The American Dream: why I'm sticking with Edwards

Written by: Dustin Blythe on May 9, 2007 11:39 PM EDT

Cleaning up in New Orleans after Katrina.

The $400 haircut.  The hedge fund job.  The lavish home in North Carolina.  Every time one of these revelations hits the papers I find myself playing defense with my friends, defending my support for John Edwards.  The first thing I tell them is "don't get distracted by the shiny object", meaning keep your eye on the big picture.  I stand by John Edwards because although he has done very well in life and may, in reality, be on a par with Mitt Romney in terms of personal wealth, he is still talking about a country where everyone has the same chances he has had.  The American Dream: to start with next to nothing and make it big, with or without a lottery ticket.

Meanwhile in status symbol land... "Everyone has access to health care, that is what emergency rooms are for." Actual quote by my former Congressman, a Republican worth $50 million.

Fence of a gated community. What are these people afraid of?

How many of you reading this know of people in your area who one would consider "well off" that are talking about eliminating poverty or empowering the middle class?  I am not talking about writing a check twice a year.  How many of them are running for public office and subjecting themselves and their lives to public scrutiny?  

In my area there are quite a few people who have what I consider to be quite a bit of money.  They live in gated communities and stick close to their sphere of work/church/shopping center/home.  Not to say that there are not some who are interested in helping the community, but I am not hearing the same kind of passionate call for the elimination of poverty, hunger and for a real health care solution from their circle as I am from John Edwards who is better off financially than they are.  It would be very easy for John Edwards to stay in North Carolina and make even more money, but he's talking about the lack of health care for thousands of Iowans.  He is talking about eliminating poverty in New Hampshire.  

If more rich people cared about people like me he would not seem so special.  But they don't, so I am sticking with John Edwards. 

Tags: