With both national party presidential conventions fast approaching, it is high time for the public to begin examining the candidates and what is at stake in the November election.

Saturday, July 22, 2000

With both national party presidential conventions fast approaching, it is high time for the public to begin examining the candidates and what is at stake in the November election.

While the public perception remains that this year’s election is akin to choosing between boring and more boring, or dumb and dumber, the reality is that voters have a huge stake in the outcome of this year’s election.

Arguably this could be the most significant presidential election since Ronald Reagan won in 1980 and immediately restored America’s pride.

The blandness of Al Gore and George W. Bush is almost comical. Both have a keen ability to suck the air right out of a room upon their entrance. Gore and Bush are Jesse Ventura’s complete opposites when it comes to exciting crowds.

It’s really unfortunate that a more charismatic candidate doesn’t exist because the public really does need to be involved in this election.

America is at a crossroads of sorts with the presidency.

Without question, most Americans have prospered economically during Bill Clinton’s eight years in office. On the flip side the office of the presidency and America’s moral fabric have taken huge hits.

This leaves voters weighing the economic question vs. the morality question. Those not wanting to risk the economic good times perhaps will vote for Gore. Those believing the country needs to tackle the morality issues and restore some dignity to the office of the presidency may choose Bush.

Then there is the age-old decision of deciding what is the right amount of government and which party provides the closest thing to the right amount. If one believes we need more government than Gore is the choice. If good government is less government, then Bush appears the guy.

Beyond these relatively normal campaign decisions lies the most crucial point of this entire election – appointing judges to the Supreme Court.

At this time it looks like three and possibly five members of the nine-member Supreme Court could be replaced during the tenure of the next president. Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life terms, meaning the next president could leave a lasting imprint on America for many years to come.

It’s hard to predict how judges will react once they sit on the Supreme Court, but it’s a pretty safe bet that Bush will appoint conservative judges and Gore liberal judges. Thus, Americans will not just be voting for a president in November, but more importantly the legal and moral course this country will take.

That’s a huge decision and one we all must be involved in.

Closer to home

Austinites face big election questions as well in November. Does the community stick with the old leadership that has served it well for years, or is it time for change? Do voters concern themselves with results, or does character play a factor at the local level as well? Is the changing face of our community being accurately represented?

Voters need to begin wrestling with these questions and many more during the coming months, so they are able to make an informed voting decision come Nov. 7.

Going APE For Kids

Congratulations to Peggy Benzkofer, the Austin Public Education Foundation and the Austin community for the great golf outing last Monday. According to Benzkofer, more than $12,000 was raised for the foundation.

It was amazing to see 148 people golfing just one week after the Austin Country Club, and the city of Austin, were under floodwaters. The last two weeks have shown once again how resilient and generous this community is.