The
Peace Candidate
Representative
Dennis J. Kucinich
A Brilliant Spark of Hope
"Just about every day of my life, I've met people who, because of fear and doubt, cut themselves off from the incredibly expressive power of the human heart. My effort to be elected President is not simply a campaign. With your participation, it becomes a movement to inspire the American people about the potential of our nation to create peace, while some believe there will always be war; to create healthcare for all, while some believe the resources for health care are beyond their means; to create economic opportunities and prosperity, while some believe poverty will always exist. So when you run into people who say "no chance," think instead about what you can do to help them believe that they have a chance to reach their dreams. With faith in ourselves and faith in our nation, we can create a new world."
We have
witnessed the current administration (and others prior) committing atrocity
after atrocity, severely misrepresenting the majority of America's people,
blatantly disregarding the environment and dangerously navigating Foreign
relations.
We feel it is time for a new script. It is clear that the actions of the United States President affect the entire globe. Therefore, it is critical that we rise up and elect a Conscious Leader - one that embodies a distinguished balance of practicality AND spirituality; spirituality in the sense of recognizing and honoring that every action affects the Whole, and practicality reflecting the knowledge and experience it takes to outline a path and bring about these shared aspirations! We have seen so much corruption at this point in the game, it is almost hard to believe that such a Leader even exists. However, we are proud to say, he does!
Having served 4 consecutive terms in Congress, Dennis Kucinich (Ohio Democrat) is currently the Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus - the largest Democratic caucus in Congress. Unlike the other democratic candidates for President, Dennis did not plan to run for this office. It was not his personal quest for power which motivated him, rather it was tens of thousands of emails, letters, and phone calls from people BEGGING him to run because he "represents a voice that no one else does."
This "voice" that touched so many people - giving us hope for evolution in the integrity of our leaders - was found in several articles that Dennis wrote in 2002, prior to any mention of Presidency, highlighting his impressive level of awareness and vision. As an ambassador of Peace, Kucinich's voice was also heard in the House of Representatives when he introduced House Resolution 2459 to Congress, calling for a Federal Department of Peace, headed by a Cabinet Level Secretary of Peace, as well as a Resolution to Ban Weapons in Space (a Space Preservation Treaty) Watch "Peace in Space & On Earth".
With regards to the war in Iraq, with wisdom and perserverance, Kucinich rallied 2/3 of the House Democrats to vote against the Iraq war resolution.
In his courageous "Prayer For America" Kucinich actively spoke out against the Bush administration's war and war rationale, including the misnamed "Patriot Act" and its outrageous measures of "Homeland Security."
In fact, let it be known, while other so-called Progressive candidates are asserting the need to INCREASE "Homeland Security," Dennis Kucinich is the ONLY presidential candidate who personally voted against the civil liberties-shredding "Patriot Act," and vows to cancel it once President.
Equally as vital, KUCINICH IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO ADVOCATES REDUCING THE PENTAGON'S MILITARY BUDGET. As the ranking Democrat on the House Reform Subcomittee on National Security, he wants to cut the "bloated" Pentagon budget by 15% and use these funds for education (state funded pre-K - college), public health care, environmental clean-up, urban infastructure, Social Security, veterans' benefits, and other pressing domestic needs.
KUCINICH WRITES:"...we are upon the threshold of a permanent war economy. The President has requested a $45.6 billion increase in military spending. All defense-related programs will cost close to $400 billion. Consider that the Department of Defense has never passed an independent audit. Consider that the Inspector General has notified Congress that the Pentagon cannot properly account for $1.2 trillion in transactions. Consider that in recent years the Dept. of Defense could not match $22 billion worth of expenditures to the items it purchased, wrote off, as lost, billions of dollars worth of in-transit inventory and stored nearly $30 billion worth of spare parts it did not need.Yet the defense budget grows with more money for weapons systems to fight a cold war which ended, weapon systems in search of new enemies to create new wars. This has nothing to do with fighting terror. This has everything to do with fueling a military industrial machine with the treasure of our nation, risking the future of our nation, risking democracy itself with the militarization of thought which follows the militarization of the budget."
None of the other Democratic candidates endorse CUTTING military spending! This is a wake-up call!!! America's military budget almost equals the military spending of ALL other countries combined! Any candidate that continues to prioritize military spending at the expense of social, educational, economic and environmental programs is severely misleading our nation and is certainly not a voice of the people.
We must rise up and take a stand - our nation's children need our voices.
The time is NOW and Kucinich is the ONLY one willing to make the crucial change in policy which the soul of our nation so desperately needs.
In fact, Kucinich is the ONLY democrat offering a truly stark contrast to Bush. Compare the Democratic Candidates.
Kucinich advocates the following:
*Full
withdrawl from NAFTA and the WTO
(he personally marched against the WTO in Seattle protests),
*Universal Health Care (modeled after Canada's system
- Medicare for all),
*Immediate agreement to the Kyoto Treaty (global climate change treaty),
*Breakup of energy and agricultural monopolies,
*Investment in alternative energy sources (including hydrogen, solar, wind,
and ocean) with the goal of 20% renewable energy by the year 2010,
*Repeal of the "Patriot Act",
*Creation a federal Department of Peace,
*Restoration of International Cooperation, beginning
with the ratification of numerous environmental and peace-protecting treaties,
*Funding for education Pre-K through College,
*Labeling of genetically engineered foods,
*Federal legalization of medical marijuana,
*Implementation
of a living wage,
*100% federal equality for gay and lesbian marriages and benefits
PLEASE NOTE: To cast your vote for Kucinich, you must register as a Democrat in order to participate in the Democratic primaries which are held state by state at different dates. The primaries exist so that we may vote our conscience and select the best possible candidate. Let's make our voices heard!
Millions
of people protesting the U.S. invasion of Iraq reveals a strong sense of unity
amongst global citizens dedicated to manifesting a new vision of peace.
We in America, have the opportunity to turn the tide in Global Politics, setting
a course for a bright and sustainable future.
"Sustainability = Peace."
-Dennis Kucinich
May each of us take part in bringing this collective Dream to Life, helping elect this Voice of the People.
Dennis
Kucinich has
been called: The Peace Candidate; The Progressive Candidate; The Green-Democrat.
Please visit his national website: www.kucinich.us
Read his Acceptance Speech for the 2003 Gandhi Peace Award
Dennis Kucinich audio + video resources
CRITICAL CHOICES: COMPARE KUCINICH
TO THE OTHER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES