The Latest Signs Ashley Judd Is Preparing Run Against Mitch McConnell

[magical thyme]

35. there are many ways to serve the public

and while it stinks that the privileged don't have to work their way up from the bottom tiers, that is true in all facets of life.

On the other hand, Judd apparently has been active in numerous humanitarian causes and did get a degree in public administration a few years ago. From wiki:

Ashley Judd's humanitarian work has revolved around becoming a global ambassador for YouthAIDS, a prevention program under Population Services International. She has been a member of their Board of Directors since 2004, also. Judd has travelled with YouthAIDS to places affected by illness and poverty such as Cambodia, Kenya, Rwanda, and many others.[27]
Inspired by her travels, which allowed her to witness the life of the poor and uneducated, she has since become an advocate for preventing poverty and promoting awareness internationally. She has met with political and religious leaders, heads of states, diplomats, and leaders on behalf of the deprived to convey the message to those who have the power to bring about political and social change.[27]
Judd has also narrated three documentaries for YouthAIDS which aired internationally on the Discovery Channel, in National Geographic, and on VH1.
In 2011, Judd joined the Leadership Council of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW).[28]
Other organizations Judd has been involved with include Women for Women International and Equality Now, along with other non-governmental organizations that center around bringing attention to social, educational, health, economic, cultural and financial funding of the unfortunate.[27]

Judd has supported the following charities and foundations:[29]
Children's Medical Research Institute
Creative Coalition
Defenders of Wildlife
Eracism Foundation
Five & Alive
Jeans for Genes
International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
Listen Campaign
Malaria No More
Population Services International
SixDegrees.org
YouthAIDS
Women for Women International
Equality Now
San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center

Judd is active in humanitarian and political causes. She was appointed Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS, an education and prevention program of the international NGO Population Services International (PSI), promoting AIDS prevention and treatment. Judd was honored November 10, 2009 as the recipient of the fourth annual USA TODAY Hollywood Hero, awarded for her work with PSI.[33] On October 29, 2006, Judd appeared at a "Women for Ford" event for Democratic Tennessee Senate candidate Harold Ford, Jr. She has also campaigned extensively locally and nationally for a variety of Democratic candidates, including President Barack Obama in critical swing states.
On September 8, 2010, CNN interviewed Judd about her second humanitarian mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo.[34] Judd traveled with the Enough Project, a project to end genocide and crimes against humanity. In the interview, Judd discussed her efforts to raise awareness about how conflict minerals fuel sexual violence in Congo. During her trip, Judd visited hospitals for victims of sexual violence, camps for displaced persons, mines, and civil society organizations. On September 30, 2010, cnn.com published an op-ed titled "Ashley Judd: Electronics fuel unspeakable violence"[35] by Ashley Judd and Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast regarding the continued violence in Congo. Her op-ed discussed the recent provision in the Dodd-Frank Reform bill that requires companies to prove where their minerals originated. On November 26, 2010, The Huffington Post published an op-ed by Ashley Judd titled "Costs of Convenience".[36] The op-ed is excerpted from Ashley Judd's trip diary from her trip to eastern Congo. Judd describes the link between her cell phone, laptop, MP3 player and e-reader and the continued rape and sexual violence in Congo. Judd also explains the immediate need for electronics companies to commit to tracing, auditing, and certifying the minerals in their products to guarantee a clean supply chain.
Judd again supported Democrats in the 2012 elections, endorsing President Barack Obama for re-election. She represented Tennessee as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.