January 2006
What Does Obama Think? - Newspaper Article
The following article was published in the Daily Herald on January 18, 2006.
What Does Obama Think?
by Jill Jedlowski
Staff Writer
When given the floor Tuesday with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, Adam Florzak of Aurora asked when he could expect to receive his Social Security check.
The question drew laughter at the town hall meeting at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn because Florzak, 23, has some time to spare before the government starts cutting him checks. But for Florzak, there was a seriousness behind his query.
And that's why he came bearing a gift for the senator: a prospectus he authored called “Pact America: Practical Social Security Reform.”
Obama briefly glanced at the packet, teasing Florzak about his preparedness and saying he would peruse the document.
But in the meantime, he encouraged younger generations not to fret that they'll be left with nothing. He did not deny, though, that it will take work.
That work includes government willingness to help workers secure pensions they were promised. It also means helping Americans--especially those in lower income brackets--begin to save for the future.
Tuesday's question-and-answer session drew a crowd of more than 1,000. Vote tampering, the war in Iraq, health care, education and veterans benefits also demanded attention at the public sit-down.
Obama referred to the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill as confusing, wildly expensive and “the worst of the public sector and the private sector.”
As for schools, the nation is sorely lacking a serious education initiative, Obama said.
To keep this country globally competitive, education leaders and legislators must shift focus toward securing more funding, shrinking class sizes and encouraging early childhood education.
When talk turned to the war, Obama said it's a matter of how and when--not if--to start pulling out troops this year.
The senator told the audience his resolve on the matter was bolstered by a recent 10-day visit to the Middle East that he described as “eye-opening.”
An audience member, saying the Iraq invasion was based on “big lies,” asked Obama for insight into the region's religious warfare. Obama responded that such problems existed before the United States invaded, but that they deserve attention.
“We have helped to unleash and give expression to many of these religious factions in part, ironically, because we've been promoting elections,” he said.
Democracy in and of itself doesn't guarantee peace, he said. Showing Iraqis their votes need to be based on more than religion alone is an important goal in settling some of the Middle East conflict.
As for bringing troops home, Obama said a sudden withdrawal is not the answer. Iraqis must continue to be educated on a new way of thinking.
“They're going to have to make a decision that, in fact, peace makes sense and they want a unified government,” Obama said.
Naperville resident Stephanie Hughes came to Tuesday's meeting armed with questions about the country's voting system. Since electronic votes have been introduced, the system's integrity has been gravely compromised, she said.
Obama agreed that a secure voting system is the bedrock of democracy. He suggested those who are concerned about the lack of a paper trail reach out to local officials to make sure someone is being held accountable.