Published: November 03, 2006 06:02 pm      

AIDS, poverty: We need political will

As a voter, in the final days of this fiercely contested election, I sometimes feel as though there is nothing that the parties agree on.

But somehow, in the heat of it all, both the Republican and Democratic parties came together to promote the ONE Campaign's new — ONE Vote — spot. The fact that they rose above their differences on this not only surprised me, but it reminded me what is at stake on Nov. 7.

On Election Day, like every other day, there will be over 1 billion people around the world living on less than $1 a day. But unlike every other day, my vote can set in motion something that will change that.

As one of the 2.4 million members of ONE, I have been working to make the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty a part of the election conversation. For the first time in history we have the resources and know-how we need to end extreme poverty.

All we need now is the political will to make it happen and that means we have to vote and hold our leaders accountable for the decisions they make.

I encourage my fellow voters to contact candidates and ask them what actions they'll take to help fight global AIDS and extreme poverty. Beyond the attack ads and partisan sparring filling the airways are the life and death decisions that our newly elected leaders will make on our behalf.

Fighting global AIDS and extreme poverty is something we can reach across party lines to do together, and it can make a better, safer world for us all.

Melinda Taylor

Princeton, WV