New Republican majority could have been prevented
COMMENTARY
James Zwilling

America failed Tuesday. Terribly.

The election of a majority of Republicans to Congress not only gives President George W. Bush all the backing he needs to impose his party and personal agendas on the world, but it gives the rest of the world a greater glimpse into the ignorance of the American people.

Many American people headed to the polls Tuesday to support the Republicans who’ve led the nation since 9-11. The same Americans who are giving Bush the highest continual approval ratings ever. The same Americans who support a war in Iraq and may likely support military action in North Korea. The same Americans who are willing to give up civil liberties here at home to save the nation from terrorism.

But neither Bush, leaders of U.S. Armed Forces, the director of Homeland Security, nor Republican lawmakers will save this nation from anything. And that is what these voters failed to see.

Voters wanting to avoid terrorism in this nation are supporting terrorism in others by electing a Republican government; the millions of voters who could have helped avoid this situation failed to show up at the polls.

What American powers will do is infuriate other world powers, jeopardize the country’s relationship with the United Nations, kill our young soldiers, take away our rights at home and send our court system into a tailspin.

Furthermore, by allowing one party to control all three branches of the U.S. government it will be impossible, unfeasible and unattainable to keep a fair system of checks and balances in place.

But these weren’t the only people to make a mistake on election day.

Despite the lack of knowledge about important issues like foreign and domestic policy, the economy and consumerism, there was another major problem plaguing the nation this election week: the ignorance of the millions of eligible voters who failed to cast ballots in Tuesday’s elections.

You know these people. They’re the ones you see in the bar and open up dialogue with about the current state of politics. They’re the students in your political science courses who are always quick to jump to conclusions about government but never step up and do anything about it outside of class. These are the baby boomers — college students’ parents who have lost faith in the voting system and believe they can’t make a difference — who now share their prejudices with their offspring.

This is the problem facing the nation. If you walk into any all-night diner you’ll find people who can solve the nation’s problems, or at least they’ll have an idea how to do it. So why can’t those in Washington do the same? Because no dialogue exists between the two.

Tuesday was your chance to open that dialogue with the powers that be and by failing to vote, you not only deprived yourself of a basic American right, but you helped damn our country.

The United States will see tougher times in the future — times that this generation thought it might be able to escape. Fingers will point at the party in power, but be forewarned. It’s not their fault. It’s yours.

James Zwilling is a senior news-editorial journalism major from Phoenix, Ariz.