OWH Op-Ed: Nebraskans will benefit greatly if they vote for Obama Tuesday
Oct 30, 12:32 PM CST
Steve had this op-ed published in today’s World-Herald:
Nebraskans will benefit greatly if they vote for Obama Tuesday
BY STEVE ACHELPOHL
From the beginning of his campaign for the presidency, Barack Obama made clear that he would not be a conventional candidate. He told us that he wasn’t going to take anything for granted. He told us that he was going to set aside conventional wisdom.
And, thankfully for Nebraska, he promised to expand the electoral map. From his electrifying appearance in Omaha just before February’s caucuses to his commitment of money, staff and offices in Omaha for both the primary and general elections, Obama has delivered on his promise.
What attracts so many of us to Obama? It’s his belief that we are first and foremost Americans — young and old, black and white, liberal and conservative — and must work together to ensure that our better days are ahead.
Obama is committed to fighting for the middle class. His economic plan would give tax breaks to 95 percent of working Americans, including 1 million workers here in Nebraska.
In addition, 1 million Nebraskans would see an energy rebate to help families deal with high energy prices that have squeezed them for too long. And as president, Obama would eliminate income taxes for senior citizens making less than $50,000 a year, aiding 60,000 Nebraska seniors.
Obama has a plan to make affordable health care available to all Nebraskans. As president, he would lower the average cost of a family’s medical expenses by $2,500 a year. His plan would ensure that Nebraskans who have health care through their employer can afford to keep it and that individuals who don’t currently have coverage would have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.
Obama also would help small businesses provide health insurance to their employees by giving small businesses a tax credit. Under his plan, more than 232,000 people in Nebraska who currently lack quality health coverage would be covered.
An Obama presidency would mean strong American agriculture. Even urban areas in Nebraska benefit from existing agricultural support mechanisms, and Obama would ensure that those programs remain in place.
In addition to preserving these existing programs, Obama would break our dependence on foreign oil and invest in domestic energy development programs that would create green-collar jobs right here in Nebraska.
Obama would reinforce the “pay-as-you-go” approach to end the irresponsible budget deficits that have caused our debt to balloon to record levels. As a father, I understand that we can’t continue to mortgage our children’s future to pay for reckless spending now. Obama shares those values and would make efforts to restore the spirit of fiscal responsibility to Washington a priority.
Barack Obama offers a different path for our country. He offers us change from the divisions and disillusionment of the last eight years, leading us toward a place of unity and economic security. He offers people of all stripes a voice and a stake in the promise of a better future.
Respectfully, because of his policies that are in Nebraskans’ best interests and because of his unifying spirit, Barack Obama will earn my vote on Tuesday.
– by Eric Van Horn | Send this to a friend
— Mary Oct 30, 01:21 PM CST #
— Judi Oct 30, 05:06 PM CST #
— Don Kuhns Oct 31, 12:57 AM CST #
— Trevor Fitzgerald Oct 31, 06:43 PM CST #