Arthur | October 27, 2003
I know opinions are often divided, even on a supposedly liberal college like Swarthmore. I respect that many people have differing positions from mine on large-scale issues like the war, taxes, minimum wage, abortion, the death penalty, or whatever. I understand these issues are complex.
But this is something I feel every student really does have a moral imperative to get behind, at least in spirit.
The right to vote is at the heart of what it ought to mean to be an American, living in a free society run by a democratic government. Whenever people try to limit that, we must be wary. When people outright subvert it out of carelessness, stupidity and corruption for personal gain, we ought to be outraged.
This is not about liberal values vs. conservative ones. It’s not even about loyalty to the Democratic Party vs. the Republican Party, except for the most Machiavellian, unprincipled Republican who buys into the all-too-common idea that the success of the party matters more than the betrayed ideals of a party or the long-term effect such actions have on the reputation of the party.
This is about a few rich and powerful fools using everyone in the political process to make a quick buck at everyone’s expense, thinking they’re doing whatever cause they have a favor by making hash out of the rules. Everyone who cares about politics at all ought to be incensed about that.