pagesix pageseven EconomyWEST impacts students’W andRLD teachers’ car buying habits For Erickson, buying used cars has been of the norm in the Erickson claims that although with hybrid cars, gas money wwUzma Ahmad past. In the future, buying a used car still does not seem too big seems to be saved on the spot, because of the car’s high price Editorials Editor an issue for him. “It would be nice to buy a new car once in a “the amount of time it takes you to recoup the cost in gas actually while, but neither does not bother me as long as (the car) is in takes between 10 to 15 years,” he said. Thus, money is actually running condition,” Erickson said. lost in the long run. “My situation is at a point where the decline in the economy is For Ahmad, the negative aspect of buying a new car is its “[Since] the average American will not keep their car for not going affect my car purchasing decision,” math and science drop in price after its purchase. longer than about 10 years, clerk Andrew Erickson said concerning the decline in automobile “Once you buy a brand new hybrids do not seem like a sales in the past few weeks. car, even if you buy a recent very economically responsible For Erickson, the decline in the economy has not yet been a ‘07 car, just driving off the lot decision,” Erickson added. big enough factor to stop the purchasing of new cars. For others takes off thousands of dollars,” For some, car brand is also a however, the recession has played a huge factor. Ahmad said. big issue when buying cars. “I “Even though I do not feel such a hard hit from the economy, Mani agrees, claiming that would definitely want a Toyota. the prices of items have gone up a lot. So even though I need buying a used car is “a better They give you more miles for one, buying a new car is a tough decision,” math teacher Tayyaba economic choice.” every gallon, and they last a lot Ahmad said. Another major issue for longer than cars like Chevy and Students feel the cruch as well. consumers is car mileage. Ford,” Ahmad said. She added “Looking at the economy right now, I want to concentrate on “Mileage is something that I that because of our recent selling my car—not buying a new one,” junior Charlee Cotton will definitely look into,” Mani recession, “it is very important said. “I want to wait for the economy to straighten out before I said. For Erickson, “good gas to buy an economically smart think about buying a new car,” Cotton added. mileage is always a good and brand.” According to the Chicago Tribune, car sales have hit an all important thing to have.” Although the recession has time low, dropping to the worst vehicle sale rates in almost a Junior Paul Domer concurs. caused conflicts for many car decade. Because of the recent recession in our economy, many “For me, it is most important consumers, the economy’s of West’s students and teachers are thinking twice about the cars to buy a car with good fuel instability has yet to outweigh they wish to purchase. efficiency,” Domer said. the necessity of transportation. A major criterion for car purchasers has always been whether Many consumers differ on Erickson believes cars are vital The recent economic downturn has resulted in future they will buy new or used cars. Due to the recent uncertainty their opinions of hybrid cars. in his daily life, especially General Motors plant closings because of lagging car in the economy, more and more consumers are leaning toward “I really like hybrid cars or when other options are hard to sales. Photo courtesy ASNEKRT Campus buying used vehicles. cars that are energy efficient,” follow. “I would prefer a new car, but due to the [decline in the] Ahmad said. “Because of where I live and economy, it is going to be a very hard decision,” junior Michael Janet Vo echoes that sentiment. [how far it is from] where I have to get to, it is not conducive Mani said. “I’ve really been thinking about hybrids because in the long to pay for a taxi daily. In situations like mine, you have to buy Ahmad agrees on the notion of buying used cars as a defense run, it saves up a lot of gas and is less pollutant,” Vo said. what you need to survive,” Erickson said. As for the option against battling the decline in the economy. “Although there are Mani agrees, claiming that “purchasing a hybrid is a good of public transportation, it does not always purpose a proper benefits to buying a new car, if I were to buy a car right now, I idea, because they are very efficient with gas.” solution, since, “[public transportation does not reach many of would really consider buying a used one,” Ahmad said. For others though, hybrid cars do not deem as the best choice. my [suburban] destinations.” Erickson said. YOU ARE UIU-Female-10.8.indd 1 11/11/2008 10:29:38 AM pageseven WestWord Economic policy of President-elect sparks high expectations lower,” freshman Nicole Ostro said. “[Tax cuts] plan] is fair because people who work harder if we don’t have any money at all? However, w Naomi Prale would be good for [the middle class]. Wealthier shouldn’t have to pay more.’ you just cannot let these people sit at home in w Around Town Editor people have more money, and they don’t seem Senior Owais Ahmed agrees with Obama’s financial trouble. You have to help them in some to appreciate [their money]. [Obama’s tax cut plan to cut taxes. way.” “Obama’s plan could help the middle class. Ostro feels that Obama’s plan does not help “Barack Obama’s economic plan is going He plans to give every family $1000, but many out the nation enough financially. to help the situation of the economy,” social of them might not spend that. [The plan] will “More needs to be done,” Ostro said. “We studies teacher Joe Edwards said. “The idea only help everyone if each family spends that need to focus less on things like the auto bailouts behind [the plan] will create jobs, and that is money. It is really up to the [American] people and more on things like state taxes.” what is needed for the country. Spending money to help the economy,” Ahmed said. Ahmed is skeptical about Obama’s plans. will help the infrastructure of this country.” Obama’s website suggests that the President- “It all sounds too good to be true. Can he It is up to President- elect Barack Obama to elect also plans to create a $50 billion dollar really get the economy in order with this one create a plan to help America out of the current stimulus package that will be given to simple plan? He talks like any politician would. recession. According to www.barackobama. struggling state governments and to extend I actually want to see what he would do if he com, Obama’s economic plan focuses on unemployment insurance. Addtionally, he will was president.” different economic strategies, including tax be more aggressive on preventing foreclosures Schneider is also a little unsure of Obama’s cuts for the middle class, tax relief for small on houses. economic plan. businesses and startups and a fight for a fair President-elect recently chose Bill “Money makes the world go round,” junior “Are all these things immediately going to trade policy that will open up markets to support Richardson Secretary of Commerce to Avi Schneider said. “The stock market is failing. fix the economy? No. Obama has good ideas, American jobs. help him turn the economy around. How can we be spending money on [state but America cannot think that this is going to “Most Americans are in the middle class or Photo courtesy ASNEKRT Campus governments and unemployment insurance] immediately go away in a day,” Schneider said. New federal mandate ties graduation rates to No Child Left Behind policy will not dramatically affect the school. percent graduation rate. instituted at the wrong time. Joel Packer, a wwUzma Ahmad The school is above the 90 percent graduation Although Spellings’ new policies are intended lobbyist for the NEA told the Associated Press Editorials Editor rate standard for Illinois which has been set by to improve the nation’s dropout crisis, the NCLB that “[the NEA] does not think it makes sense NCLB. West also surpasses the state’s average extension laws have sparked criticism amongst for the secretary to be putting out regulations Under a mandate issued Oct. 28 by Education high school graduation rate of 86.5 percent and many education groups such as the American less than three months before the Bush Secretary Margaret Spellings, high schools and Chicago’s average of 68.7 percent. Thus, the Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National administration is going out of office.” states must now track and lift their graduation new policy will not impact the dynamics of West Education Association (NEA). Despite heavy criticism, Spellings and other rates. Pressure from the federal government to or be of high concern for the administration. The NEA, a longtime critic of the NCLB laws, federal officials still stand by their efforts to monitor rates was a result of the nation’s high In fact, many of the Cook County high claims that the new policies, passed between improve the dropout crisis in the last few days school dropout rate of 25 percent.