I am a writer, progressive activist, educated peasant, and owner of a dog named Roxie. I believe America's greatness is found in the ability of our working middle class to maintain our democracy, and to ensure that our national resources are allocated to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of middle America. I believe our wealthiest, most privileged citizens should pony up the extra resources needed to help our most impoverished citizens join our middle class. We should provide our children with world-class public schools that foster the kind of true learning that results in a citizenry that can think critically and act creatively. Every citizen should have access to the same basic health care, and no one should ever have to mortgage their home or go bankrupt paying for it. Our elections should be controlled by our people, and not by the private companies who seek to profit from recording and counting our votes. I have no patience for people who think they are patriotic because they wear flag lapel pins and slap magnetic "Support Our Troops" stickers on their cars. Like Michelle Obama, our new first lady, my current project is to make sure my kid has her head on straight.