The past three days have supplied three excellent examples of John Edwards's commitment to put people before profits. These examples are not completely new themes, but variants of topics he has long addressed. They illustrate the proactive, substantive approach he chooses to emphasize in dealing with real issues and problems. Each shows that, for him, the people's interest will come before the interests of a corporation. John Edwards truly cares about the public welfare as it affects the average person, here in America and across the globe. John Edwards, "professional populist," is a champion of people everywhere.
Perhaps Elizabeth Edwards, with reference to his career as a "professional populist," helps to explain where John Edwards's emphasis on people before profits largely comes from:
"Every single day," says his wife, Elizabeth, "what he saw, were good people, in great need, who were being mistreated by big corporations. Corporations that knew that they had done wrong, and often insurance companies that were taking a calculated risk going to trial – though they quit doing that with him after awhile. And that’s what he did. He went to work every single day, and that’s what he did. He did nothing else, except that. If you took that person, a person who chose that as his life, you would end up with the politics that he’s talking about today."
Ezra Klein's blog, which quotes Elizabeth Edwards, is well worth a complete read, as it reinforces the message that for John Edwards, it's all about people before profits.
Here's the link:
http://www.prospect.org/...
With all this in mind, let's look at the recent examples.
1. Bush's Open-highways Initiative:
This would allow Mexican trucks to travel freely within the United States, and is expected to go into effect this week, unless blocked by the Department of Transportation's Inspector General.
Edwards's statement, in part, said:
"Multinational corporations and their Washington lobbyists greased the way to extend NAFTA onto American highways and streets, without regard for the impact on the environment or on the safety of America’s workers and families. . . . Mexican diesel trucks will not be required to meet the stricter emissions standards of states like California."
"Our trade policies should put workers and families first. Opening America's highways to Mexico's long-haul diesel trucks puts American jobs and safety at risk. The Department of Transportation has the power to block the program. I urge them to use it."
http://johnedwards.com/...
2. Mattel Toy Recall:
Because of dangerous levels of lead paint, Mattel issued another major recall, it's third in less than a month.
Edwards's statement, in part, said:
"We can no longer rely on the toy industry to initiate voluntary recalls – safety must be our highest priority. . . . With more than 100 different products now subject to recalls, Mattel has lost control of the quality of the millions of toys it has manufactured in China every year. If the company can't ensure the safety of the children's toys it is selling to families, our government must do it for them.
"Mattel's willful flaunting of its obligation to alert the Consumer Product Safety Commission of product dangers in a timely fashion demonstrates that this company and our safety system of voluntary inspections can no longer be trusted.
"Rather than wait for a broken Washington system to act, the president must end his silence, stand up, and lead. President Bush must order Consumer Product Safety Commission inspectors to Mattel's warehouses and collect samples of its full product lines and test each and every one of them for lead paint. If necessary, the president should call on testing resources from the FDA and other agencies to manage this crisis that is threatening the very health of our children.
"Given the growing scope of this crisis, we clearly can no longer rely on corporations to initiate recall after recall while our government sits on the sidelines. America's families and our children deserve better than a broken system that is rigged to protect big corporations and profits, at the expense of our children's health."
http://johnedwards.com/...
UPDATE: Thanks to okamichan13, I am advised that Edwards also has a very detailed Six-Point Plan to Protect American Children from Dangerous Products.
3. Plan to Protect Miners and Improve Mine Safety
With regard to the Senate holding a hearing on mine safety, Edwards released a plan to improve mine safety and protect American miners and promised he would hire leaders at the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to transform the agency from apologist for mine owners to its intended role as aggressive protector of mine safety.
"Washington isn't working for working Americans. "Rather than . . . protect America's miners, it has relied on voluntary measures and inadequate half steps. . . . [T]he agencies charged with protecting them have been staffed with industry lobbyists and insiders. When it comes to worker safety, we cannot compromise with the mine owners and Washington insiders who represent their interests."
. . . In the last 20 months, 71 coal miners and 48 metal non-metal miners have been killed on the job.
. . .
As part of his plan to make miners safer, Edwards will:
Prevent Accidents by requiring stronger mine seals, imposing stricter standards for conveyor belts to reduce the risk of sparks and mandating methane monitoring to prevent fires, explosions and toxic inhalation.
Improve Emergency Systems to state of the art immediately, strengthen the MSHA's ability to act in the event of an emergency, and make sure they use their authority to protect lives and support miners' families.
Eradicate Black Lung Disease with new limits on coal dust and stricter monitoring requirements that would eliminate black lung disease in American mines once and for all.
Strengthen Enforcement by helping to retain experienced inspectors and train new ones, by appointing leaders who restore the agency's original purpose and by increasing penalties for the worst safety violations to deter mine owners from cutting corners.
Help Injured Workers by undertaking a comprehensive national study of the workers compensation system and using the bully pulpit of the White House to urge states to create a fair and rational system that provides clear timelines and options for injured workers.
Give More Miners a Collective Voice for Safety by strengthening federal labor laws to make it easier for workers to join a union and collectively bargain for better working conditions.
A detailed fact sheet outlining Edwards's plan to protect miners and improve mine safety can be found here:
http://johnedwards.com/...
Of course, many here know of Edwards's commitment. But if you don't, check out his web site and get a feel for what he deems is important and how he will address these and other matters from universal health care, to fighting poverty and global warming, ending the Iraq War, and more.
I hope the above has helped inform or provide a window to further discoveries about a dedicated leader who offers transformational change that puts people before profits.
And if you are so moved, here's a place to contribute.