Dennis Kucinich outlines his future policies, programs
More coverage of Kucinich's appearance at Western Washington University, prior to the Seattle rally. Originally published in the Western Front
Dennis Kucinich outlines his future policies, programs
by Zeb Wainwright
November 11, 2003
When U.S. presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich walked onto the stage at Western's Performing Arts Center Friday, the audience erupted in applause that continued during his entire speech.
The cheering was so loud at times that Kucinich had to shout with a Kennedy-like passion just to be heard when he spoke about controversial topics, such as Iraq.
"This war is a moral calamity for the United States, and it's a fiscal calamity for this country," Kucinich said. "It has separated us from the world community."
Kucinich said young people, particularly college students, listen to what he says because they are still idealistic and believe the political system can change.
"I think young people appreciate my willingness to take on the system because that's what young people are supposed to do," Kucinich said. "When they see someone who is a presidential candidate who is willing to take on the system, they respond to that because it resonates with their own understanding of the failures of the present system."
Students for Dennis Kucinich organized the event because the organization felt Western students needed to hear his message, media coordinator Alana Ahern said.
"Basically, we want to bring the community and the school together," Ahern said. "All we care about is that people hear his message and hear what an amazing, passionate person he is."
Matt Wood, policy and legislative adviser for Western's College Republicans, said some of Kucinich's policies scare him.
"In a time when we need military to protect our freedoms, he's trying to handcuff our military," he said. "His idea is just to throw more money at the problem."
One system Kucinich said needs reform is health care, which is a topic many politicians do not like to address because of their ties to pharmaceutical companies. He said the current, insurance-based system needs to be replaced because it does not serve the people's interests.
"Most Americans understand this system is a rotten system," Kucinich said. "Insurance companies make money not providing health care. It's common sense. You want health care - you don't go to an insurance company."
Wood said Kucinich's policy on health care is not within the scope of the government's power.
"I would challenge (Kucinich) to show me in the Constitution where it says the government's job is to provide universal health care," he said.
Kucinich said he also wants to cut military spending because he believes it is unnecessary to spend more money on defense than the rest of the countries of the world spend on their militaries combined.
"I have a plan to cut this bloated, fear-propelled Pentagon budget, which is over $400 billion, by 15 percent," Kucinich said.
The budget cut would total $60 billion that Kucinich said he would use to fund child care.
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