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This editorial is not written with the aim to change anyone’s mind, but to help others make an informed decision on Election Day by discussing Barack Obama’s platform this week.

An editorial on John McCain’s platform will appear next week.

Obama has three high priorities: health care for all, ending the war in Iraq and Social Security reform.

He wants to create a national health plan to cover the uninsured. This plan would guarantee eligibility and offer coverage similar to the federal employee program, with affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles.

It would also require children to have insurance and expand eligibility for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

The plan would include disease prevention programs and revision of medical malpractice insurance.

Regarding the war in Iraq, Obama advocates an immediate start to the withdrawal of American troops, removing one or two brigades per month.

He supports a new constitutional convention to be convened under the auspices of the United Nations.

Finally, Obama opposes privatization of Social Security and pledges to keep Social Security and Medicare programs solvent.

He would amend federal bankruptcy laws and eliminate income tax for seniors who earn less than $50,000 per year.

While these three issues are at the forefront of Obama’s platform, the presidential campaign of 2008 has more issues that could guide the nation’s decision.

On education, Obama is looking for a new generation of dedicated teachers who are paid well.

He would provide merit pay for teachers based on their classroom success, not test score results, and he looks for equality in education for all students.

He wants to work to improve early-childhood education and reform the No Child Left Behind Act.

On immigration, Obama is an advocate for comprehensive immigration reform legislation that creates more secure borders and creates a path to legal citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States.

In regards to abortion, Obama believe it to be a woman’s decision whether or not to continue her pregnancy.

He also supports expanded stem-cell research, and he plans to repeal tax cuts for upper income earners.

The money saved from the repeal of tax cuts would help pay for the new health care plan.

As is always true when electing a president, we also have to look at the vice-presidential candidate.

Obama’s running mate is Sen. Joe Biden, who has represented Delaware for more than three decades.

This choice fills in some of Obama’s missing credentials, such as those on foreign policy, since Biden is a leading authority on the subject.

He is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

To learn more about the Democratic Party platform, as well as get further information on the above issues, you are encouraged to visit their Web site at www.democrats.org.

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