increased number of temporary visas and the relaxation of immigration limitations and criteria in the effort to secure highly qualified labor at lower cost. Krassner is very aware of this issue and has promised big business today that he will work with them to make sure their labor needs are solved without prejudice to their interests and without any further prejudice to ‘our wounded and desperate workforce,’ as he called it. When prompted by questions from the media, he quoted thoughtful and compelling solutions such as a government funded program to relocate unemployed workers to where the jobs are, including housing buy-back and buy-in aids, significant tax breaks for corporations who choose to establish operations in high-unemployment areas, incentives for telecommuting work arrangements, and professional development programs for the unemployed, where corporations would be invited to participate and train their future workers in exchange for tax breaks. He also proposed tax incentives for corporations who hired young graduates and placed them in skill development or apprenticeship programs. Krassner said, and I quote, ‘the problem is that corporations don’t want to spend any time in developing their workers. They expect all new hires to come fully trained for the jobs they are getting. Corporate citizenship has become, for some time, just lip service. A demonstrated, yet often ignored fact remains that a corporation cannot sustain itself long term if the social environment and the health of the community around it are decaying.’”
The studio monitor rotated through pictures taken at the press conference, showing the charismatic Republican engaging with the press. Phil continued his summary, “Krassner proceeded in the same strong-minded manner to expose his views on healthcare reform. Healthcare reform has been an ongoing battle for many years, and Krassner’s presentation today dedicated ample time to address it. In his view, healthcare needs to undergo a process of, and I quote again, ‘dramatic simplification.’”
The screen shifted to show footage from the press conference. Krassner’s voice was bold and determined.
“We have a healthcare law that few people actually read, even fewer understand, and with a reported twelve million words on some thirty thousand pages, few will ever read. This is ludicrous. We need to simplify healthcare and build a system that allows people to just get care when they need it. Having developed a piece of legislation the size of a truck was a terrible waste of government money. The two things we do need to control in healthcare are simplification and cost. Do we understand why, if I want to have my cholesterol checked and I don’t have any insurance, the lab will charge me four hundred dollars? But if I go the next day and present my insurance card, the same test only costs $17.50. What’s really going on? How is that acceptable? Wouldn’t you want to find out? How much should cholesterol testing cost?” Krassner paused for a second, loosening his tie, then continued. “I believe in the core values of the Republican doctrine, and based on these values, I believe that we should preserve the unalienable right of the American people to access a healthcare system free of corruption and self-destructive greed. I believe we should look in the right direction when trying to fix healthcare, poverty, and illiteracy. We should go back to our core precepts, the precepts that have been at the cornerstone of our Constitution. Because here’s what’s happening: in the maze of healthcare costs that don’t make sense from one patient to the next, and in the wake of a multi-year effort to generate a twelve million word piece of legislation, we have become weary and unable to remember what we started fighting for. We are defeated.”
Applause and cheer erupted in the press room. The image faded, returning to Phil Fournier studio desk.
“Yes, they liked it a lot. Remains to be seen if Krassner, who some are already calling a radical, can secure the nomination from the Republican Party and win the elections after threatening openly a few big business interests.
“After today’s press conference, Krassner’s ratings spiked all the way to 41.5%. Definitely bold and willing to break patterns, Krassner’s resolve is aided by his personal wealth, making him less dependent on fundraising for his campaign success and less vulnerable to big business pressure. Speaking of breaking patterns, Krassner might have started his press conference attired in a formal business suit, but he ended up losing the jacket and tie and rolling the sleeves of his white shirt all the way to his elbows.