2 | Opinion

September 1, 2010 The Rambler | www.therambler.org

Hold the politics, please Staff Editorial

Barry Grubbs
“Why don’t we demand the same accountability from
politicians we expect from our dry cleaners or our trash Student body
grows, resources
Opinion editor
bgrubbs@mail.txwes.edu collector?”

must keep pace

Partisan politics is a deadly weapon
that is destroying the fabric of one of the
greatest societies in history. It’s frustrat-
ing to watch Americans slowly losing
their grip on true freedom. It seems that
we’re either free to be liberal or free to
be conservative. How does choosing be-
tween these two failed ideologies give us
real freedom at all?
Plenty of people are protesting the par-
tisan politics we see in government. As
usual, liberals complain about conserva-
tive and vice versa. Yes, we need choices.
Neither of these choices is the right one
for a Superpower in decline. Why don‘t
we demand the same accountability from
politicians we expect from our dry clean-
er or our trash collector?
You only need to read a few news-
paper editorials or Internet blogs on
politics to see the deep and frightening
divisions that have been created in our
population by political in-fighting
Problem solving is no longer the is-
sue. It almost seems like our politicians
abandoned the problems altogether in
the quest to find blame for their politi-
cal opponents. The blame game is not
getting this country out of the economic
and social quagmire we are in.
Neither conservatives nor liberals in
government should take pride in their
efforts unless that effort results in some
measure of progress for the nation they
serve. It is well past time for our leaders
at every level of government to abandon
political partisanship and begin to look
at our population as one group.
It is time for Americans to set aside
their Democratic or Republican loyal-
ties so that our nation can rebuild its
identity at home and abroad. While we
have struggled to pick the right side, we
have slowly lost sight of the notion that
we were once all on the same side.
New faces in government don’t change
anything if the motivation stays the same.
We are not cognizant of how swiftly
our so-called American dream can be
wrestled away from us in a “Clash of
Civilizations.” I think that many Ameri-
cans believe the strength of our Ameri-
can civilization is permanent. It is not
indestructible.
The world is changing constantly and
America is no longer in the lead. The ris-
ing economies in the Pacific Rim already
cast a shadow on their western competi-
tors. The penetration of the Muslim reli-
gion worldwide has serious implications
for Westerners that cannot be ignored.
Still, we seem intent on taking sides
with either the liberals or the conserva-
tives. I wonder if Americans are simply
afraid they aren’t strong enough to stand
up to the politics.
Polls taken on issues ranging from
Social Security to natural disaster relief
indicate that we are generally unified
against our government. Still, we split
up into our little groups and scurry into
the shadows to wait out the storm.
Desire, courage and creativity were the
building blocks of this country from the
early days of the revolution through the
struggle of two world wars. Americans
have won almost every battle fought in
our short history, but only because we
were united in our cause.
Perhaps not since the Civil War has
our population been so polarized.
Health care, immigration and economic
recession are real issues facing Ameri-
cans and our politicians.
There is no time for choosing sides.
It’s time for our politicians to abandon
their affiliations and work together as
American leaders to prop up a very un-
stable society that was once the model
of freedom and prosperity around the
world.
More good news—Wes-
leyan received national
recognition in a U.S. News
& World Report list that
excluded comparable
state schools. Wesleyan
was ranked no. 71. With-
out question, The Rambler
knows the school is getting
better in many areas.
However, a question does
remain. Can the university
retain and accommodate
the increasing student body?
The preliminary enroll-
ment numbers show an
influx in freshmen, which
is not surprising. Higher
enrollment is expected con-
sidering the props Wesleyan
is receiving for strengthen-
ing the quality of the school,
little by little.
To strengthen the student
body, with both quantity
and quality, Wesleyan must
focus on retention by deliv-
ering adequate resources to
its students.
Resources like park-
ing, residential housing
and technology centers
equipped to support a grow-
ing student body will be
critical. For every reason
a student chooses to enroll
here, three more should be
discovered that make that
student want to stay.
You get the picture. It’s
not a case of outgrowing our
real estate; it’s about giving
the best students the best
experience in higher educa-
tion.
Wesleyan students ap-
preciate the intimate class-
sizes offered here. Instead of
eliminating their access to a
computer lab, why not cre-
ate a larger and more com-
plete resource with the latest
technology. Our students
must have access to the tools
they need to compete in a
changing job market.
Speaking of competition,
if the university savors the
taste of being listed in the
U.S. News & World Report—
why not strive to move
higher? Why not shoot for
35 instead of 71?
Reaching that goal won’t
be quick or easy. The best
way to reach it, though, is
simple.
Listen to us.
The students trust the ad-
ministrators to handle the
executive and financial busi-
ness of the university. Like-
wise, the university needs to
trust its students when they
say things like, “We need
more modern resources.”
It may seem like students
are all squandering our lives
on Facebook and other
mindless Internet-related
activities, but the truth is
some of us can use those
tools to make life easier and
better for others—which is
an appropriate collegiate as-
piration as far as we’re con-
cerned.
We’re aware the changes
take time. And we’re aware
of our constant pleading for
“more, more and more.”
Let’s surprise people and
see how far “more” can take
us.

