Spring Break
US senator encourages URI students to discuss presidential election issues
Kathleen McKiernan
Issue date: 10/15/08 Section: News
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With the presidential election drawing closer, Whitehouse began by encouraging students to get involved with the election.
"What happens between now and then will do a lot to influence [the election]. Your role in this is vitally important. The decisions you make now will affect the future," he said.
Whitehouse told students no matter whom they vote for, they "shouldn't sit this one out," and urged students to volunteer for the presidential campaigns.
The senator said like everyone, he has regrets, but "if you miss participating in something, that's the kind of regret that's hard to let go. This is that kind of moment for you."
The senator recalled the first election that caught his interest, the 1968 election with Robert Kennedy, George McGovern and Richard Nixon.
He said though much excitement revolved around the 1968 presidential election, the 2008 election seemed different than others.
"Now the stakes are higher. It's not just how very different the men running are. It's two different sets of substantive ideas," Whitehouse said.
Whitehouse said many problems facing America now could have been avoided if addressed earlier.
"[The financial crisis] did not have to happen," Whitehouse said. "This was not Ike, Gustav, or Katrina. This was a failure of the human system to protect against a credit crisis. We could have prevented it. I hope it's a teaching moment for us."
The senator also said the health care system and environmental problems were issues that could be prevented. According to Whitehouse, the health care system's current Medicare liability is $34 trillion.
