The current political climate nationwide is bubbling with anticipation of the upcoming 2012 Presidential Election. Political science  students and American politics devotee’s alike are analyzing the Romney and Obama campaigns—both the good and the bad. Political jockeying and mudslinging aside, there are three top issues emerging from both camps that if played correctly, could possibly sway the undecided voter and win this neck-and-neck election for either candidate.

An APU Political Science Graduate Student, Robert Garrison, share’s his Top Three Issues in the 2012 Presidential Campaign:

1. Entitlement Reform: If Republicans fail to articulate their vision for healthcare and Social Security reform, President Obama could use the situation to his advantage. If Republican proposals alarm senior citizens too much, they will vote to reelect Obama and that may help him win reelection outright. To win, Republicans must assure voters that Social Security and Medicare will be there for future generations, while assuring seniors those current benefits will not be cut. This is an important issue for Obama as well: If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns his healthcare law, he will have to revise plans for healthcare reform. This issue affects me as well since I am disabled, use a wheelchair, and rely on Social Security and Medicare for my own financial and medical assistance.
2. Immigration Reform: Democrats are often favored by minority voters, because they have supported programs to help minorities and other disadvantaged groups. To win, Republicans must be more open-minded on this issue and propose ways to streamline the legal immigration process. For the purpose of “optics” in the general election, Romney would be well-advised to put Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio on the Republican ticket as his running mate. If a Romney-Rubio ticket can propose immigration reform ideas that do not alienate minority voters, they could substantially increase their support among key Hispanic and other minority voters.
3. Articulating a vision for America: Ultimately, this election will be decided as a contest between two ideologies. One ideology pits the expansion of government and government spending against a vision of limited government and less regulation. If Romney can persuade voters that his programs will grow the economy and create jobs, he will win. However, if President Obama can paint the Republicans’ positions as too extreme, (i.e., cutting too much spending too fast) he will win.

The underlying factor that will dramatically influence all three of these political issues will be the state of our national economy on November 6, 2012. As we get closer to waiting in line at the polls, we as voters will need to make an educated decision based on our ideals and vision for America. When it’s time to cast that ballot we know who we’ll be voting for and why. Do you?

By Online Learning Tips Staff

The Political Science degree program draws individuals with a passion for government and politics, but it is also offers interdisciplinary curriculum that is attractive to students seeking a broad, liberal arts education that will serve as a precursor to post-graduate studies. Students may choose to focus their studies and their career interests on international, federal, or state government or political systems.

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Having a college degree usually comes with a bit of prestige. The higher you go, the higher your value is in the job market right? Well, that answer really hinges on your degree focus.

[Learn more about online degrees in Information Technology.]

Those that chose degree programs set on a management track have a higher hiring potential, and a matching salary. Students that chose to study liberal arts still have a chance of landing a well paying job, but they’re in a minority. Even being a liberal arts major with a prestigious Ivy League education doesn’t guarantee a fat paycheck. Those in computer sciences, engineering, medicine and finance have higher earnings potential.

Interested to see what your degree is worth? Check out this great post by Reuters columnis Lauren Young, “What’s the value of a college degree?”

By J. Mason

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We recently enlisted the help of one of the online librarians at APUS to share why Wikipedia may not be the best place to search for information.

How to find alternatives to improve your scholarly research.

The quality of your education hinges on the quality of your research. Did you know that Wikipedia entries can be written and edited by anyone? That’s why I advise students to always consider the source when researching information for their scholarly projects. Wikipedia can be helpful in guiding you as you gather ideas about a subject, but remember the information is unsubstantiated and in some cases, inaccurate. What you’re looking for is a trusted academic source.    

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