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The genesis of my political frustrations JASON L. RAPP GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM In case you were previously unaware, this is an election year for mid-term elections, when the American people send the sitting president a message about his policies and initiatives by changing, or maintaining the make-up of Congress. The same applies in the 50 states where gubernatorial races are heating up, and control of the legislatures hangs on the whims of the electorate. And in case you were previously unaware, none of this makes any bit of difference. While I try hard not to become cynical, even though she’s an alluring temptress, it’s difficult. The system is broken... not to the point of disrepair, but it’s severely crippled. So no, I’m not cynical, but I’m certainly disillusioned. Something has to change, somewhere, for any progress to be accomplished. But where and how? You should know that I consider myself a moderate Democrat, or more specifically, a pro-life Democrat. I’m not liberal because my head is screwed on too tight, and I’m not conservative because I care about more than my own view of the world and that of my homogenous, myopic group of contemporaries. In other words, life doesn’t boil down to a simplified set of black or white issues for me. But, I digress. It would be fun to write a column bashing the other side, but I’ll spare myself an e-mail inbox full of whitewash and hot air. ‘Tis a little too warm outside for that. Even though I’m most prone to siding with Democrats, I think President Washington was correct in warning early Americans about the dangers of political parties. We can see examples of what he meant on a daily basis. Too often, the desires of both parties are put before the needs of the people. Elected officials will march in lockstep with the party line, whatever that might be, instead of really trying to get something done. Whose interests are being served then? It shouldn’t be about who’s right and who’s wrong. If a Republican comes up with a viable solution to a problem, Democrats, who even I will admit do a nice job of whining and bickering, should support the idea. Of course this is a two-way street, though the "Rs” don’t whine as much as they fill sound bites with bombast. I’ve seen as much of this as I can take after working for two legislative sessions on the floor of the S.C. House. Far too many times I have been watching from the floor and seen nothing get done when there was significant potential for progress. There are House members who really would like to put politics aside and do work for South Carolina, but not enough. By and large, politicians in this state are do-nothings ... from the top down. The worst example of this is the lottery issue and how lottery profits are appropriated. I appreciate that it’s a divisive issue and a lot of people didn’t want it. But recall if you will that the majority of South Carolinians do want a lottery to provide tuition aid to qualified college students. However, that’s not how the Republican-controlled General Assembly treated it. They argued until late at night (I was there), until they were blue in their faces and tried very hard to set it up to fail ... just because Republicans didn’t want a lottery. Sorry guys, but it’s not about what you want. The people want it, and you tried your hardest to sabotage it before it even started. No, it’s not perfect, and I didn’t vote for it, either. But if people want to subject themselves to such a tax, we could at least put it to use to help improve the quality of life here, which will continue to suffer until we get the good ol’ boy do nothings back home where they belong. In South Carolina, and in the United States as a whole, it’s time to get people willing to look beyond the “D” or the “R” and look for the hard right instead of the easy wrong. That phrase has become cliched but has still never become reality. Party loyalty should never come before getting something done . on any level. When that practice stops, my and others’ disillusionment will end. Rapp is a fifth-year.print journalism student. IN YOUR OPINION Reed realizes “Class” is key to appearance It is great to see that a young woman like Shanna Reed under stands something very basic very well (“Pretty powerful, even in pink,” July 17,2002). I’m an old guy now, so maybe my input isn’t as ‘hip’ as that from someone 20 years younger, but I don’t care, anyway. Shanna understands the value of “class." I don’t understand how the trash culture managed to make its way onto any college campus. I would have thought that the col lege population would be intellec tually equipped to see it for what it is - crass commercialism. Conform and consume. The rigid conformity of non-conformity. If you wear tattoos aqd/or body piercing, you don’t look ‘cool’ or ‘hip.’ You look like somebody who probably does drugs and probably has AIDS. “Class” is always re spected, anywhere in the world, at any time. Your college years should be spent figuring out what you’re good at and channeling that into some thing you can make a living with when you graduate. Being like everyone else is some thing you should have left behind when you graduated high school. ; TERRY CORCORAN SIMON'S ISLAND. G.\. » Submission Policy Letters to the editor should be less than 300 words and include name, phone number, professional title or year and major, if a student. E-mail letters to gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. Letters will be edited. Anonymous letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777-7726 for more information, Winners and Sinners WINNERS DEREK WATSON Has as many lives as a cat. How many of them has he used now? LOU HOLTZ Football coach/ladies’ man attracts nearly 1,800 women to clinic. PENNSYLVANIA MINERS Not drilled by 77 cold, wet hours. Get it? Not drilled... CLEMSON UNIVERSITY Haha, just kidding. We all know better than that. SINNERS •* ► THE ASTEROID Much ado about nothing. Earth celebrates another “near” miss. AMTRAKSafety record starting to look like ValuJet’S. S.C. DROUGHT CONDITIONS Drier than * Viewpoints page hpmop JENNIFER LOPEZ Just how “Lo” can she go? ONLINE This week’s question Should Derek Watson be allowed to rejoin the football team? Vote at www.dailygame cock.com. Last week’s question Should the Gamecocks share a new ballpark with the Carolina Bombers? See other poll results at www.dailygamecock.com. YES 42% NO 58% TOP 10 Uses for the Gamecock The Gamecock staff creates the weekly “Top 10.” Submit topics to gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com 10. Bird cage liner. Oh wait, that’s The Free Times'job. 9. Reading material. But half of you don’t know how to do that. 8. Convenient gift wrap. 7. Your best source of USC news and information! 6. 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