Caucusing and Questioning

As my civic duty, I participated in the caucuses yesterday. Being as it was my first time, I was a little apprehensive about the process. I did the work, read the position papers, visited websites, and listened to the ads. I was impressed at the amount of media coverage. The nation pretty much ignores Iowa except when they need corn, methamphetamine, or hogs. But alas, there were reporters from California and New York at my precinct meeting place. I want to know what the candidates are going to do for me. Me, personally. To enrich my life, help me out, whatever. I've read their views, but there are things that I wish I could ask them. What are you going to do to make it easier for me to get federal aid as a college student? I currently cannot receive gift aid because my parents (whom I do not live with, and whom do not support me) make too much money, I have been sexually responsible and am thus childless, am not married, and wouldn't do well in the military. What are you going to do so that immigrants--my friends and my neighbors--are able to lead successful, productive, and legal lives in this country? How are you going to decrease involuntary youth homelessness? What about our public schools? They need more funding, not funding taken away. The teachers need to be paid a living wage for their given educational achievements, the students need to be supplied with paper, textbooks written in the last five to ten years, and each student must have a desk. How will you raise the minimum wage to account for inflation? I would like to see a living wage paid to every worker--so that they can afford healthcare, rent or mortgage, reliable transportation, food, clothing, and a beer at the end of the week. What will you do to increase accountability for insurance companies to cover mental heath (reactive and preventative care) and mental disability? I want my social security. I refuse to work until I die. With the way social security is going, I will be. Do you have any short-term plans for aiding in this future crisis?

The reason that I caucused for Barack Obama was quite simple: he never discounted my opinions, abilities, intelligence, or power because of my age. Oftentimes, candidates focus on the middle- and upper-classes, Caucasians, families, and those entangled in corporations. But there are many just like me. In fact, it was estimated that 40-60% of the caucus-goers were first-timers (typically young, from a minority ethnic group, previously uninvolved, or poor). Take that, for strength.

Barack, I hope that our first time was as good for you as it was for me.