Online Chat
Berkshire School
April 2, 1998

[PatLeahy]  Hi - I just left the Senate where we were voting and I'm glad to be with you [I do my own typing so please excuse any mistakes]

[library]  I'm Nathan Minetti I'm in 7th grade. Do you think that we should help Cuba? why or why not.

[PatLeahy]  Nathan I heard you were asking about the weather. It is perfect. Almost 80 with blue skies and cherry blossoms. I'm still looking forward to being back in my own home in Vermont this weekend.

[PatLeahy]  Nathan I think we should help the people of Cuba. They pose no threat to us but our boycott has stopped medicine and needed food going to them. I think this is why President Clinton recently eased the embargo. *** Vermont (Vermont@170.222.44.68) has joined #Leahy

[Jennifer]  You can send a few more questions.

[Berkshire]  Hello Senator Leahy, my name is Evan Fowles and I have been working on a year-long project. My question is that do you view PGP or 128 bit encryption as a threat to national security from terrorists and other criminals?

[chat]  Hello, my name is Elisabeth Lauffer and I'm in the seventh grade at Berkshire Elementary School.I have a few questions on the issue on statehood of Puerto Rico. What is your view on the controversial issue? What problems might occur with the different culture and language? Do you think Puerto Ricans are in favor, and would Congress vote yes or no? Hi,my name is Heather Martel,I am14yrs old. My first question to you is- Is anything being done to stop the high-rate of drinking in our community's throughout Vt?

[PatLeahy]  I do not. PGP is readily available off the net for free and is now in a lot of programs. I am more worried that the US has blocked domestic production and export of encryption of real strenth and we will see the ones producing it being Europeans and Asian countries and not the US. Good question Evan

[PatLeahy]  Elisabeth the people of Puerto Rico should be allowed to vote on whether they want statehood, commonwealth or other .

[Berkshire]  Thank you,Senator

[PatLeahy]  Heather all of us in Vermont should work to stop teen age drinking. We should strongly enforce our drinking and driving laws but teen agers themselves should bring peer pressure on their fellow teens to stop drinking.

[library]  How come we trade with Russia and other Communist countries but not with Cuba? What is the President doing about that.(Nathan)

[mac]  Hi i'm Brian Hatch and I'm in grade eight and I was wondering what do you think a diffrent way we could have handled the problem with Iraq? What can we do to prevent future situations with Iraq?

[PatLeahy]  Elisabeth the House has voted to let PR make the choice - I don't know if the Senate will.

[PatLeahy]  It makes no sense to say we trade with Russia, China etc but not Cuba. I hope we take a more realistic view in the future.

[chat]  I have another question, about Iraq, like Brian's. Do you suppose that the UN has thought of the fact that, in his months of denial, Saddam Houssein moved the bombs? - Elisabeth Thanks,suppose the problem of student driving and drinking accidents increased,is there a law of a new age limit on student drivers,if so what do you believe the effect will be?

[PatLeahy]  Brian Iraq is a very difficult situation because Saddam is developing chemical and biological weapons. I hope that the inspections Kofi Annan has arranged work. Again it is something where all countries have a stake but not enough realize it. I have spoken to President Clinton about this many times.

[PatLeahy]  Elisabeth I am sure Saddam has moved some of the weapons and even some of the factories.

[mac]  This is Brian again What do you think is the fastest way to stop school violence?

[PatLeahy]  The age limit has to be set by the Vermont legislature.

[library]  How do we expect Cubans to revolt if we don't give them any weapons or ways to revolt?(Nathan)

[Berkshire]  (Evan) What laws are being passed or have already passed that deal with Spam on the internet and the people who send it?

[PatLeahy]  Nathan I think the Cuban people want to be able to raise their families, have homes and food and good medical care as do we. It isn't a question of leading a revolt but rather of having real contact with them. That is what brought down the Berlin wall and ended the Soviet Union. What are the 2 most negative prospects facing Vt people in your views?

[chat]  Is there a way for Washington to change Canadian border regulations so the guards could check for under-age people drinking while intoxicated?

[PatLeahy]  Brian I would give anything to know how to stop school violence. It is a developing sickness in our country and we must find better ways to stop it. Good family values help but all in society have a stake in this. I expect to spend a great deal of time this year talking to people for their ideas and I would like to hear yours.

[PatLeahy]  In Vermont we have many very positive things going for us. A clean environment, real sense of community, one of the lowest crime rates in the country. On the negative side is the need to create more jobs especially in the area you live in.

[mac]  How can we raise standards in rural public schools [Brian]

[library]  How do feel when you think of all the starving people in Cuba because the U.S. won't help them? (Nathan)

[Jennifer]  Please slow down on the questions to let Senator Leahy catch up.

[PatLeahy]  Brian we need the highest standards in schools rural and urban. We will compete with Europe and Asia for jobs and we are not doing as much in school as they are. In rural areas i believe the internet and interactive TV will help - but ultimately it depends on good teachers and students willing to do the work to learn.

[PatLeahy]  Nathan I thought I answered the question about Cuba - I oppose the embargo and voted against the embargo legislation [Helms-Burton].

[PatLeahy]  Re the Canadian border - we are looking at proposals to beef up checks on underage drinkers. My office was at a meeting last week to look at proposals and I will review them.

[library]  How come the U.S. keeps using land mines, but wants other countries to stop using them?(Nathan)

[PatLeahy]  Spam - there is software being developed to filter out Spam. I'm all for it and will use it!

[chat]  Happy Belated Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jennifer]  Senator Leahy is going to have to go back to the Senate floor soon for some more votes. How about just a few more questions?

[PatLeahy]  We should ban all landmines. I have told President Clinton I disagree with him when he says we can't give up ours - we are the most powerful nation on earth and we could easily give them up.

[mac]  Happy Belated Birthday Senator Leahy!! Berkshire School

[chat]  Ciao!

[PatLeahy]  Thanks for the Birthday greetings - I have had a couple fun parties and my wife and children have made me feel even younger.

[library]  What are we doing in space right now and in the future?(Nathan) Thanks alot,nice talking to you! Ciao and arriverderci From Beverly Youree-computer Coordinator. Thank you Senator Leahy for taking the time to chat with us today. And a belated Happy Birthday! *** chat (chat@170.222.44.93) has left #Leahy

[library]  Happy Birthday Senator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *** school (school@170.222.44.99) has left #Leahy *** mac (mac@170.222.44.101) has left #Leahy

[PatLeahy]  I am heading back to the Senate to vote - enjoyed being with all of you.

[Berkshire]  Thank you very much, happy belated birthday.