Student Kara Jones and her family watches the debate.

BEFORE

Wednesday, October 3 at The University of Denver was the first stepping-stone in a series of three presidential debates between incumbent Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney.  As long as presidential debates have been televised, they have often made or ruined a candidate’s chance of articulating influence to the undecided voter.  JFK and Ronald Reagan both seemed more appealing on the television with Kennedy’s youth and Regan’s humor and charm; the votes swayed from the debates proved beneficial as both won the presidential election.

The winner of the upcoming election will implement policies that will drastically affect us in the future, when we are out in the real world and the choices government makes actually hits us directly.  Students at Bob Jones understand that the winner will be calling the shots on controversial issues that will mean more to us than the current generation.  Many advanced students are highly interested in the debate: “In my opinion Obama will win the debate because he gives better speeches,” Bob Jones junior Clara Wan replied when asked about which candidate had the upper hand in the debates.  Scores of high school students are interested in many of the domestic policy issues: from welfare and immigration to military spending and deficit spending.  But the number 1 concern to students is unsurprising and very crucial: “The issue that is most important to me is student loans,” senior Fred Daso commented.  Undoubtedly all students concur with Fred, as education reform can breed more financial aid given to the hard working, bright students who deserve it.  Although the majority of students cannot vote yet, the vast multitude of opinions, concerns, and participation all contribute to give Bob Jones a very unique and prestigious atmosphere.  What a perfect time to be in a Government class.  History proves nothing is too bizarre in a debate.

AFTER

Most people believed Obama would win the first debate, but public opinion after proves that Romney fared much better than Obama did.  Romney pointed fingers at Obama and kept him from ever gaining much ground.  Romney definitely appealed to the young person much more than Obama did in how he mentioned that he does not want to pass off the problems with the debt to the hands of us, the next generation.

But did anything from the debate tonight focus on the more important issue to students?  Education reform was talked about but from the perspective that benefited teachers way more than it benefited students.  There was no talk of making it easier for students to afford college through financial aid by either president.  It looks like students will have to dig deeper into the beliefs of each party and president to discover which one will more make their financial lives easier.

To sum the debate up, the main issues mentioned that will affect us, the students and future, were the increasing debt, medicare, and our reliance on China for goods we can make here in America.  All three of these issues could make our lives miserable if not fixed: we might see even worse economic times if we are hard pressed with an increasing debt, our reliance on paying for other people’s health will even further empty our pockets, and we could see a restraint of good relations with China if we don’t become more self reliant and slow our debt to them.  The decisions today affect tomorrow.  Get involved in the future.