I hope to discuss 30 different issues and the positions of the candidates over the next 30 days before the election. My plan is to show my position, the Candidate’s position, and the Candidate’s actual history to instruct as to whether the candidate’s words match the candidate’s deeds.
So far the list of issues that I am considering includes (in no particular order):
1. Energy Policy – What should we do?
2. Taxation – What changes for what reasons? See post from October 6
3. Government Spending – Where do we need to spend more? Where less? – see post dated 10-8
4. GSEs and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac specifically – What should we do? – the above post includes this?
5. Global Environmental Concerns – What do they believe? What would they do?
6. Health Care – What do they recommend? What would they accomplish? see post 10-18-08
7. Borders/Immigration – Is there a plan? – see post from October 6
8. Citizen’s Rights – What needs to be done/undone? see post 10-18-08
9. Infrastructure
10. Job Creation
11. Foreign Policy – see post from October 4
12. War on Terror/Homeland Security
13. Social Security
14. Trade
15. Judicial Appointments
16. Crime and Punishment
17. Education – see post of October 3
What would you like to add? Hit the comment button and make your suggestions.
6 comments
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October 3, 2008 at 10:39 am
Christine
This may fit under citizen’s rights, but I think civil liberties are an important topic. To me, this means not just abortion and the global gag rule, gay marriage, gun control, and campaign financing, but also government wiretapping, the Patriot Act, and habeas corpus. I also would like to know where the candidates stand on signing statements and the powers afforded the three branches of government. I feel I have a basic understanding of where the candidates stand on these issues, but I don’t know how their views have changed (or not) and whether they would support specific policies to promote their views.
October 3, 2008 at 11:13 am
ttoes
Thanks, Christine. I had a number of those issues on my list for Citizen’s Rights but not all of them. When I get to that issue, I may just throw out a teaser or two and ask for comments to fill in the blanks.
Tom
October 3, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Marc Emelianenko
A great idea and I like the approach, especially what each has done vs. what he says he’ll do. I encourage prioritizing the issues and reducing their number in order to allow more depth of discussion on each.
Of those you’ve listed, perhaps some consolidations could be made. Many are connected in some way, but some of the most interconnected seem to be:
Energy Policy — Global Environmental Concerns
Borders/Immigration — War on Terror/Homeland Security – Citizen’s Rights (and Rights of non-Citizens)
Taxation – Government Spending – Social Security (and all entitlement programs)
Job Creation (and “destruction”) – Trade
Judicial Appointments – Crime & Punishment
Health Care – Education – GSEs – Infrastructure (role of Federal Government in all)
And I suggest adding the Military as an item — as a stand-alone or perhaps grouped with either Foreign Policy or War on Terror.
I look forward to participating.
October 3, 2008 at 7:39 pm
ttoes
Thanks, Marc. I will give consideration to your suggestion about consolidation, especially if it becomes too daunting a task, or if Harvest gets in the way.
Tom
October 5, 2008 at 11:01 am
Patrick
I like the format of the first two posts. It might also be informative to make some assumtions on what will get accomplished/enacted under the two prospective presidents. It is definitely important to discuss what the candidates would do were they able to write and pass their own legislation. The next few years , however, will see our president deal with a democratically controlled congress. In each policy area, how would McCain’s policies have to be tempered to receive congressional approval? How might McCain be able to temper the legislation that a democratic congress will write? Would Obama’s policy goals be emboldened when he no longer needs to appeal to those outside his own party to gain majority backing in Congress?
October 5, 2008 at 1:43 pm
ttoes
Very good point, Patrick. Like you I wonder just what of his agenda any President will accomplish. I do think one of the good things about our government’s design is the balance of power. Even when the executive and legislative branches are controlled by the same party, neither gets all that they want. Often the liberal Republicans or the conservative democrats find they have more power in such situations.
The really good news about this situation is that no President will be able to do all his opponents fear. Those who threaten to leave the country if ‘Socialist President Obama’ is elected and those who built a fallout shelter and safe room knowing that a President McCain will nuke Iran and North Korea are not likely to see their worst fears realized.