by Whitney J. Davis
Daily Lobo columnist
The problem with the political campaign system is that nothing of substance is ever discussed. Sure, candidates mention Iraq, support family values and promote their own integrity, but what about the issues that affect citizen's day-to-day lives?
One important section that is often overlooked is business. Business issues affect everyone, because if nothing else, we are all consumers, which means that regulation of business influences the price we pay for goods and services. Candidates rarely state their position on issues surrounding business and business-related policy.
This election cycle is no exception. Attorney General Patricia Madrid and Rep. Heather Wilson are running for a congressional position representing New Mexico. After looking through both candidates' Web sites, I found little to no information about where either candidate stands on business issues. Madrid, a Democrat, has the compulsory note on her commitment to the environment but no information about where she stands on specific issues or how she plans to protect the environment. Wilson, an incumbent Republican, does not even attempt to communicate her stance on most issues.
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How are we, as voters, supposed to make an informed choice when we go to the polls? We have no information about what each candidate plans to do for New Mexico's business environment, not to mention the nation's.
Which issues should Madrid and Wilson be addressing? Intellectual property, anti-trust, economic policy, trade policy, immigration, minimum wage, environmental policy and business ethics are all business issues that the government has the power to control. Understanding how our candidates plan to vote on these issues is important to be able to make an informed decision at the polls.
These issues impact local business people. The health of local business is directly related to the economic health of the state. Basically, these are the issues that have the potential to directly impact the lives and jobs of voters, but they are never really addressed. Campaigns have essentially become negative advertising campaigns focused on undermining the opposing candidate.
Is the U.S. political system really this far gone? It is no wonder that elections are not taken seriously in this country. When political campaigns are no more than a popularity contest, it is difficult to see a reason to get out and vote. I want to know what I am voting for. I do not want to be spoon-fed a line on a few hot issues. I want to have a good idea what my representative is doing for me and my state when she is in Washington, D.C.
All I have heard from Wilson's campaign is how corrupt Madrid is, and overwhelmingly all I have heard from Madrid is how Wilson is in President Bush's pocket. This does not clarify anything. I am still in the dark about anything of importance, so I have a hard time respecting either candidate.
This country is facing a lot of issues and many are business-related, not family-values related. I want facts. I want firm positions on real issues. Political ads have sunk to the level of trashy talk-show banter. Instead of begging the country to buy into this tripe and vote on nothing more than a gut feeling, why not clean up campaigning and get back to what is really important - the issues that are facing Congress and how the representatives plan to address them.
My bet is that if politicians take the process more seriously and tell us what they think, people will respond with votes.
Consider this a call to the candidates to take a stand on issues that really impact their constituents, and if they have already taken a stand, to tell us about it.
Whitney J. Davis is a UNM master's of business
administration student with an emphasis in international
business and public policy.
