UT Martin Democrats

John Lankford
UTM College Democrats

Tuition up 9% this year, sound familiar? Tuition and fees are up in 49 out of the 50 states. It seems that tuition increases have become as routine as back-to-school shopping. Why is it that we allow our education costs to be raised while we stand by and do nothing? Well the good news is YOU can do something about it, VOTE!

Bush’s record on higher education:

President Bush has failed to deliver on his 2000 campaign promise to raise the maximum Pell grant award to $5100. It remains at $4,050, meanwhile UTM tuition has risen by $1,066 since President Bush has taken office. Bush Proposes Cutting or Freezing Key Financial Aid Programs. Bush’s 2005 budget eliminates the $66.2 million Leveraging Education Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) program, which aids low-income families trying to afford rising college costs. Bush’s 2005 budget also cuts $101 million from the Perkins Loan Program.
Kerry’s Plan for a Stronger American Education:
Simplify the Student Aid Application Process. Today, there are more questions on an application for a $5,000 student loan than on an application for a $2 million small business loan. John Kerry will simplify the student aid application. As president, John Kerry will Offer a College Opportunity Tax Credit on up to $4000 of tuition for four years of college. This credit will be fully available to families having trouble with the costs of college and to young people who are paying their way through school. John Kerry will work with colleges to provide the benefits of the credit at the beginning of each school year, when students NEED IT! Only about one half of Americans who go to college actually graduate. John Kerry will work with high schools and colleges to boost college completion through stronger high school curriculum and empowering the colleges that improve their graduation rate.
The costs of these programs will be offset by rolling back Bush’s irresponsible tax cut program. What’s more important to you, a one-time $300 check or the pursuit of a more lucrative future with a college degree in hand? For more information, visit JohnKerry.com or attend our meeting Thursday 5 p.m., in the University Center, Room 231.

Andrea Cash
UTM College Democrats

For the past four years, the U.S. economy has sustained heavy blows. Despite optimistic claims from the Bush Administration, the state of the economy has been left in shambles. In numerous claims, the current administration would have the public believe the economy has been better than what the actual facts stipulate.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, there has been a net job loss of over 2 million, making the Bush Administration the first since the Hoover Administration to end its term with a net job loss on its record. (EPI, Feb. 2, 2003; Jobwatch.org)

The slumping economy has also reflected grimly on local counties. After three downsizes at the local Goodyear Tire plant, an estimated 900 employees have been laid off, according to Martin locals.

One would think, with the economy performing so badly, the current administration would propose an economic plan to help stimulate it. Sadly, this is not so.

In a non-partisan analysis by the Center Committee for Economic Development, findings concluded that the official budget projections omit about $200 billion in missing costs in the fifth year. (CBPP, Jan. 24, 2004)

On top of that debacle, the new tax cut proposed by the Bush Administration is not distributed evenly among socioeconomic ranks. The 10 percent of taxpayers who earn $104,000 annually will receive 60.1 percent of said tax cut, while the least-ranking 60 percent will receive a mere 8.5 percent. (CTJ Fact Sheet, Jan. 8, 2003, http://www.ctj.org)

How can the American people tolerate such blatant disregard of their economy?

The American people deserve candidates with more initiative to stimulate the economy. The Kerry-Edwards economic plan has the potential to give the economy an overdue support. In the proposed economic plan, the deferral of taxes because of job outsourcing abroad will be eliminated. This economic plan also wants to promote tax breaks for companies that operate in the United States.

The Kerry-Edwards economic plan will implement “buy American” strategy to contract federal work to American workers.

The U.S. economy cannot withstand official budgets with outrageous omissions or 2 million more net job losses.

Our nation is in grave need for new leadership from John Kerry and John Edwards to help stimulate our desperate economy.

Doug Davenport
UTM College Democrats

When was the last time you went to fill up and almost had to take out a loan from the bank to pay for it?

President George W. Bush promised to lessen foreign oil dependence, but what exactly has he done?

After the Enron debacle, how can we trust someone who made his fortune in the oil industry to choose what is best for America?

Should we ignore the various lobbyists who would have us do nothing to stop not only OPEC, but firms in our very own country who have limited production in the refineries, thus creating artificial demand and driving up gas prices?

President Bush would have us drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as a solution, having us roll back more than 100 years of precedent in setting aside land for the benefit of wildlife.

Why? For a paltry sum of oil that would barely have an impact on our overall need to be self-sufficient. Bush says the damage to ANWR would be insignificant, but that isn’t really the point.

The point is that if we make an exception to our own self-imposed limits, what is to stop us from doing the same again in other wildlife refuges and in our national parks?

President Bush’s energy policy is flawed and doesn’t trust that America can move beyond a need for oil alone.

Has America forgotten her strength?

Sen. John Kerry will help us find that age-old American spirit again by funding initiatives to find new solutions to the impending energy crisis we now face.

Alternative fuels once developed in full will be our best and greatest weapon against dependence on foreign oil.

By investing in new technologies we can overcome anything set against us.

John Kerry has the vision necessary to guide the United States during these troubled times and will do what is needed without catering to the interests of the oil companies.

For more information, please check out www.johnkerry.com, or stop by our meetings at 5 p.m. every Thursday in the U.C.