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!