Economic and Social Fairness
This country is splitting into three pieces. As a result of the internationalization of the economy, the people at the top have never had it so good. The middle class is continuing to get squeezed by stagnant wages and rising cost of living. And we are in danger of creating a permanent underclass. We must reexamine our tax and trade policies and reinstitute notions of fairness, and also enforce our existing trade laws so that free trade becomes fair trade.
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Education
Education is the only way to level the playing field and provide all Americans with the opportunity to succeed. Jim is a product of public schools. Jim+óGé¼Gäós children attended public schools. So Jim has first hand knowledge of the wonderful job our teachers do, and the challenges they face. Testing and accountability are a good first step, but they are not enough to ensure a good education for all Americans. It is vital that we take the crucial next steps to improve academic achievement in American schools.
The testing and accountability included in No Child Left Behind are a good first step. Teachers and school districts must have access to the resources that are needed to implement the mandates placed on states by the No Child Left Behind law. It is vital that Congress fully fund the mandates of No Child Left Behind.
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Health Care
First by growing up in a military family and then as a consequence of having been wounded in Vietnam Jim has had the privilege of using the military health care system his whole life. The care and service the military provides is top notch. Jim believes that all Americans deserve access to some form of quality health care. Health care legislation should focus on providing people access to health care, not simply on corporate profits.
Reforming the Medicare prescription drug benefit should be a priority. The plan is a step in the right direction, but the benefit is confusing to consumers. By preventing Medicare from negotiating a discount the cost of the program is excessively high.
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Virginia needs a guy like Jim to be in the Senate who will focus on these things and has no desire to be president and not takeoff to Iowa or New Hampshire to pursue lofty ambitions, but who will put Virginians first.
Jim Webb for Senate.
The writer lives in Virginia