QUESTION ONE: Why are we, as a nation, unable to establish a system of health care that assures decent, affordable, health care to all?

The first, real reason behind our inability to establish a health care system like that lies in the increasing corporatization of medicine. As medicine has become more and more removed from the patient, the relationship between doctors and patients has broken down. People are now moved from specialist to specialist and never get the chance to see their doctor. As a doctor in Vermont, I had a practice where I sometimes saw three generations of the same family. When there was a serious personal or medical decision to be made, I could speak to that family as a trusted physician. That does not happen anymore. We must begin a national dialogue to re-establish our sense of community in the country.

A second issue lies in the political climate in which we exist. Health care should not be a partisan issue. However, whenever any health care system is proposed, Democrats fight amongst themselves about the type of system, and Republicans and special-interests come in and kill the bill. I have been through three health care fights and learned from those fights. As a doctor, I have seen what can work. As a politician, I have seen what can pass. I designed a health care plan that can be passed and will cover 31 million Americans at a cost of $88.3 billion per year, less than one-third the cost of the Presidents tax cuts. I believe we must live up to Harry Trumans 1948 promise placed in the Democratic Party platform to bring health insurance to all Americans.

QUESTION TWO: What do you propose? If you feel that we must move in increments, what are the critical increments that you see? If you feel that, at long last, we can move more comprehensively on this issue, how do you see that happening politically and with what type of plan?

My plan has four parts. First: insure all young people up to age 25. In my state of Vermont, 96% of people under the age of 18 now have health insurance and 99% are eligible for it. Insuring young people is remarkably inexpensive and we can do this easily using Vermont as a model by building on the existing programs of Medicaid and the State Childrens Health Insurance Program.

Second: Cover all low income working adults. We will automatically give coverage to working adults earning under $16,600 per year by expanding the Childrens Health Insurance Program. This will bring nearly 12 million Americans into the system that would otherwise have no possibility of getting health care coverage. Working poor people earning more than $16,600 will have the option of buying into the same plan that our senators and congressmen have. They will be able to buy in at a rate that is affordable to them. The cost will only be a small fraction of their income at 7.5%. The buy in option will bring in an additional 5.5 million Americans.

Third: We must start working with small businesses to provide greater health care coverage. We can build on this existing infrastructure by making a deal with small business. The government will ensure that businesses with less than 50 people will be able to buy into a plan identical to the one enjoyed by members of Congress at a reduced rate provided they actually do insure their workers. Also, the government will cover 70% of COBRA costs for employees transitioning out of work provided that the business extends health insurance benefits for two months after the employee leaves work.

Fourth: We stop giving benefits to corporations who move their jobs to Indonesia and their headquarters to Bermuda. Tax breaks are rewards, not entitlements, and they should go to good corporate citizens.

This is not a radical new reform of the health care system. We can do this. This is a plan based on existing systems, using a working model my state of Vermont. This plan will cost only $88.3 billion dollars, less than one-third the cost of President Bushs tax cuts, and make health insurance available to millions of Americans for whom health insurance was only a luxury.

EDUCATION

QUESTION ONE: Why are so many young people dropping out, failing, or, unable to find decent work after graduating?

Education is the great equalizer in America because it creates economic opportunity. A college education is increasingly necessary for young people to succeed in the global economy, but it is becoming less available and affordable. Public colleges have raised tuition due to state budget problems, while President Bush and Republicans in Congress underfund Pell grants and AmeriCorps. These challenges affect the quality of education and contribute to higher drop out rates and other problems.

Meanwhile the Bush Administration is undermining programs that help to keep kids in school. Bush and his Republican allies in Congress attacked Head Start, one of the most successful and popular federal programs ever created. This Administration is also hostile to the federal school lunch program that provides children with nutritionally balanced meals.

One way to improve success in school is early childhood development. As Governor, I instituted a program called Success by Six. Every mother who gives birth in Vermont is offered a home visit from a community volunteer. For the families that need help, this visit opens the door to information about childcare, health care, home visitation, and parenting classes. This kind of early intervention achieves results. During my tenure as Governor, child sexual abuse dropped by 70% and overall child abuse dropped by 43% for children under six. Providing children with a stable, safe home environment goes a long way in improving school performance.  As President, I will advance policies that improve schools and empower parents.

QUESTION TWO: What do you see as the Federal role in primary and secondary education, what do you think about the No Child Left Behind Act, and what are key education initiatives that you would pursue as President?

