Watauga County Republicans Vs. Students

[mraindog81]

ASU is not any more liberally biased than most other universities. Have any of you who whine about the liberalness of college campuses ever stopped to wonder why so many universities are liberal? Why the scholars that teach you are liberal? To ask that question is to answer it.

[Claynuts23]

Im a local here in Watauga. First and foremost I would like to say that I am an ASU student and yes we do have plenty of political discussions in class, but the I wish everyone knew how biased the entire faculty is there. Also, this is my main point, David Blust is the best man NE of you could ever hope to meet.

[Claynuts23]

Yes he boldly states his beliefs that the, in my opinion, liberal-ly Brainwashed ASU students should NOT vote on LOCAL elections, but what probably none of you know is that he registered more new students to vote than any candidate for any seat here in Watauga.

[Claynuts23]

He was on campus almost every weekend for months registering these BRILLIANT, INDEPENDENT (haha that the kicker)! young minds so they can vote on things that effect them in NOO way whatsoever!!!! I completely back this man in his beliefs. I believe that the college students up here are ignorant and unable to make decisions for themselves.

[Claynuts23]

If they only knew that they were simply pawns being manipulated!!! I would also like you all to know that I have seen the best and worst of this man and can honestly say that our country could use more like him and his brother John Blust!

[HaroldatState]

Clayton?

[tomchartjr]

Even if an individual student is only in an area for 4 years the interests of the student body is pretty constant. Most students take ~5 years now and many get grad degrees. The avg. American moves 6 times so there a lot of people who dont live one place their whole lives. ASU makes up half of Boone amd is as old as the town. This is classic conservative trying to keep typically more liberal young people from voting.

[chrysote]

It's kind of a big thing to a lot of us. I agree that its a bad idea for citizens anywhere to vote without knowing anything about the candidates they vote for, but I think ASU students deserve more credit for what they know and do for the area's well-being. Blust may not like college students but it's his responsibility to represent them and serve their interests too.

[chrysote]

I know a lot of ASU students who are well-educated on political issues around Watauga County and take the time to look up information about the personal integrity of candidates. A lot of discussions are held in ASU classrooms regarding local political issues.

[dlw728]

As both an ASU alum and a native of Todd, I totally agree with Blust. Yeah, "jwran", students are indeed "extremely involved" - in causes that locals aren't interested in and don't support, yet have to live with long after you graduate and move somewhere else. Mountain people have a long history of outsiders coming in and screwing things up royally for us without having to live with the consequences.

[jwran]

Im still waiting to hear of an example of something that students do (besides vote) opposes what locals (other than some right-wingers) would want.

[eFlux]

We don't need to look up specific examples to prove our points. dlw728 explains it quite nicely. In my state alone, dairy farms, wheat farmers and even cattle ranchers have all been affected by local laws voted on by students who only live there for 4 years. This takes us away from the original point though. You should be able to read this thread and find all the info you need.

[spencerKblack]

As long as politicians are making decisions that affect my life then I will vote wherever I feel like it. Who will speak on the College student's behalf if we are not allowed to vote? If we are not allowed to vote then they should not be able to make any decisions regarding ASU and let us govern ourselves.

[eFlux]

Nobody is saying you shouldn't vote! He is saying you need to study the issues for yourself instead of taking your liberal brainwashed buddies word for it.... get a clue!

[spencerKblack]

I know that he isn't saying that we shouldn't vote altogether. What I am saying is that if we are not allowed to vote where we go to school then what since does it make for them to make decisions that affect our institution?

[spencerKblack]

This isn't a liberal or conservative issue and I recognize that there are smart people on both sides of this issue. But let me just say that if I was in Blust's shoes I would probably be afraid of how most college students here tend to vote, which likely compelled him to make that statement.

[spencerKblack]

By your "liberal brainwashed buddy" comment just verifies my train of thinking further. Do you honestly think he would stick by his beliefs and make the same statement if ASU was Bob Jones University? If that was the case then you would have the Democrats protesting. That's just how politics work.

[eFlux]

I see your point in that you have a right to vote on laws/issues that will affect your college and community. My point is that sometimes, those who vote without researching the issues for themselves can damage the community and/or economy. Small college towns are the best example.

[jwran]

Like what small college towns?

[eFlux]

I could give you a list of 30 different examples but for arguments sake, let's look at Pullman, WA (Washington State University). The population of the school is slightly larger than the population of normal citizens. There have been instances where a vote has harmed the lives of town farmers and wheat growers. So a law that was meant to help farmers doesn't get passed because some students don't agree with cattle farming, or using pesticides or even eating meat. I can go on and on.

