Kerry/Edwards Economic Plan for Rural Americans

[Dover]

-- Encouraging Investment In Rural America through The GROW Initiative: John Kerry and John Edwards will create the Greater Rural Opportunity and Work (GROW) Initiative to bring venture capital and management expertise to small town America. Today, only a tiny fraction of loans and venture capital reach non- metropolitan areas. For example, only 10 percent of the money in the Treasury Department's community development fund enters rural communities. At the same time, entrepreneurs in rural America often are not given the expert start-up help that urban entrepreneurs receive. The GROW Initiative will provide strong support for rural development through several innovative efforts that help small businesses and manufacturers in small-town America.

-- Enabling Rural America To Compete With Universal High-Speed Internet: Today America has fallen to 10th in the world in broadband Internet. Many rural communities lack high-speed Internet, which is now a critical component in businesses ranging from biotechnology to sales. This means that it can be harder for a U.S. business to set up a satellite office in rural Missouri than in India. This makes no sense. High-speed Internet access is critical not only for economic development, but also for cutting-edge health and educational opportunities. Both Massachusetts and North Carolina have been leaders in extending broadband access to rural communities. Kerry and Edwards will build on these models and will ensure rural communities reap the benefits of new technologies such as high- speed Internet.

-- Investing In Energy Independence: Fueling Rural Economies: Investing in energy independence and renewable energy sources is critical to the growth of the rural economy and the security of our nation's energy supply. Instead of sending billions of dollars to unstable and often hostile regimes, we can divert that money back to farmers and Main Streets here at home. Renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel decrease our dependence on foreign oil. They also provide new revenues for family farmers, and can support the creation of high-paying manufacturing jobs as we build the new "biorefineries" needed to convert these crops into fuel. With the right leadership, farmers can have an array of "cash crops" around the country and stabilize rural economies as well as meet the growing demand for clean sources of electricity.

-- Support America's Farmers And Ranchers: John Kerry and John Edwards are committed to helping family farmers compete in today's global agricultural economy. They understand farmers must be given the opportunity to receive a profit from the marketplace. They will fight against concentration and vertical integration and for trade that works for America's family farmers.

-- Building Strong Rural Communities For Strong Rural Economies, including Fighting Methamphetamine: Rural communities will only be able to attract capital, investment, and job growth if these communities have a strong infrastructure-including good schools, good health systems, and low crime rates. Today, rural communities too often face shortages on all these fronts.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=111-08162004

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Wish that Kerry would support industrial hemp too

[havocmom]

2. We are lucky where I live. Broadband here before it was available in

many large cities! My home is in the town called by National Geographic as 'the most remote community in the 48 contiguous states' yet we had broadband access way before my family in Tucson, AZ could get it. The big difference? Our phone service is from a Co-op instead of a privately held corporation and a Republican senator who knows the value of the rural vote.

This is an area known for its far right political leanings, but we have to do a lot on our own as a collective. Big business just isn't interested in us as we are such a tiny market. Yet, our co-ops provide really good services and make a profit, which gets shared with all the customers of the co-op.

Not too hard to sell folks around here on the notion that big business is at the root of a lot of problems in America. With more info, and many here now get it from the internet, politics can change drastically. We need to remember that and target info dispelling the neocon myths and glamor and exposing their policies for the robber baron activities they are.

Glad Kerry/Edwards is reaching out to rural populations with their message. Rural America is not the red wasteland too many think it is.
If the Dems just stay off the gun control bandwagon, they might be surprised just how much support rural America could provide. Most of my neighbors have even participated in local religion/state battles and have slapped down the church attempts to encroach on the public schools.

Don't think you have all guys with gun-racks in their pickup trucks pegged. Believe me, they are not all the stereotyped crackers they are made out to be.