It is 2012, and we find ourselves, once again, in the rigors of another contentious election season. Though for those of us in Wisconsin, if feels as though the election cycle of 2010 never really stopped. Since that mid-term election, our state has been inundated with robo-calls, TV and internet adds, all looking at the recall elections of 2011. Those same calls will continue on through this year as we deal with further state and federal elections. For those of us in Wisconsin, one particular race attracts our attention beyond all others save the presidential race. That race, the recall of Governor Scott Walker, has had the attention of our state since last February, and is unlikely to cease until the outcome of the recall has been announced.

At the same time, though, we have been dealing with all kinds of information about this recall, from both sides. What an individual believes politically will determine their vote, as we all know. As college students, we often feel that it will be our votes that matter most, as the old adage "Children are our future" often denotes. If we are the future, then we ought to be involved in what will have the most significant impact on our state's future.

To have that impact, however, we must not let blind passion cloud our minds when it comes to the issues concerning our state. Most of us will find information about the recall based on our own political prejudices, and as such will find sources that validate our own opinions. This is nothing new, and is not restricted to those of us getting our college degrees. Unlike other voting blocks, however, we have the ability to change our minds by removing such bias. That is, if we choose to. I have little doubt that conservatives will find conservative media to back up their claims on why Governor Walker should stay in office, and liberals will find liberal media information to back up their claims as to why Governor Walker should be removed. In doing so, we continue the trend of our elders of voting based on our passions, and not on the facts or merits of the issues.

If we are to avoid making the same mistakes of past generations, we must start to look at the issues from all possible points of interest. We may not change our opinions about the issue, but at least we have looked at it from all possible sides, and perhaps lessened our own prejudices. I would ask conservatives to look at the liberal side of the arguments for removing Walker, and for liberals to look at the conservative side of the argument for keeping him. If nothing else, we can at least have reasoned arguments on the issues rather than letting emotions win out on issues that require us to temper them. This recall election will be important to us, and impact our lives for years to come. Lets try not to have the outcome of our state be decided only by emotion, otherwise our prosperity will be the ones to call us the fools.