[eFlux]

If there is a law being voted on to stop grain harvesting from 2-4pm due to dust that blows onto campus, and the college kids vote for it, but the town citizens don't vote for it, communities can be affected. Farmers and family farms could go under. This is a fake issue, just an example.

[spencerKblack]

Very true, I would, however, venture to say that there are members of the community just as ill informed about candidates and their issues as there are college students.

[eFlux]

I'm not so sure that there would be members of the community as ill informed as the college students. At least not when the issues directly affect their way of life. I rarely see a law that pertains to the college students only, however I see laws pertaining to the citizens all the time. I guess it can go both ways, but I still hold by my theory that many students vote as their peers vote instead of developing a decision based on facts. On campus liberal groups play a big role in my opinion.

[jwran]

Why would I vote for something that would put farmers under? My father grew up on a farm. My grandmother is still on a farm. I don't have a farm yet, but im only 23.

[eFlux]

Well then maybe you are the one exception. I know of one example from a Washington town where a dairy farm lost grants because of a movement by college kids against the way the cattle were being kept. They collected petitions, and all kinds of crap. Maybe not you, but COLLEGE STUDENTS!

[amittai]

I think the speaker is more coming from the whole "outsiders influencing local elections" kind of sentiment. I'm sure that kind of sentiment exists in all college towns, from Democrats and Republicans. He's wrong, everyone has the right to vote...whether they're informed about the issues or not. Would he suggest only allowing people to vote if they pass a test on current events and issues? Hell, not even the most informed person could probably pass that.

[eFlux]

I see your point amittai. everyone deserves to vote but they should make an effort to be informed of the issues. Just taking your friends words as gospel doesn't cut it. I agree the "outsiders influencing local elections" problem exits on both sides, but I will be honest and say it probably exists more on the left.

[jwran]

Thats because you still vote Republican...and obviously haven't been paying attention to the issues.

[eFlux]

I'm willing to debate a monkey like you anytime jwran. You can't even contribute anything to support your points. The fact is that in some cases, ignorance on the part of voters can be a detriment to local elections. I have not once said students shouldn't vote. I have simply stated that some(not all) college towns have been hurt by the ignorance of student voters who refuse to look at the issues for themselves and yet instead choose to vote as their friends do....just to be cool.

[eFlux]

Liberal facts? I saw no facts just propoganda. Now let's take a look at what the Democrats did when Clinton was in office. Raised taxes, demoralized America in the face of the world, put a Politically Correct Agenda ahead of our safety, etc.... We could both go on and on, but we are getting away from the point we started with.

[eFlux]

Ok, so you can't debate without a filth mouth... you are wrong.  The people working minimum wage aren't just students numb nuts. It's people trying to support a whole family on that wage. Got an argument against that? Then you truly have no idea what real life is like to many many Americans.

[jwran]

And Ill also swear at anybody who tries to deny me my right to vote. Thats what the terrorists want!

Do I have an argument against people trying to support families working with minimum wage jobs?

Yeah. Vote for Democrats. Raise the minimum wage and ease the tax burden on working families. Hows that?

[eFlux]

If you think that the Democrats will raise the minimum wage without rasing taxes, then you haven't been paying attention. Should you be able to vote? Yes. Should you vote without knowing the issues..NO! If you think that college kids all stick to the issues and don't vote out of peer pressure, then you need to wake up.

[jwran]

3. So, yes, Democrats will help the economy without raising taxes by increasing the minimum wage and empowering the middle class, just like we did in the 90s, acheiving record surplusses, as Im sure you'd like to forget.

4. Id think twice about voting if you don't have a basic grasp of the isues (the way we college students do)

5. Republicans vote Republican because they are told by the administration and the media that they are going to be killed if they dont. THAT is true peer pressure.

[eFlux]

Raising the minimum wage alone won't help the economy. In fact, it could hurt it. Since you are such a smart guy, I can't believe you don't realize that. Just keep falling for your liberal propoganda buddy. I vote Republican because I'm not some sissy spoiled brat that thinks the US owes me something.... if anything, we all owe the US!

