Kucinich proposes New Deal-type programs, universal day care
Originally published in the Sioux City Journal
Kucinich proposes New Deal-type programs, universal day care
By Todd Dorman, Journal Des Moines Bureau
OTTUMWA, Iowa -- Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich said Sunday he would use New Deal-style programs to kick start the U.S. economy, while also slashing defense spending to pay for universal day care.
"This election is really about, and should be about, deep, fundamental change," said Kucinich, a congressman from Ohio, during the latest in a series of "Hear it from the Heartland" forums sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.
"As you can tell ... I'm not talking about trimming around the edges, oh no," Kucinich said, arguing that his long-shot presidential campaign's hopes hinge on his ability to draw sharp contrasts with President Bush's agenda.
He appeared before a crowd of about 150 likely Democratic caucus-goers on the Indian Hills Community College campus. Many wore Kucinich stickers and T-shirts. "Kucinich is not yet a household word, I understand that," he quipped.
"I think he speaks a lot of truth," said Judie Hoffman, a city council member from Ames who attended the forum. She hasn't yet picked a candidate.
Kucinich said, if elected, he would slice the Pentagon's budget by $60 billion, or what he said amounts to about 15 percent, to provide pre-kindergarten day care to all American children. He said he would slice the defense budget, in part, by canceling plans for what he contends are an unproven missile defense system and unnecessary new nuclear weapons systems.
Kucinich is also championing the creation of government programs that would provide health care and a college education to all Americans.
"People will say, well, that's going to cost a lot of money. Yes it is," Kucinich said. "I'll tell you where I intend to get the money ... This defense budget has just gone through the roof."
And Kucinich argues that efforts he would mount to "rejoin" the international community would make those new weapon systems unnecessary.
"As we do that, we don't have to be worried about being armed to the teeth," Kucinich said.
Kucinich said he would fire up the economy by pursuing a massive New Deal-style public works initiative to rebuild and repair the nation's highways, railroads, bridges, public schools and water systems. He argues such an effort, which he compared to the Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration, would create millions of jobs and revive an ailing industrial base, particularly steel makers.
The congressman also blamed the loss of industrial manufacturing jobs on free trade agreements, such as NAFTA. He argues those pacts have made it easier for large corporations to move jobs abroad and "crush" unions at home.
Kucinich said he would cancel NAFTA and pull out of the World Trade Organization, or WTO, if elected.
"There is no way to fix NAFTA but to cancel it and go back to bilateral trade," said Kucinich, referring to other Democratic hopefuls who have said they would renegotiate the trade pact rather than scrap all its provisions.
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