As a recent Notre Dame graduate, I have realized just how much I value my education. During a time of increased political awareness, I reviewed the Sept. 28, Oct. 5, and Nov. 2, 2000 issues of The Observer, where I confidently penned bold views in support of our current president, George W. Bush. I supported his plans for improving education; valuing middle-class families; increasing campaign fiscal responsibility; and, overall, creating a better America. As a College Republican, I naively asked, "How could a man who claims credit for inventing the Internet be a better option than Bush?" Now, we have a presidential incumbent who stated in Friday's debate that there are multiple Internets, and has not followed through with the promises I so foolishly believed as a responsible, first-time voter.
President Bush's administration stole the title of "No Child Left Behind" from the Children's Defense Fund's efforts, and provided no plausible way of funding the program intended to improve education. Additionally, he still does not aid the poorest of the poor, who will if at all attend dilapidated schools with out-dated texts.
While he promised incentives for married families, he never mentioned supporting a constitutional amendment to discriminate against certain citizens by depriving benefits of a marriage. He increased the gap between the rich and the poor, and provided tax incentives to industries that outsourced jobs overseas. Consequently, middle class families suffered.
Bush supported campaign finance reform, yet used the U.S. government to increase both his and Dick Cheney's personal wealth through the war in Iraq. Today, he stands idly by while the Sinclair Broadcasting Group schedules to air an anti-Kerry documentary prior to the election.
He claims to support "homeland security," but cut most federal spending on sexual assault and domestic violence crisis support, which directly protects families from violence within their own homes.
Today, I am proud to say that I am a Catholic, political flip-flopper. I acknowledge my mistake, and will rectify it in my vote. I hope that you will do the same.
Lindsey Horvath
alumnae
class of 2004
Oct. 13
