.
In the next two years, our country is going to witness the greatest American grassroots movement to ever take place. Soon people will realize that they must take back their lands, their lives and their futures from the grips of the gluttonous wealthy.
Jessica Lee is an environmental science senior. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
