U.S. Congress candidate appears at Democratic Party meeting

Editor

jevans@pickenssentinel.com

SIX MILE - Congressional candidate Jane Dyer realizes you've never heard of her.

"You've never heard of me before because I've never been involved in politics," she said.

"There are people out there who want more of the same. We can't have that."

Dyer appeared at the monthly meeting of the Pickens County Democratic Party April 12, touching on the economy, health care and the war in Iraq.

Gas prices are a huge issue, Dyer said.

"Government has decided government shouldn't be involved," Dyer said. "We keep trying this and we keep getting the same results. The people are suffering. We owe tons and tons of money and the debt is out of control."

Alternative energy is just one of the reasons the Democrats need to win more seats in Congress, Dyer said.

"So we can change directions," she said. "The idea that we can stick with fossil fuel forever is ridiculous. We've got to change."

As gas prices increase, everything else will increase as well, Dyer said.

"Americans don't understand that this high cost of fuel is causing people to go out of business," she said.

Tax credits to oil companies must stop, she said.

"Mr. Bush is opposed to taking away the tax credits even though Exxon made $40 billion in profits," she said. "It's that kind of logic that has allowed the oil companies to drive everything and it's driving the workers right into the ground."

Dyer said the nation's businesses need to realize why they're successful.

"Business has got to do well for America to do well but you've got to have concern for your employees," Dyer said. "The workers are the ones that make you successful."

Americans can "solve any problem that faces us," Dyer said.

"First we have to figure out that there's a problem," she said. "Then we have to solve it. You can't just keep on doing nothing and if you choose the wrong thing, you can't just keep on sticking with it."

Health care shouldn't not be so complicated, Dyer said.

"The pharmecutical companies have a huge influence over the people in Washington," Dyer said. "Somebody's got to control this drug expense problem that keeps skyrocketing."

Her service in the military instilled a belief in national defense in Dyer, she said.

"We believe in a very strong military," Dyer said, referring to herself and her husband. "We've told the war in Iraq had everything to do with September 11. It had nothing to do with September 11.

"Osama Bin Laden is still alive and well," she continued. "Our number 1 enemy is him. We need to do something about that."

Military commanders believe there is no military solution to Iraq, Dyer said.

"If we had another problem in the world, we are not prepared to face it," she said.

Negotiations and peace talks should not be taken off the table.

"You cannot not just I'm not going to talk anymore," Dyer said. "(The war) is costing us hundreds of billions of dollars that could be on alternative energy, better schools, bridges that are falling apart. It could be used to get our people working on those jobs."

The state department should work with the people of Iraq on "the best solution we can possibly come up with," Dyer said. "Then (tell the people) 'You choose it, you take responsibility for it.'"

For more information on dyer, visit www.janedyerforcongress.com

The PC Democratic Party meets 8:30 a.m. the second Monday of every month at Six Mile Town Hall.