COLUMN: Campaign 2000: Four men, one destination

Bill Bradley: A vision for a new AmericaBill Bradley: A vision for a new AmericaFrom Matthew Oresman's, "Guest Columnist," Fall '00 Bill Bradley: A vision for a new AmericaFrom Matthew Oresman's, "Guest Columnist," Fall '00Why have I, an average college student burdened with too many classes, too much work and too many other commitments to organizations and friends, decided to spend so much time and energy supporting Bill Bradley for president of the United States? This is the appeal of Bradley's message, especially for students. The former senator, Rhodes scholar, New York Knick and Olympic athlete has proposed "big ideas" to fix the nation's problems. Of any candidate currently in the race and of any who recently ran, Bradley has by far proposed the boldest set of plans to make America a better place, not just for some, but for all its citizens. At this time of prosperity, it is unacceptable that 45 million Americans are without health insurance and tens of millions more have to struggle to pay for it. It is unacceptable that 14 million children live in poverty and it is unfathomable that we live with 65 million unregistered handguns and that 13 children die every day because of guns. Bill Bradley has made proposals to provide health insurance for all Americans, eliminate child poverty and put an end to gun violence with the toughest gun control laws ever proposed by any presidential candidate. All of these plans are reasonable, cost effective and do not create excessive government bureaucracy. For students, the appeal toward Bradley is easily explainable. Bradley is creating a new dialogue on what it means to be an American and inviting all to join. Like FDR and the New Deal, Bradley is creating new opportunities to change the country for the better. Bradley answers for students the ethereal question, "the country would be better if?" with visionary ideas that a student untainted by cynicism and pessimism would offer. What Bradley proposes is a superior world that elevates all Americans to not only a better physical well being, but a mental and spiritual one as well. This kind of boldness and originality appeals to students, made evident by the sheer volume of students supporting Bradley. The 40 Penn students that went up this past weekend to campaign in New Hampshire are but a small example. This election is about believing once again in the American Dream, a dream in which every American prospers and no one gets left behind. Bill Bradley is the only candidate who has the vision to make this happen and the only candidate who has been bold enough to talk about the issues that matter most. Bill Bradley is the president of choice for those who are sick of settling for the lesser of political evils and want a leader who will bring this nation into a future where all Americans have the opportunity to prosper.