Hundreds of people came to see Presidential Candidate John Edwards in Whitesburg, Kentucky recently. This was the last stop in a three day, eight state tour of poverty stricken areas. Candidate Edwards spoke to a gathering of young participants at the Appalachian Media Institute at Appalshop.
The young participants told Edwards that terms and young adults in their areas were overdosing at an alarming rate. They stated that others they knew were trapped in a vicious cycle of daily drug use. The young people stated that there was no place in their areas for their friends to go to receive help. They also told Edwards that the majority of the drug users were ignored.
The drug use in the communities coupled with a lack of jobs has the young people filled with hopelessness. Many of the young people dream of leaving the area. The participants told Edwards that they would like to stay in their communities but the limited opportunities made it impossible.
Edwards said much of what he has seen on this tour had not been pleasant. He stated he hoped to focus attention not just on the problems but the solutions needed to correct the problems. One of the reasons for his tour was so the rest of the country hears the forgotten voices of the good, strong and courageous Americans.
Candidate John Edwards has a plan to end poverty in America in thirty years. That plan includes creating a universal health care system, strengthening union’s rights, making sure every child gets a chance to go to college without a huge debt left when they graduate and raising the minimum debt. Unfortunately, the latest poll results are not reflecting that he will get that chance.
