Election '08...right now in '07

If the 2008 presidential election were held today, I would vote for John Edwards. Edwards believes in making what he calls “moral, upstanding decisions.”

However, these morals are not based on a drive to push certain religious views. Whiled Edwards did grow up in a deeply religious home to parents “of the cloth,” he has never once pushed an agenda stating that his personal deity told him to do so (i.e. invade a country). Edwards just does what he believes will protect the rights of everyone and does what is best as a whole.

One of the more important campaign issues for Edwards is his fight for middle class Americans. I come from a middle-class family, so this issues hits home. According to Edwards’ campaign website, “middle class families are struggling. Wages have fallen in recent years even as the economy has grown. At the same time, the costs of necessities like health care, child care, and education have grown. President Bush's tax policies have increased the share of the tax burden borne by middle-class workers. Our economic policies must reward work, help families save for the future, and fight the rising costs of middle-class life.”

Edwards’ plan is for a universal healthcare system. Under this system, everyone is guaranteed some form of medical attention if needed. Families without insurance will get coverage at an affordable price. Families with insurance will pay less and get more security and choices. Businesses and other employers will find it cheaper and easier to insure their workers. After a friend of mine was seriously injured in an accident over the summer, I realized just how important it was for America to have some form of system to take care of those unable to pay extraordinary medical bills charged to the public.

The final large issue for me that Edwards addresses is America’s world policy. Edwards plans to improve America’s image in the world without a total and complete isolationist policy. Edwards’ plans would involve playing a more supportive role in the world, so that possibly the cynical term “World Police” for America might gain a positive connotation. By deploying peace-keeping troops through the United Nations in regions such as Darfur and Uganda and withdrawing a number of Iraqi troops (not a complete withdrawal, mind you), America would vastly improve its image in the world community. This is yet another close-to-home issue for me, because I have a close friend that is heavily involved in work such as Darfur and Uganda and I have become alerted as well to the growing need for America’s aid.

I could have written about “hot button” issues, such as abortion (it is a woman’s choice according to Edwards), gay rights (he supports civil-unions and the right to shared insurance, healthcare, etc), and immigration laws (Edwards is all about equal rights for everyone, but only after work is done to gain citizen status), but I felt those have already been vastly covered in the media and by other people. Don’t get me wrong, these issues are very important (some more than others to me) and they are the core of the decision-making process, but I felt that other issues should be addressed as well – issues that other people may consider insignificant next to “the big three.”