The centerpiece of President Bushs education agenda, the No Child Left Behind Act, is a massive, one-size-fits-all federal mandate based on Texas school reform and standardized testing. The problem is that Texas has had some of the worst school systems in the country for fifty years and New Hampshire has had some of the best. The Presidents flawed solution is to try to make New Hampshires schools more like Texas schools.

As President, I would reform the No Child Left Behind Act.  It is clear that the law has had terrible unintended consequences.  No Child Left Behind sought to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in education achievement and to improve school accountability.  I believe that there is a valid federal role in helping states achieve these goals, but the current law is unduly burdensome and deprives states of needed flexibility.  In a Dean Administration there will be no unfunded federal education mandates.  As President, I will rework the rigid and unrealistic accountability standards of No Child Left Behind so that they do not punish schools that are doing well, like many in New Hampshire. I will work to reduce the Acts heavy reliance on standardized testing, and I will make sure that funding is increased and better targeted so that local communities are not bankrupted by federal mandates. As President, I will work to redress the flaws in the No Child Left Behind Act without abandoning the federal role in closing the achievement gap.

I will also fulfill the federal governments promise to fully fund its 40% share of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The federal government currently provides less than half of that amount. Ensuring that states receive this promised money will free up much needed state funding.

GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY GROUPS

Grassroots Question #1: Is there a place of influence for organizations such as GSOP in the modern power systems of our nation and the world? If so, what is that place?

The simple answer is a resounding yes grassroots community groups will be essential in taking our country back from the special interests that currently dominate Washington, and restoring power to ordinary Americans.

As I have said before, the biggest lie candidates tell voters is that they will solve all your problems. The truth is, the power to change this country lies with the American people and through the grassroots community groups that represent them. It was being part of a grassroots effort to build a bike path along Lake Champlain that was my first step into political life. We need to restore a sense of community in this country, and groups like GSOP must have a voice in order to do this.

I envision groups like GSOP having an influence much like grassroots supporters have in my campaign.  Were building the greatest grassroots campaign of the modern era on mouse pads, shoe leather, and hope. As of the end of September, over 450,000 Americans have already joined the campaign, and over 110,000 people attend Meetups all over the country every month. 

Organizations like GSOP directly represent the fabric of America   the religious congregations, union locals, and community groups, to name a few and their voices must be heard to counteract the special interests that currently dominate Washington, D.C., in order to deliver the White House to its rightful holders we the people.

Grassroots Question #2: What would you do as President to promote the expansion of this sort of organization and of its concerns for deep democracy and for reducing the power of elites?

As President, I will promote the power of the people and grassroots organizations like GSOP by bringing millions of people back into the political process, thereby stemming the tide of special interests that have engulfed our nations capital.

Democracy itself is at stake in the upcoming election. Right-wing elites have subverted the democratic process in recent years whenever they havent liked the outcome, from Florida recounts to the Texas redistricting to the California recall.  The Bush Administration has been a government of, by and for the special interests.  Adding to the problems are the 33 lobbyists that exist for every member of Congress. 

The only way to reduce the power of these elites and to strengthen deep democracy is to involve ordinary Americans and the organizations that represent them. We must give people a reason to get involved.  We do this already in our campaign - we put up flyers, we knock on doors and talk about how we can shape the future of our country.  We must bring this national conversation back to Washington in order to ensure that the American people, and not the Enron executives of the world, make the key decisions that affect our economy, health care, the environment, and the other issues facing our country.

Grassroots Question #3: If you become President, will you promise in the first place 90 days of your administration to convene a summit of leaders of GSOP and similar grassroots organizations nationally to explore how such groups might play expanded roles in addressing the serious socio-economic issues that face our communities, our nation, and our world?

While it is difficult for me to be able to precisely set out the schedule for the first 90 days of my administration, I will certainly communicate with ordinary Americans and the grassroots organizations that emanate from schools, unions, religious institutions, and other parts of our communities.

I will ensure that special interests will not dominate Washington as they do now. Theodore Roosevelt said it best: Every special interest is entitled to justice full, fair, and completebut not one is entitled to a vote in Congress, to a voice on the bench or to representation in any public office.  My Administration will be devoted from the start to focusing on the voices and viewpoints of the American people and not the lobbyists and elites that make up the driving force in Washington.