Nothing big, just more of John Edwards’ own brand of socialism from the Concord Monitor:

John Edwards says if he’s elected president, he’ll institute a New Deal-like suite of programs to fight poverty and stem growing wealth disparity. To do it, he said, he’ll ask many Americans to make sacrifices, like paying higher taxes.

Edwards, a former Democratic senator from North Carolina, says the federal government should underwrite universal pre-kindergarten, create matching savings accounts for low-income people, mandate a minimum wage of $9.50 and provide a million new Section 8 housing vouchers for the poor. He also pledged to start a government-funded public higher education program called “College for Everyone.”

First of all, just addressing the so-called “College for Everyone” plan. It’s impossible to be turned down for student loans unless you fail out of college. Everyone is eligible for them, regardless of income. Furthermore, if you are below a certain income level, you get state and federal funding already! However, what is wrong with student loans? People should have to pay for their own college. I am presently doing so.

We already have “College for Everyone”. I have not seen anyone who actually wants to go to college be turned down, everyone can get a student loan or 10. What Edwards actually means is “College for Everyone paid for entirely by the Government“. So basically, I will have spent thousands on student loans, but my tax dollars will now pay for everyone else to go for free. Thank you John Edwards.

Second, a minimum wage of $9.50? Can you say “Inflation”? Don’t think for a second that the price of products will not follow that minimum wage increase.

Third, “Universal Pre-Kindergarten”. I think people are getting out of hand with this “Universal” everything nonsense. Why not Universal Car Insurance, Universal Cell Phones, Universal Dell Inspiron e1505’s, or Universal Million Dollar Homes?

Fourth, matching savings accounts from the federal government? If that isn’t blatant redistribution of wealth, I don’t know what is. I mean, just come clean and say “I want to take money from the rich and give it to the poor, call me John “Robin Hood” Edwards”.

I don’t mean to harp on Edwards.. well, yes I do.. However, I can’t stand it when a politician’s answer to votes is simply by promising that, if elected, they will make the government pay for everything. Furthermore, his “College for Everyone” plan already happens in the form of student loans. Why on earth does the federal government have an obligation to send anyone to college?