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Show 5 Monday, April 4, 2011 OPINION www.dailyutahchronicle.com Revolutionary students start crucial dialogue R evolution is coming to the U. The Revolutionary Students Union, founded at Utah Valley University, formed a new chapter at the U comprising self-proclaimed Marxists, Leninists, Maoists, anarchists and others. Although these labels and the idea of revolution could set off alarms in Utah, the group is asking hard questions that everyone needs to discuss. "There's something not right with the way society's structured, and we need to do something about it," said U Chapter President Melodia Gutierrez. Looking at how our society is structured, she has a point. The proposed 2011 U.S. budget cuts about $11.2 billion from early LOGAN FROERER Opinion Writer childhood education programs and $420 million from legal services for the poor, according to research by the Center for American Progress. Now, before you jump to the conclusion that these cuts are necessary for the deficit's sake, consider that the same budget lost about $11.5 billion worth of income because of tax cuts for millionaire's estates and another $2.5 billion in tax breaks for oil companies. The current version of society puts more in the pockets of estate-owning millionaires and oil barons than in the hands of children and the impoverished. "I feel like capitalism obviously isn't working for the workingclass people," said RSU Vice President Summer Smith Wulle. Sadly, the numbers back up this assertion as well. The richest onefifth of Americans control more than 8o percent of the country's total wealth, according to a report by Michael Norton of Harvard and Dan Ariely of Duke. "I want to be a part of a transition to a true democracy," said Vaughn Hunter, who attended a On "Quarterback competition heats up" (Jake Hibbard, March 30, 2011) Sports Brett posted 3.31.11 @ 3:06 p.m. "They need to play with confidence. They need to let the others know that we're going to be OK."??? Are you kidding me Norm? They need to see confidence coming from their offensive coordinator - that's what they need! They need to be more than OK. They need to be the best. They will be the best if their quarterback, their team, and there coaching staff think that they are better than just OK. I hope, Norm, that you do better on the field than you do in interviews with the chroni. Anonymous posted 4.3.11 @ 3:46 p.m. I don't see anything wrong with what he said. A coach can be a motivator and xs and os guy all day long, but if a team is lacking a field general ON the field, there is going to be a lot of problems. On "Value isn't increasing with tuition" (Jon Bullen, March 31, 2011) Opinion Alex posted 4.1.11 @ 10:55 a.m. It is the same old status quo over and over again. We need to raise tuition again, but it is such a good deal for you peon students! It is time to create a private college free from politics. Probably 80% of classes only require a simple classroom, a teacher, students, a blackboard, and some books. Very inexpensive. Professors who are in the field for the love of learning and knowledge would probably be glad to sign up. There is no reason that they couldn't be paid $80K-F year, so it wouldn't be charity work for them. The more intensive courses requiring labs, etc. could be done at other places that receive tax and corporate funds to supplement. I think that here at the U are the brightest minds in the state, but their knowledge and wisdom are ignored. At the least, lets create an internal think tank where professors and students can brainstorm and refine ideas on improving our situation. It is our education, so lets work on making it better. PROPOSED 2011 U.S. BUDGET PROGRAM CUTS: • • $11.2 million cut from childhoodeducation programs $420 million cut from legal services for the poor TAX EXEMPTIONS: • $11.5 billion in income-tax breaks for millionaire estates $2.5 billion in tax breaks for oil companies "The current version of society puts more in the pockets of estate-owning millionaires and oil barons than in the hands of children and the impoverished." weekly RSU meeting. A true democracy would, ideally, be one in which everyone's voice had an equal say in the decisions made by the government. Supposedly, each of our voices has an equal say in who is elected, and therefore, what decisions will be made. Unfortunately, our present reality doesn't resemble this depiction. Corporations, whose decisionmakers are part of the richest onefifth, hold a vastly disproportionate amount of the wealth. They can spend unlimited amounts on campaigns thanks to 20I0'S Citizens United Supreme Court Case. Independent candidates outside of the established political system don't have a prayer, and once officials get into office, it only makes sense that they're more likely to support those who paid their way there. "Most of the energy is possessed by the youth," Gutierrez said. We need to act to make sure that assertion is actually true. There are striking questions about our political structure that are going to shape the future in which we live. Engaging in open and transparent dialogue about the kind of world we want that to be is crucial. With our future as the youth being threatened from multiple fronts, ignoring these issues is no longer a viable response. Driven especially by the youth, revolutionary change is reshaping our world, whether in Egypt, Bahrain, Iran, Libya or Wisconsin. Unfortunately, many people are going to miss out—remaining silent and hiding behind the comforts of normalcy, established everyday routines and a fear of new and challenging ideas. There's potential energy and people power waiting inside each of us—ignoring this power allows it to slip away without building the future we want to see. A world that serves the interests of people over the interests of established systems will only come through open minds engaging with those around them, channeling their knowledge, sentiments and desires into meaningful, concrete actions. WILLUS BRANHAM/The Daily Utah Chronicl letters@chronicle.utah.edu |