Location: Wellington, KS
My Story: Raised in Venice Beach, California I lived in Humboldt County (Far Northern Coastal) California for seven years before moving to Kansas. So, I am a transplanted Californian feeling like I am drowning in a sea of red in Sumner County. It absolutely sickens me that there is not one Democrat running for office in Wellington. This is a conservative town and I don't know any other Democrats here. I'd like to see and feel a more liberal spirit here yet I just don't know how to help bring it about. I'd run for office myself if I had the time or the support - but I have neither. I've watched the main street of Wellington die as Wal-Mart takes over with not one but TWO stores; a new Super Wal-Mart just outside city limits is planned to open within a year. Shall this be the nail in the coffin of small business in Wellington? I staunchly oppose Mr. Brownback and his ideology and encourage others to do so as well. Since the beginning of this egregious Bush presidency, I have watched our country disintegrate into ever polarized factions to the people's own detriment. I feel America needs its eyes opened and a swift kick in the pants - "Wake up People". The Conservative movement and its leaders are taking us down a path to the end of freedom and civil liberties, with an overtly Christian religious morality that will only serve to further put our nation at odds against the rest of the non-Christian population of the planet – not to mention our own country! Is there a voice of moderation to be found anywhere? I strongly support a national healthcare system (socialist as it may seem) and an increase in taxes if that's what's needed to pay for it. Although I admire the courage it takes to volunteer for the armed services, I wholeheartedly do NOT support the war in Iraq nor any other hostile acts towards other nations. I worked in the Native American community for seven years and am dedicated to the preservation of the native cultures of this land and the rites of their people and their governments. Indian Sovereignty must be preserved. The Department of the Interior and the BIA need to work harder at funding tribes and tribal programs to end the level of poverty that is rampant on reservations. It is a foul blemish on the American conscience and too many turn a blind eye to the suffering of these people. It just kills me when I hear ignorant people say it's ancient history and they (meaning native peoples) should get over it. Ancient history? Tell that to the Wyiot, or the Yurok or Hoopa! The No Child Left Behind Act is a joke! I am a budget analyst for Wichita Public Schools and I help to manage all of the federal and non-federal grants. I have seen this mandate go partially funded and make the educators around me go nuts with frustration. Mr. Bush should leave education to the educators and make sure they have enough money to actually do their jobs of educating well rounded individuals so they can be productive members of society and not force them into teaching only what is on the stupid assessment tests. Additionally, school vouchers are like stabbing the public school system in the back. I detest the latest attempts by the Bush Administration to further aid the obscenely wealthy with more tax cuts while pushing social security and welfare/medicare reforms that harm the most need in our society. Call me a bleeding heart liberal, but shouldn’t we take care of our elders, the disabled, and the truly needy? Isn’t there room in this society for caring or do we really want grandma reduced to eating cat food and making trips to Canada or Mexico for her heart medication? Perhaps Congress should be afforded the same healthcare plan as medicare patients and the same social security benefits as the average American. Perhaps there will be some reform, yes? Additionally, I am saddened by Congress and their true lack of self-control. Where is the election reform that was promised? What has been done to stop the sycophantic lobbyists and their all expense paid trips for congressional members, their families, and staff? When will Congress address the true issues that matter to the American people? I feel Congress has lost touch with reality. They make far more than the average American, have guaranteed health care and retirement for life, and do not understand what it is to live like paycheck to paycheck. They don’t have to deal with sub-prime lenders who prey on the misinformed and poor. Do they even know how much it costs to maintain an automobile which is a necessity since Congress doesn’t fund public transportation as it should? And why is that? Could it be because the oil industry, the automobile manufacturing industry (and its subcomponent industries), and the insurance industry want American’s dependent on their products? The greed is astounding. And what is the result? Dependence on foreign oil and an environment suffering from despoiling.
Issues: Civil Liberties; Civil Rights; Economic Growth; Education; Election Reform; Energy Policy; Environment; Good Government; Healthcare; Military Issues; National Security; Retirement Security
Registered to Vote: Yes
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Political Identification: Don't label me

"Be the change you want to see in the world" Mahatma Gandhi