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I've been bouncing between candidates for months. I think the first candidate I ever considered was John Kerry, and I still do really really like him (he's my current #2 and if he does really well I may consider joining his camp). But, as I started looking at other candidates, I started to support him less and less. This was around June, I think, and since then I think i've changed my candidate around 20 times :P. But, as the primary season begins, I think i'm ready to finally endorse a candidate - John Edwards.
First of all, John has an excellent plan for our economy. His aim is to help the average american, not the wealthy 1% who hold 40% of the wealth in the country. In John's plan, he will raise the minimum wage, extend unemployment benefits, and reform America's labor laws. His "American Dream" tax credit, which gives a $5000 tax credit for a down payment on a home, will help thousands if not millions of Americans finally achieve their dreams of owning a home. Also, he will agressively fight to keep jobs here in America by giving incentives to companies who will keep jobs here. The idealist in me sort of disagrees with giving anything from the government to companies, but in all realism that might be the best way at this point to keep and lure back jobs here in America. Finally, he stands for making free trade fair - something we've been unwilling to do until this point. Free trade would be good if it were fair to everyone and fair to the workers in the United States. And as we all know, it hasn't been...numerous outsourcings of jobs by major corporations to countries like India and China where they pay about 50 cents and hour isn't fair to us at all. John Edwards will fight things to end unfair free trade practices and make it fair for everyone involved.
Secondly, I support him for his health care and education plans. 12 million children aren't covered by health insurance...We're one of the few industrialized nations left in the world that hasn't gotten a health care plan for all it's citizens, and having 12 million children alone, much less 12 million people, is an outrage. I know that a few of our candidates are fighting for this, but John Edwards doesn't only have a good plan, he has a plan that will go over very well with the voters. Under his plan, every child will be insured. Although families and children will be the focal point of his plan, adults and businesses will also get a well-deserved helping hand with health insurance. Affordable coverage will be offered to all adults making modest incomes, and small businesses who are having trouble giving health insurance will get help from the government, so their workers can still have health insurance in hard times. He will also help the many unemployed people in America get health insurance while they look for jobs. His education plan also will go over well with the masses and is comparable to that of our other candidates who are fighting for education reform. Since I am a high school student, aspiring to go to college, education reform is obviously an important topic to me. Edwards will strengthen our schools by fighting for smaller class sizes and work to create more quality after-school programs. Also, he has a plan to give anyone who wants to go to college a free year of tuition, and will fight to make student loans easier to get and "legacy admissions", which are the preference of some colleges to take in students based on family, a thing of the past. Like I said, I'm an aspiring college student and this plan really has me excited.
Now that i've hammered in the key points and philosophies of his campaign, I can tell you the third reason why I support him - his intangibles, IMO, are enough to put him over the top in the General Elections. Now, let's use this as a scenario - Every state that voted for Bush in 2000 votes for him and every state that voted for Gore votes for Edwards in 2004...Except his home state of NC, a state in the south which holds 15 electoral votes...we will win. Now, that's only hypothetical that it will happen exactly that way, but that's beside my point. We need the south to win this election, there's no doubt about that. The best way we can win it is with a southerner at the helm or as the nominee's running mate. No one could deny that having someone like Clark or Edwards on the ticket. I personally think that Edwards would do more to help us win if he was on the ticket than Clark, although Clark would definitely be an asset. (Edwards/Clark, anyone? :)). That, and as much as I hate to say it, looks are a factor. A lot of people will vote, unfortunately, for the better looking or more charming candidate, and completely ignore the issues. But, Edwards IMO is a very charming and good-looking candidate. Of course, that's only my opinion as a straight male :P.
In conclusion, I understand Edwards has his flaws, idealistically speaking. But, John has an awesome plan to rebuild our economy and to bring back jobs. He has a great health care plan, and his educational reforms will only benefit our children, and America as a whole. Not to mention, his intangible qualities like his background, his homestate, and his personality will be incredibly helpful in defeating Bush and bringing back hope for America.
(BTW, I would like to thank DjTj for writing the editorial that finally convinced me that Edwards was my candidate. Top notch work, dude :). I also want to say I think I sounded way too much like an advertisment...well, I guess I'm supposed to sound that way when i'm writing an essay, nevermind :P.)
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