Hey all, I'm your new Sunday night EENR gal. Tonight I want to expose you to stances and policy proposals that only Edwards is pushing for. His platform if enacted, would create the most sweeping changes this country has seen since FDR. To find out more, follow me below the fold....
Edwards is the Only Candidate Proposing Massive Jobs Program
All three candidates are now pushing new jobs in the blossoming green jobs field by investing in alternatives. Edwards is specifically proposing a green collar jobs program that would train 150,000 workers in the green energy field and he would create 50,000 green collar jobs for unemployed Americans. Obama is proposing a Green Corps for young disadvantaged youth. All three candidates proposing massive investments in green energy claim that this will result in the creation of new jobs. What about Americans who are unemployed and living in poverty?
I was surprised to see how little attention a jobs program for unemployed Americans was given by the front runners. All three candidates are for a livable wage and have plans to solve the home foreclosure crisis. However, Edwards focuses on long term solutions like a WPA style jobs program as well. If the Great Depression taught us anything, making sure Americans are living above the poverty line and working will help stabilize the economy. Edwards has proposed a Stepping Stones Jobs Program which will employ one million unemployed Americans every year for five years. They will be employed in city/parks jobs near where they live. After their year in the program is up, the program will assist them in finding permanent employment. Wanna fight poverty? A jobs program like this one is exactly the way to do so. The program will ensure stability for people who have never had it before. FDR was able to lift people out of poverty and stimulate the economy with the WPA, there's no doubt in my mind that Edwards program would do the same.
Edwards is the Only Candidate Willing to Take Away Federal Lobbyist Influence
Many of you know that John Edwards is the only candidate who has never accepted federal lobbyist or PAC money. He has been consistent on the issue since he entered the Senate back in 1998. Considering his law career, it makes sense that he would want to swear off corporate influence in government.
Both Edwards and Obama support publicly financed campaigns, and all three candidates have swore to end no bid contracts, what about federal lobbyists donating to federal campaigns? Edwards is the only candidate who will ban federal candidates from accepting donations from federal lobbyists. It's not enough to curb gifts and travel, we need to end the financial support from federal lobbyists period. If we have difficulty passing legislation in support of publicly financed campaigns, we need to ban federal lobbyists from having any financial influence over our lawmakers. Edwards has also vowed to ensure that there will be no federal lobbyists working in his WH, the other two candidates will not commit to what Edwards has promised.
Edwards is the Only Candidate Who is for a Ban on DRE Voting Machines
This may not seem like a big issue to some, but it is for me. I constantly bring this up in threads here at Kos because I can't believe Edwards is standing alone on this issue. Well...that's not entirely true. His wife Elizabeth said that one of her top priorities as first lady will be to ban black box voting. Edwards came out publicly for a ban nearly a year ago and unfortunately he was the only viable candidate to do so. Currently Hillary and Obama are only pushing for a paper trail. Can anyone tell me why we should keep the machines? Why should taxpayers pay for machines that are not only insecure but cost more money than voting on paper? Does it make any sense for progressive taxpayers to be financially supporting Republican companies intent on falsifying their security reports to gain funding?
Edwards is the Only Candidate in Support of a National Moratorium on Building New Coal Plants; He's Also Against Building any New Nuclear Energy Plants
Edwards opposes not only building any new coal fired plants but he also opposes building any nuclear plants. Instead of spending money building these new plants and developing coal to liquid, Edwards wants to focus on bio-fuels, solar and wind power. Personally, I think it's wasteful to put a bunch of money into research for coal to liquid in hopes that it will give off 20% less in carbon emissions than gasoline. Why not invest that money into clean, sustainable energies? I also don't understand why we should go the Bush route and continue to spend money on building new nuke plants? Both Hillary and Obama are not opposed to building new nuke plants, which IMO is regressive and not progressive. BTW, I saw yet another automobile completely powered on electricity driving around today. Imagine creating more electricity by way of wind and solar power, and driving electric cars that don't pollute? Call me an optimist, but it seems logical for us to think big when it comes to the clean energies of the future.
Edwards Will Close the Gap between Veterans Pay and Civilian Pay
To be honest, I was impressed by both Edwards and Hillary's plans for our veterans. They both offer a detailed agenda to help veterans when they return home. All three candidates are promising to fully fund the V.A. and increase treatment for PTSD and hire more health professionals. Edwards has a proposal to create a national, "Chain of Care", to ensure that veterans who seek treatment outside the V.A. will receive the care they need. Edwards is also proposing a "Home Redeployment Plan" where veterans will go thorough PTSD screenings, have their medical records transferred properly and be assisted with benefits information. Edwards also feels strongly about veterans paying interest on their student loans. Edwards will make sure that troops do not pay interest on their student loans while serving. That could save a veteran nearly $1,400 a year. Edwards also wants to create a Military Families Advisory Board within the Dept. of Defense so military families can have a voice in veterans affairs. It's astounding that American contractors in Iraq make so much more money than an American soldier. That's shameful IMO. Edwards is pledging to end the gap between a soldier's pay and an American contractor.
Edwards is the Only Candidate Who Has Proposed to Break Up Media Conglomerates
Both Edwards and Obama support universal broadband access and both candidates were outspoken on the importance of net neutrality. Obama co-sponsored the Media Ownership Act of 2007, which would encourage diversity in media and promote transparency in new media ownership rules. Both Obama and Edwards are strong when it comes to media issues, however, Edwards is the only candidate proposing actual concentration limits. From his website:
Edwards believes extreme media consolidation threatens free speech, tilts the public dialogue towards corporate priorities and away from local concerns, and makes it increasingly difficult for women and minorities to own a stake in our media. Edwards will strengthen local and national media ownership and concentration limits so that a few huge multinational corporations are not in charge of shaping our democracy.
Volunteer!
Now that Feb. 5th is on our heels, many of you have an opportunity to volunteer in your home state! Whether you live in California or Missouri, the Edwards Campaign needs your help. Click the link below to volunteer in a Super Tuesday state, you won't regret it!
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Have you joined the Edwards Virtual Phone Bank Team?
You don't even have to live in a Feb. 5th state to help out. You don't even have to leave your house. All you have to do is click on the link I provide below and join the Edwards Team to phone bank for Edwards. You know you're an informed Edwards supporter, so why not lend your voice for the Campaign?
http://www.johnedwardsphonebank.com/
Donate to the Campaign for Real Change
Many supporters of other candidates have suggested that Edwards should stay in the race because what he speaks out on is good for the country. While I agree that his voice needs to be heard in America, his proposals need to be enacted. Whether it's his hard stance on corporate influence in government or his economic proposals that mirror FDR's, Edwards could be a strong leader affecting real change in our country. How about we donate and help elect a President like that?
http://johnedwards.com/...
Have You Forgotten Who We're Fighting For?
Edwards will tell you right here.....
So, when you feel like there's no hope, when you feel like we're losing the fight against the big media/corp. influences, remember who you're fighting for. Edwards is out there every day fighting for people like that woman in Kansas City, we can't give up on her, we can't give up on the folks that need people to fight for them.