Patriotism wears no political label. In service to others and in sacrifice for our country, there are no Republicans and there are no Democrats - there are only Americans.

America is based on simple principles: everyone should have the same opportunity to get ahead, and everyone has a responsibility to give something back. Since September 11, Americans have been searching for ways to contribute to our country. Yet during this time, we have seen cuts to national service programs like AmeriCorps and broken promises about "armies of compassion."

John Kerry and John Edwards believe that even as we fight to build an America stronger at home and safer in the world, we should all take heed of what Robert Kennedy once said: "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

John Kerry and John Edwards will tap into the idealism and ingenuity of our national spirit and call on all Americans to work together to build a stronger America.

John Kerry and John Edwards will:

Engage 200,000 Americans A Year In "Service For College"
John Kerry and John Edwards will offer a simple deal to hundreds of thousands of America's young people: if you will serve for two years in one of America's toughest and most important jobs, we will cover four years of tuition at a typical public university.

Engage 300,000 College Students A Year In Helping Our Children Learn
John Kerry and John Edwards will call on America's college students to join a national crusade to help America's children succeed in school and get to college. In return for their service, our young people will receive up to $2,000 per year to pay for college.

Pay For College And Service By Letting The Market Set Rates For Loans
Today's student loan program effectively guarantees billions in profits to banks at the expense of American taxpayers. John Kerry and John Edwards will introduce market forces to overhaul guaranteed student loans, saving taxpayers billions without charging students a penny more. Their plan will reward lenders with low costs and high-quality service - not political clout.

Engage Seniors In Service To Build A Stronger America
To help strengthen future generations of Americans, we need our seniors' help. John Kerry and John Edwards support existing programs that offer avenues for senior volunteer service and they will support innovative new models that create even more opportunities for seniors to serve their communities. When seniors spend time tutoring they free up over-strained teachers to teach, and children get extra help learning. And older Americans can help other seniors in ways no other Americans can.

Paid for and authorized by Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.