Something to talk about

Musicians the like of Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne typically don’t perform at venues like Coe College, the small, private liberal arts college where I am blessed to make a living. But there they were tonight – on stage at Sinclair Auditorium – singing and stumping on behalf of Sen. John Edwards.

Fortunately, the packed house seemed equally enthused about the candidate as his musical guests. Though nary a vote has been cast, Edwards seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle between the presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton and the populist candidate Barack Obama.

Though I admit I have been moved by Obama’s rhetoric, I remain unconvinced in his ability to bring about the kind of change this country so desperately needs. As for Clinton, I don’t believe she represents change at all. Oh, she’d be an improvement over the current occupant, but we’d really only be trading one brand of corruption for another.

Edwards combines the best of several former Democratic presidents – the inspirational leadership of John Kennedy, the give-em Hell spirit of Harry Truman, the honesty of Jimmy Carter and the charm and charisma of Bill Clinton. And he has a plan, which is clearly spelled out in an 80-page booklet.

It includes his proposals to end the war in Iraq, guarantee universal health care, revitalize rural America, support middle-class families, teach our children, and achieve energy independence and fight global warming. For details, see www.johnedwards.com.

Following tonight’s event I ran into a college administrator who was moved by Edwards to the point that his support for Clinton is now wavering. His concern, he said, is what each candidate means by universal health care. He opposes “socialized medicine,” which I prefer to describe as “Medicare for everyone,” if it means employers couldn’t offer a better plan.

This is a total disconnect for me. It’s not like any business in America wants to offer health care. They only do it because they have to. It’s not a benefit, it’s a cost of doing business. If it were the same for every man, woman and child, regardless of where you work or if you even do, employers and employees would both prosper.

Call it socialism if you will, there’s plenty of that already – see Medicare, Social Security, law enforcement, fire protection, postal service, etc. It’s a moral issue over which America needs to take a long, hard look at itself.

I’m all for the pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps mentality the Republicans used to represent. But I’m not inclined to apply it to life-and-death situations. Sick is sick, and you should be allowed to get better whether you’re Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, evil or holy.

But that’s just me. And these words rang in my head all the way home.

I was walking with my brother
And he wondered what’s on my mind
I said what I believe in my soul
Ain’t what I see with my eyes
And we can’t turn our backs this time

I am a patriot
And I love my country
Because my country is all I know
I want to be with my family
The people who understand me
I’ve got nowhere else to go

And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
Someday