During the next seven weeks we will be holding a series discussion of issues and ideas. In an age where it seems that the politics of personal destruction outweighs issues or ideas, we will attempt to remove some of the smoke and mirrors that politics has become and focus on the issues that will affect you every day. We believe that there is a clear line between John Kerry and President Bush.

Health care doesn’t affect me, right? Wrong. Health care costs, quality and choices affect all of us. Many of you will be graduating soon, going out into the world to start your professional life, or some may go back to school for that second or third degree. What ever you do or wherever you go from here, one thing is a must — health care.

Since George W. Bush took office, health care costs have spiraled out of control while drug company profits have exploded. Costs have increased at a rate of more than 10 percent each year and have accelerated faster each year in Bush’s presidency.

Despite a $400 billion gift for the pharmaceutical industry in the form of a Medicare prescription drug plan, that to this day only 6,000 Americans have signed up for, Bush has proposed no comprehensive solution to control the cost of health care.

We deserve a president who understands that, in America, regular check-ups shouldn’t empty our checkbooks — a president who will put people ahead of insurance and drug companies.

John Kerry and John Edwards will cut family premiums by up to $1,000. That’s real savings real people can use to buy groceries, pay the bills and save for their children’s future. And that will mean more jobs and more competitive American businesses.

The Kerry-Edwards plan will reduce prescription drug prices by allowing the re-importation of safe prescription drugs from Canada, overhauling the Medicare drug plan, ensuring low-cost drugs, and ending artificial barriers to generic drug competition.

Affordable health care is a right, not a privilege, for every American. John Kerry and John Edwards will fight for that right.

If you have any questions, I encourage you to attend our meetings at 5 p.m. every Thursday in the UC. E-mail us at utmdems@mars.utm.edu, or check it out for yourself at www.collegedems.com and see how your decision in this election will affect you for years to come.

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