Yesterday I was driving home from running errands and I turned on Air America to find Ed Schultz asking John Edwards questions at a live town hall meeting in Chapel Hill South Carolina. Ed Schultz is not my favorite "progressive" radio talk show host, but that's a whole different post. The best part of the show was when Ed asked Edwards about his Universal Health Care proposal. Edwards answered the question perfectly. He quickly explained that there would be a private insurance entity and a public one, people could choose which one they prefer. Employers would either cover their employees or pay into a health market that would help cover Americans who could not afford to pay. Overall costs to the health industry would be cut by cutting adminstrative costs and changing from paper recording to software recording. He also stated that mental health would be covered and past health problems would not affect any person's cost of coverage or availability. He said it a whole lot better then I just did, and it was not Kerryesque whatsoever. Edwards explained it clearly, quickly and straight to the point. I truly believe he is the only candidate who can explain complicated processes and policy proposals to all Americans, no matter their education levels. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't talk down to people. He can just explain complicated things in simple terms, and if a candidate wants the American people to embrace their policy proposals, this is an attribute that is required. Here's the link to the taping of the Edwards appearance with Ed Schultz, have a listen!
http://audio.wegoted.com/podcasting/042307HourTwo.mp3
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
The Overlake School and Cambodia
The Overlake School is located in a suburb of Seattle, called Redmond. It's one of those schools you need to be incredibily smart to get accepted to, not to mention the high cost of attending. Even though they are a very elitist school, that doesn't mean that they are elitist in their actions. The Overlake School values community more then any school I have ever seen do. They have a project week, where students have a week to travel, learn and help people in need. Many alumni and teachers start community projects and many students join in helping them. Whether it's helping local shelters or helping arborists with environmental projects, you name it and they'll join in helping.
The Overlake School has recently received quite a bit of press, from ABC News to the New York Times because of their latest venture. The students at Overlake School joined up with the head of the school Francisco Grijalva in raising money to start a school in Cambodia. Cambodia is not just a country that is impoverished, it's also a country that leaves its young female citizens vulnerable to sex trafficking. Many people believe that one way to combat sex trafficking is to educate young women. Sex traffickers tend to pray upon uneducated and very poor girls. Overlake didn't intend to end the nasty cycle of sex trafficking they just wanted to educate people, but their actions will help young girls who otherwise would have been suceptible to sex trafficking.
The students at Overlake held bake sales, and talent contests and finally raised enough money to take advantage of a grant the World Bank gives. The school raised $15,500 and the World Bank matched $14,000. American dollars go far in Cambodia and this was enough money to get the school built. The students and faculty continue to visit the school. Back in 2006, Francisco Grijalva and many students went to the school armed with computers and were able to set up electricity for the school. The Overlake School continues to pay the yearly salary for the English teacher, which is $2,000 a year. The Overlake School has made a difference in people's lives. They may have prevented women from being reeled in by sex traffickers, they have been able to educate young girls and boys who may not have had the opportunity. I hope other schools will take advantage of grants that the World Bank offers. I hope other schools will be a glowing example for others to follow like Overlake has become.
The Overlake School has recently received quite a bit of press, from ABC News to the New York Times because of their latest venture. The students at Overlake School joined up with the head of the school Francisco Grijalva in raising money to start a school in Cambodia. Cambodia is not just a country that is impoverished, it's also a country that leaves its young female citizens vulnerable to sex trafficking. Many people believe that one way to combat sex trafficking is to educate young women. Sex traffickers tend to pray upon uneducated and very poor girls. Overlake didn't intend to end the nasty cycle of sex trafficking they just wanted to educate people, but their actions will help young girls who otherwise would have been suceptible to sex trafficking.
The students at Overlake held bake sales, and talent contests and finally raised enough money to take advantage of a grant the World Bank gives. The school raised $15,500 and the World Bank matched $14,000. American dollars go far in Cambodia and this was enough money to get the school built. The students and faculty continue to visit the school. Back in 2006, Francisco Grijalva and many students went to the school armed with computers and were able to set up electricity for the school. The Overlake School continues to pay the yearly salary for the English teacher, which is $2,000 a year. The Overlake School has made a difference in people's lives. They may have prevented women from being reeled in by sex traffickers, they have been able to educate young girls and boys who may not have had the opportunity. I hope other schools will take advantage of grants that the World Bank offers. I hope other schools will be a glowing example for others to follow like Overlake has become.
Why I Choose to Support John Edwards for President
I am fairly impressed with our Democratic candidates this time around, although I felt the same way last time. In 2004, we had Dean, the people powered politician, Gephardt the experienced politician who garnered lots of labor support, Kerry, the environmental fighter who was a Vietnam vet and John Edwards, the man who considered fighting poverty to be the biggest moral challenge in America. I supported Edwards last time and I will do so again.
I'm not going to get into the history of John Edwards. People who know politics know he was a very successful lawyer, know he was elected in the Senate in 1998 in North Carolina, and has since spent his time helping unions fight different battles across the country. He also set up a poverty think tank at UNC, started a college program in rural North Carolina, and before politics he and his wife started two learning labs for high school kids in memory of their late son Wade.
