I think Jim Lightfoot deserves some recognition for increasing voter turnout.

If it had not been for his recent, misleading television ads, I would probably not be planning to go out and vote for Tom Vilsack. Lightfoot’s ads try to play a person’s emotions. The ad about little Suzy getting murdered is a perfect example. Forget about the death penalty argument. What about preventing Suzy’s death in the first place? Most people would agree that those who murder are not normal … they’re mentally ill.

Mental illnesses can be treated very effectively if caught early, but there isn’t much state-provided treatment or medication available these days. The money is being spent on prisons.

We wait for them to commit a crime, then throw them in prison or execute them instead of preventing it by treating mental illness … apparently a product of Branstad’s impeccable logic.

I guess prisons and executions are more effective in elections than preventing crime. I would also like to give the Daily some credit for pointing out Lightfoot’s corporate agenda. I wonder about Iowa “the way Jim Ross Lightfoot sees it.”

My best guess is choking air pollution and water that’s unsafe to drink or swim in. Last year when I checked Lightfoot’s record, he seemed to be voting against having clean air and water.

Chris Campbell

Sophomore

Computer science