In order to gather information about the candidates, we sent them e-mails inviting them to respond about various topics. This is the response given by Joe Sanger.

Thank you for your message. I was Chairman of the University of Michigan Young Democrats in 1957-58.

In response to your questions:

1. Voting Rights: Michigan voting laws place unnecessary burdens on college students because they require that you re-register to vote each time you change residence, and they also make absentee voting extremely difficult for first-time voters. A significant number of students have been disenfranchised for these reasons, contributing to the marginalization of students by government because they "don't vote." We want to maker sure students take part in the political process. How have you supported student enfranchisement in the past, and if elected, what will you do to make voting more accessible to students?

1. VOTING RIGHTS: The same laws must apply to all Americans. I understand that students move frequently about campus. The simplest solution would be for students to register at their parent's home address and to regularly vote from there by absentee ballot.

2. Education/Student Finances: Michigan schools, K-12 as well as public higher education institutions, are under funded, and Michigan is ranked as the worst state for funding higher education in the country. How have you supported education in the past, in terms of state/federal funding, loans,scholarships and grants, and making higher education affordable and attainable for all students, and how will you do so if elected? Please be specific.

2. EDUCATION COSTS: I understand that college graduates average $1,000,000 more in total income over a lifetime than non-graduates. It would be immoral as well as unconstitutional for government to tax the working people who do not receive the benefit of a college education to subsidize their wealthier fellow citizens who do receive the benefit of a college education.

Saying that, I recognize that college tuition fees are outrageous. In the Autumn of 1955 LSA tuition for a full time (15-20 semester hours) in state student at the University of Michigan was $100. In the Autumn of 2008, comparable tuition was $5,129, an increase of 5,029%. Over the same period of time the cost of living as measured by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has increased by 744%. (The cost of living as measured by the cost of a first class postage stamp has increased by !,266%). Depending on which measure you use, the cost of a University of Michigan education has increased by either 3.972 or 6.627 times the increase in the cost of living -- an unconscionable price increase. Financial responsibility can and should be restored to the Administration of the University of Michigan. Tuition fees should be reduced to inflation adjusted 1955 levels.

A further explanation of the problem and my proposals for reducing costs are set forth in my article, "Higher Education in America -- Ripping Off the Kids for Fun and Profit" which is on my website, www.electjoesanger.com.

3. Diversity/Affirmative Action: In 2006, Proposal 2 banned the use of affirmative action by public institutions in Michigan. Diversity is a crucial part of the University of Michigan experience. How have you supported diversity in public institutions in the past, and if elected, what will you do to ensure continued diversity in the future?

3. EQUAL RIGHTS: In the winter of 1957-58 there was a joint meeting of the University of Michgan Young Democrats and of the University of Michigan NAACP. The purpose of the meeting was to provide instructions to the University of Michgan Young Democrats delegate to the Young Democrats National Committee Meeting. I helped organize the meeting, I was a member of both organizations.

It was the consensus of both groups that our delegate to the National Committee meeting was to cite the University of Michigan as a "prime example of discrimination in the North". The offense of which the University of Michigan was guilty was asking applicants their race on application forms for University Housing and using that information in making room assignments. I understand that today, the University of Michigan is still engaged in race based decision making. Fifty years ago this was called "a prime example of discrimination in the North". Today it is called "Affirmative Action" but it's the same thing. Civil Rights was colorblind in 1958 and I believe that civil rights is color blind today. I WILL SUPPORT EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERY AMERICAN AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR NONE!

4. Health Care: During college and just after graduation, health insurance becomes a major issue of concern for many young adults who are no longer covered by their parents' plans and may not be able to afford it themselves. As a result, 18-24 year-olds account for one-third of the uninsured U.S. population. What have you done to promote access to health care in the past, and how will you do so in the future, in general and especially for the student population?

4. HEALTH CARE: Fifty years ago, access to University Health Service was provided to students. In 1958 private individual health insurance cost $100 per year and $250 for a married couple. Health insurance in the country was affordable before government enacted Medicare which pays hospitals about half of the cost of medicare patients and has more than doubled the cost of health care for all non-government patients. I will work to reduce the cost of health care by getting government out of the health business.

5. Cost of Contraceptives: As a result of the Deficit Reduction Act, costs of contraceptives have seen an enormous price hike. This significantly impacts the college-aged population, and deters them from being proactive in their reproductive health care. What are your concerns with regards to providing access to affordable contraceptives, and what do you support as a solution to make sure college-aged people are protected? (should we add in abortion? should this fall under health care?)

5. COST OF CONTRACEPTIVES: Article VIII, Section 1 of the Michgan Constitution provides that: Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the hapiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. I suggest that college students practice morality!

6. Miscellaneous: This could include anything to do with file sharing, drinking age/MIPs/drug policy (punishments), creating jobs in Michigan, abortion etc.

6. THE TONE OF YOUR QUESTIONAIRRE: I detected no gratitude for the tremendous subsidy to your education being made by the taxpayers of Michigan, most of whom have not had the benefit of such an education and will earn an income for less than you will. In a more moral society, the entire cost of an education would be borne by those who receive the benefit of it.