[jwran]

Those pesky liberal facts will hurt your case, but i don't imagine you listen to facts anymore. Example: voting for Republicans even though this chickenhawk administration has cut veterans benefits, increased the tax burden on the middle class, let wages stagnate, run up record deficits, increased the cost of living dramatically - meaning that no matter the tax rate, I keep less of my own money in my pocket. And they've gutted protections for the sissy old environment

[eFlux]

Everyone is missing the point. He isn't saying that they shouldn't vote. He is just commenting on an obvious trait of college students(at least at the colleges i've been to). Some students would rather side with their friends than take a look at the issue. Not to mention in college you have no idea what the real world is like for people working hard for minimum wage.

[jwran]

No idea what the real world is like for people working hard for minimum wage? Who the hell do you think is working minimum wage jobs jackass? Republicans?

No. Young people.

And Blust IS saying that students shouldnt vote. He went on to say that we shold only be able to vote if we payed preperty taxes. That means we shouldnt vote (ive payed property taxes by the way.)

[eFlux]

Ok, so you can't debate without a filth mouth... you are wrong. The people working minimum wage aren't just students. They are people of every age. I am specifically talking about people trying to support a whole family on that wage. You don't know what the real world is like... GUARANTEED! You have probably been living with mommy and daddy until they paid your wage into college.... don't deny it.

[jwran]

Ill gladly deny it.

I work two jobs, as do many of my student counterparts.

Of course students arent the only ones. But working a minimum wage job isnt what qualifies you to be able to vote. Most of the people in the county don't work minimum wage jobs, and many of them live on land they inhereted from their mommy and daddy. And thats great! but i don't think it should disqualify them from voting.

[digitalNES]

90% of non-college-goers side with friends and family instead of looking at the issues. Should those out of college be allowed to vote?

90% of rich people don't know what it's like to work hard for minimum wage. Should they not vote?

Try making cogent arguments without logic loopholes so large an elephant could fall into them next time.

[eFlux]

90% eh? Where did you get those numbers? Nobody that I know who is out of college relies on their family or friends for their viewpoints on issues.Your worthless argument doesn't even take into account the facts. Maybe you need to visit a town that has been over-run by super liberal laws voted on by college kids who are downright miss-informed. They try to regulate how the residents live who have been there as family's for 50-80 years.

[DrFrankLives]

I'm sorry, did Mr. Blust get a law passed that says you have to have 4 years of residency before you can vote?

What a moron. The law is - if you live somewhere, you can register to vote there. There's no reason an ASU student couldn't be mayor.

[jwran]

I ran as a student candidate for Town Council.

Only lost by 100 votes, even though the election was over students fall break

[dlw728]

So, do ASU students "live" in Boone?

If you are from out-of-state, you can't get in-state tuition in NC without being resident for at least a year, getting a NC driver's license here, paying state income taxes, and a bunch of other stuff (including registering to vote, which makes no sense).

But ANY 18 year old freshman from Swampgas, Florida can register to vote here after just 30 days? WTF?

[dlw728]

"There's no reason an ASU student couldn't be mayor."

Good God almighty, what a nightmare...

[Steveg20001]

He sounds like a Freemason.

[dlw728]

What the hell does a Freemason sound like?

And, if you do know, how come you're spilling the beans? Isn't Silas the albino monk going to come after you now?

[jwran]

Students are extremely involved and well informed here, drive the town economy. Just because we don't agree with your extremist agenda doesn't make us ill informed. It makes us patriots.

Blust said after the meeting that it was because we didn't pay property taxes we shouldnt be able to vote.

Where have we seen that before?...

The trend in American politics since the constitution is the expanding of the electorate (minorities, women, 18 year olds, etc.). But I guess you hate that to.

[eFlux]

OMG. How can you bitch about that. He is right. Most college students vote the same as their peers and don't study the issues for themselves. They are too worried about not looking cool to think for themselves. I think he is right on the money!

[jwran]

Youre absolutely wrong. Its my right as an American to vote where I live, work, and pay taxes.

If you want to change your statement from "most college students" to "many Americans" I think you'd be right.

[bannio]

The problem is that our youth, particularly college, have tons of pressure put on them to vote and exercise your right, and the encouragement to look at all sides, think, and then choose is comparably low. I feel that an uneducated vote, whether it's for a republican, democrat, or independent candidate, is just static cluttering the democratic process.

[bannio]

I'm currently an ASU student, although I grew up in Ashe. I didn't vote last year because I knew almost nothing about the candidates, and I knew my vote wouldn't be useful.

Also, if the republicans are clearly in the wrong, you should try showing the arguments for both sides, and rational people would naturally pick the right side.

[yuyukachoo]

Omg. No one but college students would ever do that!