The customer is not always right these daysbusinessman and an entrepreneur.
A businessman/woman wants to
develop a relationship with the cus-
Dwight Conerway tomer, his immediate family, rela-
College life editor tives and friends so that the original
dconerway@mail.txwes.edu customer will serve as a marketing
tool via word of mouth.
On the other hand, the entrepre-
neur does not care if you are satis-
The old adage “The customer is fied with the product you purchased
always right” seems to be a thing of from him. He doesn’t care if your
the past in some parts of the business family and friends make a purchase
world today. I recently had an expe- or if you go away and complain to
rience with a couple of well known everyone you meet about a bad ex-
retailers that gives credence to my perience. The entrepreneur has ac-
theory. It has come to the point complished his mission once he or
where some retailers are so desper- she has your hard-earned dollar in
ate for profits that they are willing to his pocket.
compromise their professional in- I find this practice particularly
tegrity to make a dollar. suspicious when subliminal return
As a business student years ago, I policies are discovered only after the
was taught the difference between a purchase has been finalized. If and
when the customer desires to return
an item or has a complaint about it,
they often discover a time limit or
some other condition. Recently, it
seems that many so-called business-
men have adopted the attitude and
work ethic of the entrepreneur.
My first experience was with a na-
tional clothing retailer. I attempted
to exchange a Christmas gift but was
unable to find anything in the store
I was interested in. After standing
in line for nearly half an hour, I re-
quested a refund on the item. I was
asked for a receipt, and I gave it to
the clerk.
She scanned the barcode, returned
the item to stock, swiped a card and
handed it to me. After asking what
the card was for, I was informed it
was a store credit gift card that could
be used for a future purchase. I made
it clear that I had found nothing in the
store’s inventory that interested me,
but she suggested I give it to someone
who could use it. That, according to
the store’s policy, was my only option.
I didn’t even get an apology.
In a similar incident I learned of a
consumer who took the same issue
up to the corporate level and was
denied satisfaction. After purchas-
ing a Global Positioning System, the
man received the same item as a gift.
Obviously, he had no need for two of
the same items so he went to the re-
tailer to obtain a refund.
After providing the sales receipt
to the customer service representa-
tive, he was informed that he could
not receive a refund, but would be
given a store credit gift card instead.
Although he pleaded his case for a
refund to the store manager and the
corporate office, the man was frus-
trated to learn he would have to be
satisfied with “store credit.”
Should we, as consumers, be
forced to accept this kind of treat-
ment from retailers just because the
economy has forced them to ride a
financial rollercoaster?
I personally see it as a form of pi-
racy that is apparently being ignored
by agencies such as the Better Busi-
ness Bureau or the Consumer Pro-
tection Agency.
Aren’t we all suffering enough in
this current economic crisis? Why
does the consumer have to suffer the
loss?
In times of economic prosperity,
we consumers faithfully supported
these same merchants and kept
them in the black. Now they repay
us by putting us in the red.

The Rambler
Founded in 1917 as The Handout
What could our leaders do if they
abandoned party politics?
Publisher: Lamar Smith

Jonathan Resendez, editor-in-chief Letters to the editor: The Rambler, a weekly

Barry Grubbs, opinion editor publication welcomes all letters. All submis-
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Dr. Kay Colley, faculty liaison Letters to the editor may be subject to response “They could do what we “They could do more for “They are not focusing
from editors and students on the opinion page. want instead of what the those people who don’t on the suffering people in
Member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press As- party wants them to do.” have it as good as they do.” this country.”
sociation, Associated Collegiate Press, Student
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Please send all news briefs to twurambler@ To contact T he R ambler sophomore exercise science sophomore undecided
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