So, why do I support him? He's a populist, and has said that if you characterize a populist as someone who fights for ordinary Americans, then that would be a fair branding. Populism is making a serious comeback in American politics, and I understand why. Big corporations are making huge profits while not raising wages or providing benefits. The government is buying companies' pensions, just look what happened to United Airlines workers. While everyone's wages are stagnant, prices of energy, whether it's in your gas tank or heating up your home are rising. When the cost of energy goes up, the cost of everything follows, milk and eggs and fruits and vegetables. What people call Reganomics has been a curse upon this country. Reganomics means you cut social programs, which tends to be help for the poor, help for the unemployed and funds in education while cutting taxes for the wealthy. Americans want a fair shake, and that's why populist candidates like Jon Tester of Montana are getting elected.
Back to Edwards, he's one candidate who has proposed policy plans on energy, global warming, universal health care, getting out of Iraq, global poverty, jobs and college assistance for people who cannot afford it. To me, universal health care is the biggest issue that sways my vote. Edwards health care plan would create a public entity which would be able to compete with private industry, which would bring prices down. Employers would either provide health care for their employees or buy into a pool, wherein people who can't afford health care would be covered. It's a great plan, its brings down the adminstrative costs, which are huge, and would also focus on preventative care. Mental health care would be provided as well which is deperately needed in major cities all across America. Edwards plan is a feasible one, and he would pay for it by rolling back the Bush tax cuts on families that make over $200,000 a year. The families who make that much money only make up 3% of the American population. 3%!
Edwards Stepping Stones Jobs program is a great one as well. The program would employ 1 million unemployed Americans each year. It would set them up with a city or parks job, and could really help end the cycle for many poor Americans. Many people think Edwards focuses too much on the poor and not enough on the middle class. If we can alleviate poverty, those people will become good consumers, and that would strengthen the middle class and also expand it. When states don't have as many unemployed people living off state and federal help, the states would be able to put that money elsewhere, and hopefully toward our public schools.
Edwards has proposed a College For Everyone program, where students that cannot afford to go to college, could work ten hours of community service a week and in exchange their first year of tuition would be funded. Edwards started a program like this at a rural school in North Carolina where the rate of high school seniors attending college was only 25%. After the program, nearly 70% of students were able to go to state college.
I could go on and on about his programs, but winning nationally is key, and we need a candidate that could beat the 2008 Republican nominee. Many people hate the electability meme, but not me, I think it's fair game. Edwards is viewed favorably by 68% of Independents and 45% of Republicans. IMO, he has the best crossover appeal of any candidate. He's from the south and has very progressive policy ideas but moderates don't fear his populist agenda. They welcome it with open arms, seeing as many people are struggling to make ends meet. These are just some of the reasons I support Edwards for President. I'm hoping you all will join me!
I'm not going to get into the history of John Edwards. People who know politics know he was a very successful lawyer, know he was elected in the Senate in 1998 in North Carolina, and has since spent his time helping unions fight different battles across the country. He also set up a poverty think tank at UNC, started a college program in rural North Carolina, and before politics he and his wife started two learning labs for high school kids in memory of their late son Wade.
So, why do I support him? He's a populist, and has said that if you characterize a populist as someone who fights for ordinary Americans, then that would be a fair branding. Populism is making a serious comeback in American politics, and I understand why. Big corporations are making huge profits while not raising wages or providing benefits. The government is buying companies' pensions, just look what happened to United Airlines workers. While everyone's wages are stagnant, prices of energy, whether it's in your gas tank or heating up your home are rising. When the cost of energy goes up, the cost of everything follows, milk and eggs and fruits and vegetables. What people call Reganomics has been a curse upon this country. Reganomics means you cut social programs, which tends to be help for the poor, help for the unemployed and funds in education while cutting taxes for the wealthy. Americans want a fair shake, and that's why populist candidates like Jon Tester of Montana are getting elected.
Back to Edwards, he's one candidate who has proposed policy plans on energy, global warming, universal health care, getting out of Iraq, global poverty, jobs and college assistance for people who cannot afford it. To me, universal health care is the biggest issue that sways my vote. Edwards health care plan would create a public entity which would be able to compete with private industry, which would bring prices down. Employers would either provide health care for their employees or buy into a pool, wherein people who can't afford health care would be covered. It's a great plan, its brings down the adminstrative costs, which are huge, and would also focus on preventative care. Mental health care would be provided as well which is deperately needed in major cities all across America. Edwards plan is a feasible one, and he would pay for it by rolling back the Bush tax cuts on families that make over $200,000 a year. The families who make that much money only make up 3% of the American population. 3%!
Edwards Stepping Stones Jobs program is a great one as well. The program would employ 1 million unemployed Americans each year. It would set them up with a city or parks job, and could really help end the cycle for many poor Americans. Many people think Edwards focuses too much on the poor and not enough on the middle class. If we can alleviate poverty, those people will become good consumers, and that would strengthen the middle class and also expand it. When states don't have as many unemployed people living off state and federal help, the states would be able to put that money elsewhere, and hopefully toward our public schools.
Edwards has proposed a College For Everyone program, where students that cannot afford to go to college, could work ten hours of community service a week and in exchange their first year of tuition would be funded. Edwards started a program like this at a rural school in North Carolina where the rate of high school seniors attending college was only 25%. After the program, nearly 70% of students were able to go to state college.
I could go on and on about his programs, but winning nationally is key, and we need a candidate that could beat the 2008 Republican nominee. Many people hate the electability meme, but not me, I think it's fair game. Edwards is viewed favorably by 68% of Independents and 45% of Republicans. IMO, he has the best crossover appeal of any candidate. He's from the south and has very progressive policy ideas but moderates don't fear his populist agenda. They welcome it with open arms, seeing as many people are struggling to make ends meet. These are just some of the reasons I support Edwards for President. I'm hoping you all will join me!
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