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Students.debate merits of Clinton, Dole

By Daily Bruin Staff

Nov. 3, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Monday, November 4, 1996

ISSUES:

Top concerns for Generation X include education, economy By
Brooke Olson

Daily Bruin Staff

In a recent national survey, 18- to 24-year-olds were asked how
older generations perceived them: "lazy," confused" and "apathetic"
were their top answers. But when asked how they think of
themselves, "ambitious," "determined" and "optimistic" topped their
list. Seventy-two percent believed that Generation X "has an
important voice, but no one seems to hear it."

Such a view helps explain, in part, why this group has had
­ on average ­ a 36 percent turnout rate at the polls in
the last few years.

But with this election year, provocative ballot measures such as
Proposition 209, the continuing threat of fee hikes and decreasing
amounts of financial aid have contributed to a larger interest in
both state and national politics.

According to a poll conducted by the Center for Policy
Alternatives and Who Cares magazine, economic and personal security
are among this generations top concerns. Nearly 61 percent of 18-
to 24-year-olds have debts of some kind, including education.

So it’s no wonder each of the presidential candidates has
included in their party platforms promises to expand college loan
programs, offer tax deductions for school expenses and lower loan
interest rates by balancing the federal budget.

Although each candidate’s goals differ significantly, both agree
that higher education is the key to a successful future in the 21st
century.

President Bill Clinton has vowed to expand work-study, offer a
$1,000 honor scholarship for the top 5 percent of graduates in
every high school, as well as create a $10,000 tax deduction for
families to help pay for a college education.

In addition to building a bridge to the 21st century, Clinton
has pledged to create a $1,500 tax cut for Americans, modeled after
a successful Georgia program, to guarantee the first year of
tuition at a typical community college, and the second year if
individuals maintain a B average.

Democratic supporters attest that Clinton is one of the best
educational presidents this country has seen in the last 30
years.

They cite Clinton’s reformed student loan program, which made
college more affordable for 5.5 million students and the expansion
of the Pell Grant scholarships.

"Clinton has been fighting to save financial aid and has been
the best supporter of students," said Angela Foster, president of
the Bruin Democrats.

"I definitely see Clinton pushing to get more funding for the
schools and the (proposed) tax cut would make a world of difference
for those middle-class families who earn too much to qualify for
financial aid but not enough to send their children to college,"
Foster added.

Clinton’s main intention is, as he has said, to "make two years
of college just as universal in four years as a high school
education is."

But Bruin Republicans contend Clinton has broken one too many
promises. Four years ago Clinton promised to balance the federal
budget, enact a middle-class tax cut and reform health care
"without any new taxes."

The president vetoed the first balanced budget bill in over a
generation and rejected the first two welfare reform bills passed
by the predominantly Republican congress. Yet, even after signing
the third GOP reform bill, he promised to "fix it" if he is
re-elected, some students said. In addition, the middle-tax class
cut never occurred.

"None of Clinton’s promises came true in the last four years …
why should we believe him now?" asked Bruin Republicans President
Jason Steele. "It simply doesn’t make any sense."

Bob Dole supporters, instead, proclaim their candidate will
benefit students the most. The Republican candidate’s vision
includes signing a balanced budget, a 15 percent tax cut and will
endorse charter school initiatives while at the same time reform
the educational system and eliminate wasteful government
spending.

"Balancing the budget will lower interest rates by at least 2
percent," said Joe Galli, chairman of the College Republican
National Committee. "Young Americans will save $2,000 over the life
of a student loan and $174 a year on a typical car loan."

Republican supporters point to Dole’s educational record as
Senate Majority Leader. In three years, Dole led the fight to
preserve funding for Head Start, the school lunch program and
special education.

He increased college loans by 50 percent in just five years and
says his "opportunity scholarships" ­ patterned after the GI
Bill and federal Pell grant program for low-income college students
­ would help students trapped in substandard public
schools."

"Expanding educational opportunities for low- and middle-income
families will not tear down public education," Dole said.

"I believe that school choice and returning education decisions
back to the local legal will reinvigorate America’s education
system and prepare children to compete and excel in the global
economy of the next century," the Republican candidate added.

But Democrats allege that Dole is more of "pull yourself up by
your bootstraps" type of person. They claim Dole was against
increasing the minimum wage and wants to cut work study
programs.

To many Clinton supporters, Dole "simply doesn’t get it," Foster
said. "He doesn’t quite comprehend what the ’90s are … he is very
out of touch with the importance of higher education."

Yet Republicans contend that Clinton’s lack of support for a
balanced budget amendment will only hurt college students in the
long run. The Democratic incumbent does not support the amendment,
saying it is unnecessary because both parties are working toward a
balanced budget by 2002.

"The interests on college loans is one of the first things which
will come down when the deficit is decreased," Steele said.

Despite the strong clashes between the two parties and the
effects that each candidate could potentially have on higher
education, much of the campus’ attention has been focused on state
ballot initiatives, including the hotly-contested Proposition
209.

The undergraduate student government and various student
activist groups are more intent on defeating Proposition 209 than
endorsing a presidential candidate.

The ideology behind this is that it’s the initiatives ­ not
the candidates ­ which will have much more of an impact on
students.

"Generally candidates can and have the tendency to say one thing
and do another," said undergraduate president John Du.

"It just so happens that the issues ­ the initiatives
­ will have a direct and lasting impact on the students. It’s
not as though the initiative can say one thing and do another after
it’s been implemented."

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