I know to many of you this may not be important. I understand the vast majority of you are not from Delaware, but please there is a great story below! As a fifteen year old interested in politics, but with a very limited access to help, I came across a true diamond in the Diamond State. Take a look!
For the past several weeks I have become deeply involved in a political campaign. While it may not be one many of you are familiar with, it is one that has great meaning, and great importance. It will decide whether my home state, Delaware, will move back into the forefront of our nation's greatest states. I am proud to say that I am an avid supporter and volunteer for Jack Markell.
The Markell campaign is one of grassroots. Earlier this year, our opponent John Carney released a list of about 600 grassroots supporters. We followed with a compilation of over 2,000 loyalists. The folks in Delaware are eager for change, and they look to Jack Markell to bring about that change.
Delaware is facing some tough times. We have 105,000 citizens uninsured. High school graduation rates are the 40th lowest in the nation. Our ability to create new jobs is ranked just 48th of 50. These are staggering numbers, and people feel the affects of these shortfalls day in and day out. I know that. I see that. I have been canvassing for several days now, and dozens of hours. I have had conversation after conversation with people who really feel Delaware, and the nation, are on the wrong track. This state, small as it may be, is a microcosm of the nation. We represent all walks of life, all struggles and all triumphs. Unfortunately, the struggles greatly out way the triumphs...
I am proud to have the honor of supporting Jack Markell, and working on his behalf. He truly is a man of the people, for the people. He stands up for the average citizen, man, woman, black, white, rich, poor, it doesn't matter. If you need help, he is your help. He has the only plan for universal health care in the state. He understands the risks of betting on the next "big industry". He knows that if our education is going to improve we must do away with No Child Left Behind, and our state test as well. We need to invest in our kids and give them a test that no longer benefits the test-makers, but rather the test-takers. It is this knowledge, these ideas that drew me to his campaign, and that has drawn so many more as well.
Like I said, I have been canvassing for Mr. Markell, and I have spoken with hundreds of people. One person however, has stood out. I have shaken so many hands on Jack's behalf, but none as honorable, as caring, as concerned as one woman today, and I wish to share her story. She used to work for Chrysler, until she lost her job. She retired unemployed and disabled from the plant. She lives with her daughter, her son and her grandchild, unable to pay rent. She can't drive, she can't work, her son has no health care, and there has been no one there to help her. She has been thrown to the side by big business, by an industry once thought to be the next "big thing". Delaware bet on the automobile industry. It did everything it could to bring them here to Delaware. Delaware and its leaders lowered taxes, provided incentives, and basically begged them to come. Well, they did. And as long as the automobile companies such as Chrysler were strong so was Delaware. Now however, as more and more plants across the state close, people like the woman I met today fail. They fail! Their families fail. Their community fails, and it is simply unconscionable!
What gives hope to people like that fine, hard-working woman today is a leader that will change the system we have fallen into. Jack Markell gives us hope. He has promised to move away from hedging bets on big business and looked towards entrepreneurship for the answer. He has looked towards small business and those Ma and Pa shops to help ease the pain. He is a man of as all, not just the big business.
I spoke with this woman today, in the middle of a canvass for twenty minutes. I dropped everything, because I knew how much this meant to her, and I know it's what Jack would do! So, on his behalf, I shook her hand. I listened to her. I consoled her. And most importantly I explained to her what Jack Markell will do for her. She was such a nice woman, such a caring soul; she deserves better. Jack will give her something better. When I left her to continue my canvassing she proudly displayed a Jack Markell yard sign!
Now, like I said, she is disabled. We have coordinated an effort to make sure she, and people like her can make it to the polls. I even pulled a few strings and will have Jack give her a call. She deserves it! Delaware deserves it! America deserves it. Her story touched me. It shook my conscious! Never before had I met someone in her situation, hurting so badly, but remaining so eager to talk about her plight. It was this moment that solidified my belief in the need for change. It was that moment that solidified my belief in the need for Jack Markell!
So, today I shook the hands of many more Delawareans on behalf of Jack. I explained to them his health care plan, education plan, energy plan, his transportation plan and spending plan, but most of all I explained to one wonderful woman his plan for the average person. I explained to her how hard he will work for people in her situation. I explained how much he cares, and how he will fight to make this economy work for everyone! Now, I know many of you don't live in Delaware, but to those of you who do I would appreciate it if you join the grassroots movement for Jack Markell. For those of you outside the state I thank you first of all for reading this far. And now I ask you to look into what Jack has to say, and perhaps donating to the campaign. He is a true progressive, working hard for all of us, Delaware natives or not.
To look into him visit www.markell.org
Take a look at his economic plans and his health care plans. Listen to what he has to say about energy and the environment. I'm sure you, like that fine woman today, will be pleased!
For those who don't believe I'm fourteen, here's a video I made for Jack.:)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SSgY186mIuk
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