“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”

I recently came across this quote, by Andy Warhol, and I feel as though it reflects the velocity of our actions in how they relate to the future of our country.

Our peers always tell us how vital schooling and education is to our future, which is true, but these times call for more pertinent issues than those which can be found in textbooks.

The world is changing.

For those of you who have not followed the news, Allen Greenspan has indicated social security has been depleted to all-time lows: “Today’s budget deficits are measured in the hundreds of billions, but the looming shortfalls for the two retirement programs are projected to be in the tens of trillions of dollars.”

The economy is scrounging for refuge. President Bush claims that his tax cuts have helped out the economy. This help is not present, however, in one aspect of the economy that is near and dear to many of us students - jobs.

In February, the economy added 21,000 non-private sector jobs. In January, initial estimates of 112,000 new jobs were revised to only 97,000.

In comparison, the economy needs to add 150,000 jobs every month just to keep up with population increase.

The only reason the unemployment rate remained steady at 5.6 percent is that many people are no longer searching for jobs.

The average duration of unemployment is now 20.3 weeks - the highest in 20 years.

Iraq. After President Bush declared an end to all major combat in May of last year, the war has taken the lives of nearly 700 Americans and fighting still continues.

Ironically, the approach to global terrorism is met with loom despair. Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism chief for Presidents Reagan, Bush (sr.) Clinton and George W. Bush has indicated the current administration's short comings in his new book: Against All Enemies, with respect to pre-9/11 efforts. Clarke’s credibility spans over a decade of combating global terrorism in a bipartisan effort.

For those of you who trekked over spring break you were surely smacked with the unprecedented realization of costs associated with travel.

The national weighted average price of gasoline, including taxes, at self-serve pumps this week was about $1.74 for regular, $1.84 for midgrade and $1.92 for premium.

OPEC has indicated the rates are reflective of strong demand, unfortunately, analysts suggest the average rates of regular grade will continue to rise - California is now paying $2.10 per gallon.

Still we see business as usual on the UTM campus. While some students fret the undeserved parking tickets, others are unnerved with their senior portfolio and exit exams.

The bottom line: problems are out there and we as the future of this country have to take the helm in delegating the pathway of tomorrow.

Do us all a favor and take the initiative - go vote!

Braden Holten is a senior Communications major from Franklin.