Day 7 - Davenport, Iowa

Using corn to fuel our cars has clearly paid off for Iowa. There is corn everywhere! Fields are planted from the edge of the roads to as far as the eye can see … and beyond. While it is not the best use of food nor a good strategy to save our planet, it does point out in a very physical way how an idea can take hold and transform life. As I drove, I kept thinking of how Jill’s plan to make the U.S. 100% renewable by 2030 will create similar changes to our cities and countryside. We already see plenty of wind machines and solar dotting the landscape.

The enthusiastic reception of 99% of the millennials I talked to at the University of Nebraska at Omaha this morning about Jill Stein canceling their debt convinces me that if we were to flood every campus and cafe with volunteers to distribute our leaflets and tell the same story, we could reach those 43 million debtors. Many of the students asked for extra leaflets and promised to broadcast to their social networks.

I simply ask students if they know anyone with student debt. If they say yes, it’s an easy sell. If they say no, I point out that 70% of their classmates have student debt and the average graduate will leave school with a $35,000 debt. And, of course, I tell them that the first thing Dr. Jill Stein will do if she is elected on November 8 will be to cancel 43 million student debts in January. Then I point out that it is all, literally, in their hands and remind them that people under 35 have always led societies to real change. I tell them how important it is for them to put this word out in their social network and, especially, on the Internet. I came away from UN-O glowing from my interaction with these bright, optimistic, hopeful young people. I swear, I’m not going to talk to anyone over 35 anymore!

And then, the cherry on today’s cake. We checked into our hotel in Davenport and there were 2 women, both millennials, behind the counter. One asked me if I planned to visit two local campuses. When I said I had to be in New York to support Jill on Monday, she said she would distribute the leaflets! I immediately gave her 400 from my car and pointed out that more could be printed by downloading the leaflet from this blog. It is truly amazing how hungry Americans are for a real alternative to what is being forced down their throats!