Letter to the Editor: Incumbent leads the only path to move forward

This election is one of the most important of our lifetime. There are two rival opinions on how to move forward, and the UMW Young Democrats feel that current President Barack Obama is the best choice this November.

We support President Obama because we believe he genuinely cares about making all of America better off. We cannot afford to go back to the same failed economic plans that led to the 2008 crisis and increased income inequality. Failure to regulate Wall Street will only force the country backward, and hurt the American worker. Corporations should not control policy, and they are not people. We see fault in an administration that seeks to help the CEO of a company, while suggesting slashing pensions and salaries. Mitt Romney’s own editorial on Detroit and the auto bailout makes these claims.

Women should not see their reproductive rights taken away nor their opportunities limited. Planned Parenthood is one of the most vital services many women seek. They provide vital family planning services, as well as cancer screenings. Giving women access to affordable services helps them to control their lives and make informed choices about their future. Cutting these services, as Gov. Romney proposes, would hurt families across the country. Women deserve equal pay for equal work, and the right to take legal action if employers do not abide by this.

People should be able to pay for college, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Students should not be crippled by rising tuition costs, and Gov. Romney’s proposed cuts to domestic spending would slash Pell Grants and further harm already struggling students. The Romney-Ryan ticket also supports efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which would remove young adults across the country from their parents’ insurance.

We want our soldiers home and our veterans taken care of as gratitude for their service. We believe that gays, minorities, and the poor deserve equal rights. The bottom line is, Obama understands and cares about the concerns of average Americans, and that is who belongs in the White House.

We encourage everyone to vote Nov. 6. We will be providing rides to the polls, regardless of your political affiliation, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the bell tower on the hour and the Anderson Center on the half hour. Anyone who would like more information, or to get involved in ‘getting out the vote’ efforts this weekend, please contact umwdems@gmail.com.

Written by the UMW Young Democrats Executive Board