Discontent enables conservative gains

By: Joliette Re / Contributing Writer
opinion@fiusm.com

Florida International University prides itself in having one of the most affordable tuition rates in the country.

However, this could change because of the upcoming election in November.

Pressure has increased to raise tuition costs, but the amount of available financial aid has decreased.

The University’s financial aid office announced that the Pell Grant 2 for the summer term will not be offered anymore. This is in addition to the decreased amount offered by Bright Futures.

I feel personally hurt by this, since I was expecting to take an accounting class for the summer.

Because of the public’s concern for the national debt, most Americans feel that the economy is the number one priority for the next president.

According to the article called “Economic Issues Drove Florida Voters” by Marjorie Connelly in The New York Times, published on Feb. 1, “ The economy was the top issue for 6 in 10 voters,  and most of them (Florida voters) voted for Mr. [Mitt] Romney.”

Due to the struggling U.S. economy, Americans now show that they feel dissatisfied with the current Democratic president and may feel an inclination to voting for the other party — Republican.

This shift could also have triggered America to be more accepting toward conservative values.

Look at the rise of the term “freedom of religion,” and the fight over whether free distribution of birth control be covered in private insurance of Catholic hospitals, Catholic schools or other conservative churches.

Look at the rise of the Tea Party faction.

Look at how many Republican candidates proclaim strongly of their conservative values.

During his appearance in South Carolina for the state’s Republican primary from Jan. 11-21 this year, Rick Santorum mentioned in his “Faith, Family, Freedom” speech  the fall of moral values as the blame for the current dismal monetary situation.

Many Republican candidates have also borrowed phrases depicting this idea of amending the U.S. from its faults. “Reform America Now” is the Texan Ron Paul’s slogan. “Believe in America” is Romney’s. “The Courage to Fight for America” is Santorum’s.

This rising Republican popularity will probably not alleviate the financial situation for students at the University. Budget cuts will probably be on the top of their agenda.

Paul, according to his “Plan to Reform America,” plans to cut one trillion dollars in one year after being president by taking down the Transportation of Security Administration and the following five cabinet departments.

Santorum plans to eliminate five trillion dollars of government spending over a period of five years by reducing, at minimum, 10 percent all non-defense federal employees and lowering non-militant government expenditures to 2008 levels.

Newt Gingrich supports a “management” system called Lean Six Sigma, which, according to his campaign website, could reduce five hundred billion dollars of fiscal spending a year if applied across the federal government.

Romney plans to reduce government spending about five hundred billion per year and lower it to twenty percent of U.S. GDP

More likely, first-year students will be more affected by these limited resources.

We must be wary of the charming rhetoric politicians use. People must be wary of whom they elect and not be persuaded by vague slogans and campaign promises.

We must  keep in mind the vital issue of education funding, which affects a huge proportion of the student body.
People must really reflect on this before they make the decision to vote.