2008 Woodie Awards
A Monumental Decision
Eileen Grafenstine
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
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Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, where he also spent most of his childhood. He moved to New York after high school to attend Columbia University. Later, he graduated from Harvard Law. Upon graduating, Obama moved to Chicago where he practiced civil rights law; this work inspired him to run for the Illinois State Senate. Upon winning, he became only the 3rd African American to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Obama has strong feelings on a number of issues. His standings on healthcare alone are extraordinary. As we all know, health insurance is hard to come by and even harder to financially maintain. At the moment, there are 47 million Americans uninsured. Obama's plan is to offer a national health plan to every American. This plan would guarantee all eligibility, regardless of age or any pre-existing conditions. It would also come with benefits, such as maternity and mental health. It will have affordable fees, and there will be alternatives available for low-income families.
He also holds the importance of civil rights close to his heart. Right now, women only earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, and minorities make even less. Obama plans to pass the Fair Pay Act, which would enable people to earn the same amount for the same work, regardless of sex or race. If you are interested in learning more, you can visit www.barackobama.com.
Hillary Clinton is a lot more then the former First Lady. As a child, she grew up within a working class home in Illinois. Years later, she paved the way for women in politics. After being elected to the U.S. Senate, she has been a strong supporter of protecting our Social Security, the middle class, and other important national issues.
A crucial issue to us is the funding of our college education, and Clinton has proposed many changes in dealing with this issue. She would like to lower the cost of tuition by setting up a $3,500 tax credit for students. Also, she would like to raise the amount of the Pell Grant. We all know how complicated the FAFSA application is to fill out. The typical tax form would be about a quarter of the size of the FAFSA application. Hillary is determined to simplify the process for us by adding a financial aid box to the tax return. If you check the box, you will get a letter from the Department of Education outlining all forms of aid for which you are eligible.
Our working conditions have been an issue for years and Clinton would like to help. She plans to pass an act called "Employee Free Choice," which will enable workers to ask for fair wages and safe working conditions. To find out more information, you can visit www.hillaryclinton.com.
This election will be a nail-biter for sure. Every candidate has amazing visions for our country. Make sure you do your research before you vote in the primaries. You can make a difference! You can choose who will run our country! Remember: EVERY VOTE COUNTS!