Last Tuesday, Oct. 28 the Carlsbad Cultural Arts center housed the 2014 Political Forum. The forum featured five local politicians sharing their parties’ stance on modern issues. The representatives included the Green Party’s Dick Eiden, Democrat Kyle Krahel-Frolander, the Peace and Freedom Party’s Miriam Clark, Republican Paul Webster and Libertarian Paul King. With most government students being close to the legal voting age, government teacher, Mr. Aster, held the forum to educate Carlsbad students.

“The biggest distinction between Republicans and all other political parties is the promotion of individual liberty and the advocacy of a limited government,” Webster said. “Our Founders recognized the inherent evil in a large powerful government.”

Several topics were up for debate, including the issue over gun control. Each representative had two minutes to tell the crowd where their party stands on each national controversy.

“The Green Party is in favor of reasonable gun control,” Eiden said. “Things have changed since the constitution was written (in the 18^th century). We don’t really need guns for protection any more, for wildlife or for criminals. The constitution is a living document, an evolving document, and it should change with the times.”

Students benefitted from learning more about the varied political parties. The abundance of platforms, stances and beliefs, provided kids with an increased amount of political insight.

“As a libertarian, I do not like being told what to do by others,” King said. “I think humans are similar to pack animals; we like to follow the pack. If you believe in fighting Isis, take money out of your pocket and go fund people to fight Isis, but don’t force other people that don’t want to.”

The representatives did not disappoint as they defended their statements and advocated support over their party’s platforms. Since the forum was hosted during school hours, students had the option to attend, which proved to be a positive idea because kids became educated about their future politicians and how they will be affected.

“The Democratic Party stands for opportunity and equality,” Krahel-Frolander said. “Social security, public schools and public colleges, Medicare, environmental protections, minimum wage –these are all things that the Democratic Party have brought to America through the strength of voters.”

While the politicians may hold conflicting views, all of them fully support students taking action and becoming informed. The 2014 political forum acted as a platform for wise words and worldly advice.

“Find something you like to do because you are going to be doing a lot of it”, Clark said. “We are not going to have a world to live in if we don’t start paying attention to it. You are going to have to start hitting the streets and join with groups that want some kind of improvement in society that you identify with.”