GORE: After two terms of the Bush- Cheney administration, to change the direction of our country. In looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000. Take it from me, elections matter.
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If you think the next appointments to our Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter.
If you live in the City of New Orleans, you know that elections matter.
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If you or a member of your family are serving in the active military, the National Guard or Reserves, you know that elections matter.
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If you're a wounded veteran, you know that elections matter.
If you lost your job, if you're struggling with your mortgage, you know that elections matter.
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If you care about a clean environment, if you want a government that protects you instead of special interests, you know that elections matter.
If you care about food safety, if you like a T on your BLT, you know that elections matter.
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If you bought poisoned lead-filled toys from China or adulterated medicine made in China, if you bought tainted pet food made in China, you know that elections matter.
After the last eight years, even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter.
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And this election matters more than ever because America needs change more than ever. After eight years of lost jobs and lower wages, we need change. After eight years of incompetence, neglect and failure, we need change. After eight years in which our constitution has been dishonored and disrespected, we need change.
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After eight years of the worst, most serious foreign policy mistakes in the entire history of our nation, we need change.
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In September of 2002, I argued strongly that the invasion of a country that had not attacked us would be a mistake and would divert attention, resources and resolve from the effort to track down and capture those who had attacked us. I argued that the occupation of Iraq would be dangerous and harmful for our country.
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To those who still do not understand that the withdrawal of troops from the search for bin Laden in order to launch a misguided invasion of Iraq was a mistake, it's time to say we need a change.
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To those who want to continue making that same mistake over and over again indefinitely, it is important for us to say loudly and clearly with our votes this November, we need change. We intend to have change.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: We need change! We need change! We need change!
GORE: To those who want to continue borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf and burn it in ways that destroy our planet's environment, it's time to say we need change.
The future is ours not to predict, but to create. But make no mistake, we need to change our policies on climate. Not too many years from now, the next generation will look back at the decision we make this coming November and the policies we put in place in January of next year. Were we to ignore the warnings of the scientists around the world and look the other way as the entire North polar icecap melts before our eyes and the consequences we've been warned about unfolded, our children might then well ask, what were they thinking?
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I think we would know this change was coming if a new generation rejected this special interest politics of the past and the big money that fueled it and instead used the Internet to get small donations and unite Americans in a common effort to realize our common destiny.
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If we saw it coming, we would recognize it by the words hope and change.
