I read a report from a group of retired Military Leaders last week that sites stats released by the Pentagon that show 75% of young people ages 17-24 are currently unable to enlist. Most commonly because of a failure to graduate from High School, criminal record and physical fitness, i.e. obesity.
Mission: Readiness Military Leaders for Kids
http://www.missionreadiness.org/
Coupled with the Washington Post news story today, Top-secret America: A hidden world, growing beyond control, By Dana Priest and William Arkin, The Washington Post read more »
We had a great time at the Highlands Ranch Fourth of July Celebrations this weekend. Mayor Hickenlooper came out for a rally in the afternoon. Best part of my day: Everyone else was clamoring for a pic with the Mayor and then someone tapped on my shoulder. A teenage girl I just met asked to have her picture taken with me. It was so sweet and so sincere. I had to share the memory. I am looking forward to knocking doors and meeting more people.
I spent the weekend at Parker Days meeting people and getting to know some of the Douglas County Democrat volunteers who worked our booth. I have to say women are so supportive and it is so wonderful. Regardless of party, they will always shake your hand, smile back, or even ask you why you are running. I am not sure if people will ever know how much that means to me.
I was able to listen and talk to people and I remain convinced that people do care and do value services that the government provides to the public. They just want an effective government. We all want great schools for kids, smaller class sizes, and more effective services for those in need. There is an overwhelming feeling that all government dollars are wasted. The thing we can all agree on is if there is a wasted dollar, than I want it back too. Only I want it because we are not investing in the right issues. read more »
Early this year I was reading the paper and I happened to be reading an article about a bill that would require insurance companies to provide individual-market plans that include maternity and contraception coverage. I was absolutely in favor of the bill, my elected Senator voted against it, nevertheless it passed. That wasn't the part that caught my attention. It was the quote from my elected official in the paper.
"Why should the Harvey household have to pay for your mandate? If you want to pay for that care for other people, you pay for it. I don’t need to pay for it.”
It made me think, I don't want someone who views a community that way representing me. An elected official needs to be able to view issues from outside their own perspective. read more »
