Thursday
Jul092009
Youth Have Key Role To Play In America's Future, Say Top Democrats
Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 9:06AM
The younger generation has a key role to play in the fight to pass health care and climate legislation said prominent Democrats to students Wednesday. President Bill Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spoke at the Campus Progress National Conference, which brought together over 1,000 progressively minded students from across the United States.
President Clinton said America's youth "cannot just sit on the sidelines" of politics and must focus on the "how" when it comes to energy, health care and education policy.
"The answer can not just be more money...you have to look at the delivery system...Your life will be shaped by America's success of failure to do that," the former President said.
"These are mind numbingly difficult problems" he said, "[But] America works when we are all sort of stumbling in the right direction."
Speaker Pelosi praised student activists groups from across the country for the lobbying they have done in order to promote the Democrats' agenda. The Speaker said she was encouraged by the increase in youth mobilization and urged how imperative it is to passing new legislation.
"I have so much confidence in the future," she said.
Secretary Sebilius also spoke to the students about the importance of their participation in the health care reform debate.
"Not doing anything is not an alternative," she said.
Through the administration's proposed health care reform, "we have an opportunity to not only increase the health of America but also the wealth of the nation" said the Secretary.
Among other speakers at the conference were White House Green Jobs Special Adviser Van Jones, Daily Show Correspondent John Oliver and pop star Joel Madden.
"Do you know who inspires him [President Obama]? You," said Jones to the delighted crowd.
President Clinton said America's youth "cannot just sit on the sidelines" of politics and must focus on the "how" when it comes to energy, health care and education policy.
"The answer can not just be more money...you have to look at the delivery system...Your life will be shaped by America's success of failure to do that," the former President said.
"These are mind numbingly difficult problems" he said, "[But] America works when we are all sort of stumbling in the right direction."
Speaker Pelosi praised student activists groups from across the country for the lobbying they have done in order to promote the Democrats' agenda. The Speaker said she was encouraged by the increase in youth mobilization and urged how imperative it is to passing new legislation.
"I have so much confidence in the future," she said.
Secretary Sebilius also spoke to the students about the importance of their participation in the health care reform debate.
"Not doing anything is not an alternative," she said.
Through the administration's proposed health care reform, "we have an opportunity to not only increase the health of America but also the wealth of the nation" said the Secretary.
Among other speakers at the conference were White House Green Jobs Special Adviser Van Jones, Daily Show Correspondent John Oliver and pop star Joel Madden.
"Do you know who inspires him [President Obama]? You," said Jones to the delighted crowd.
Reader Comments (1)
If you, as opponents to the much-needed, long overdue health care reform, get lost in the deep, steep mountains, or if you are drowning in the water by all your fault, the rescue team run by government will lift you out of such critical status at the huge cost of tax-payer's money as a human life and health can never be exchanged with anything on earth.
And it may be a major roll of government to protect people from any dangers and that's why every modernized state has public 'shared responsibility' policy in place, I guess.
Those who have a different view over this reform, Please keep what you like and respect the others' choice and diversity that the U.S. is proud of on the basis of democracy.