Campaign Priorities

The 2008 elections are crucial for all, particularly so for the young and the frail elderly. It's time for both parties to get specific about poverty, education and health care. Both Bill Clinton and the Bush's endorsed welfare cuts, giving the choice of "work or no welfare" to many needy. What choices do they have ? The young and old cannot work, yet if they have no wage earner or political support, they are dropped from the safety net.

In education, "No Child Left Behind" failed in Bush's Texas. Middle class Americans can pay high school property taxes which ensure good school with facilities for young minds and bodies, but these are not the needy families with deprived and undernourished children. They and the poor elderly desperately need our attention. It's a common sense investment to offer disadvantaged kids a chance to learn a living wage skill. Discrimination and second class schools do not a well adjusted adult make. It only reinforces the old cycle that "we are not good enough or worthy enough for your best efforts."

We are not mean people, nor unfeeling politicians seeking profit. We are generally kind to the less fortunate, but we need to be reminded that our immigrant forefathers were given opportunities that we now deny some citizens.

I'm waiting to hear loud and clear specifics from candidates as to how they intend to ease the plight of the poor. We own them more than promises of vague change, and "we can do it" slogans that mean nothing after the election. This is not the time for Robin Hood and his Merry Men. This is real, the time is now, and both parties seem gravely lacking where it matters most.

Jerry Chadderdon
Sebring