My name is Jodie Berseth, and I'm a 2002 graduate of UW-Eau Claire. Technically, I'm supposed to be an apathetic young person who doesn't read the newspaper and never votes.

Fortunately, that's not the case.

Until I heard Howard Dean speak last June, I had no idea why I should care anymore about the politics of this country. The Democratic Party has moved to the center, and it seems like no one is speaking to the average person. Special interests are running this country, and big money wins elections.

Howard Dean introduced himself, in the spirit of Paul Wellstone, as representing the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party." And he is. Howard Dean doesn't mince words. He is incapable of the political rhetoric that has turned off millions of voters. And he can win.

As governor of Vermont, Howard Dean balanced 11 budgets. He did this without sacrificing programs that have made his state an incredible place to live. Ninety-six percent of children under the age of 18 have healthcare coverage in his state. Renewable energy is a top priority. Thousands of acres of green space have been saved for future generations. Home visits are offered to every woman who has a baby. Parenting classes are available to those who need them.

As a candidate for President, Howard Dean wants to make health care available to everyone. As a doctor, he realizes this cannot be done quickly. Current programs would be expanded, small business owners could buy into insurance pools, and discounted healthcare coverage could be purchased by those who couldn't get it otherwise.

While Howard Dean was speaking out against the war in Iraq, other candidates were voting for it. While Dean was speaking out against No Child Left Behind, a massive unfounded mandate, other candidates were voting for it. While Dean was speaking out against the Patriot Act, other candidates were voting for it. There seems to be a pattern here.

Do we want a real Democrat running against Bush, or just a Bush-Lite?

Ever since I can remember, my parents have told me it was their goal to make the world a better place for me; that I would achieve things they couldn't. Things like being the first person in my family to graduate from college.

This county has always been able to pass a torch onto the next generation; one that burned brighter and lit the path for those small hands that held it. With each generation, we've been able to improve on past achievements. For the first time in this country's history, I'm afraid that won't happen. In just three years, the Bush administration has taken a budget surplus and turned it into a $3 trillion deficit. Bush led us into a war with a country that posed no imminent threat to us. He lied to us in the State of the Union Address. We've lost our moral standing with the rest of the world.

Howard Dean's campaign is about change. It's about saying "No" to special interests, and bringing strength back to the grassroots movement in this country. People are finding their voice again. People are becoming engaged in the political process.

Dean always ends his stump speech by saying, "You have the power to take this country back." Vote for Howard Dean, and give him the power to take back the White House for all of us.