‘I don’t think either party is representative of the actual feelings of the American people.’

As a UW-Milwaukee third-year Political Science major, Sirene Lohbeck shares her opinions on Wisconsin’s governor’s race, how it could affect her personally, and the importance of voting.

Koen Bubolz: Do you plan to vote?

Sirene Lohbeck: Absolutely.

Koen Bubolz: Okay, why is voting important to you?

Sirene Lohbeck: Voting is important not only because we have generations of people that fought for the ability to do so, but because it is the only way that we will have any effect currently on our political system. I do not believe that voting is ineffective. I don’t believe that voting is useless. I believe that it is necessary.

Koen Bubolz: What motivates you to vote?

Sirene Lohbeck: I’m motivated to vote because I am hopeful. I believe in people.

Koen Bubolz: Do you care more about issues or party loyalty?

Sirene Lohbeck: Issues. I believe that parties are ineffective currently. I don’t think either party is representative of the actual feelings of the American people. I believe they are ultimately disconnected and focused on wealth.

Koen Bubolz: Is there any specific issues that have your reason for you voting one way or another this upcoming midterm?

Sirene Lohbeck: The most important issue that either party refuses to truly address and name is poverty.

Koen Bubolz: How will you be affected by the outcome of the governor’s race?

Sirene Lohbeck: Potentially I will, if David Crowley follows through on some of the things he has said, I will potentially be able to qualify for Medicaid. And since I have two chronic illnesses, that would be very helpful for me. I also know several people that would be affected the same way. Health insurance is a huge problem.

Koen Bubolz: How important is Wisconsin’s midterm outcome to national politics?

Sirene Lohbeck: Very much so. States’ rights currently are more important than ever. What I mean by that is that the point of a representative democracy is to avoid a top-down, I wouldn’t call it fascist regime quite yet, but to avoid top-down tyrannical government decisions. The cure for tyranny is complicated bureaucracy, which sounds strange, but it’s true.

Koen Bubolz: Any concerns about how the outcome of this election could affect your education?

Sirene Lohbeck: Yes. I actually won’t say that I know for sure Tom Tiffany’s policy on student loans and access to college education, but I’ve had trouble accessing college education my whole life. I’m an unconventional student for that reason, I have paid for most of my prerequisite classes in cash. If he cuts funding in any way, if he interferes with the universities, for example, DEI programs, as the Republican side has referred to before, then that will definitely affect me and people I care about.

Koen Bubolz: What would you say to someone who is unsure if they’re going to vote or not for this upcoming midterm election?

Sirene Lohbeck: I would say that it is the least amount of effort you can put in and you should be ashamed if you don’t.