In an effort to add the slightest bit of clarity, and to prove once and for all that THEY ARE NOT THE SAME, I humbly offer the following, which is by no means exhaustive and in fact was compiled with a minimum of research.
The Issues:
1. JOBS & OUTSOURCING
Bush thinks "economic isolationism" is bad and that therefore outsourcing labor to foreign markets will encourage foreign firms to build plants here creating more American jobs.
http://www.georgewbush.com/Economy/Brief.aspx
Kerry wants to create incentives (cut taxes) for American companies to hire American workers. He also wants to cut taxes for middle class families to increase middle class income.
2. DEFICIT
Kerry plans to cut the deficit in half by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans (those making over 200k/yr). He also wants to form the McCain-Kerry Corporate Welfare Commission to reduce unnecessary corporate subsidies.
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/budget.pdf
Bush agrees with Alan Greenspan: "'I prefer lower taxes ... for economic reasons,' Mr. Greenspan told the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.) pressed the Fed chairman: 'Even if it makes the deficit worse and has this long-term negative effect on the national savings rate?' 'I am for lower taxes and lower spending and lower deficits,' Mr. Greenspan replied." I.E. he thinks that reducing the deficit will not strengthen the economy. He thinks that "Good luck" was responsible for the economic prosperity of the 90's not deficit reduction.
http://www.georgewbush.com/Economy/Read.aspx?ID=3029 http://www.georgewbush.com/Economy/Read.aspx?ID=3225
Kerry plans to cut the deficit in half by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans (those making over 200k/yr). He also wants to form the McCain-Kerry Corporate Welfare Commission to reduce unnecessary corporate subsidies.
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/budget.pdf
Bush agrees with Alan Greenspan: "'I prefer lower taxes ... for economic reasons,' Mr. Greenspan told the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.) pressed the Fed chairman: 'Even if it makes the deficit worse and has this long-term negative effect on the national savings rate?' 'I am for lower taxes and lower spending and lower deficits,' Mr. Greenspan replied." I.E. he thinks that reducing the deficit will not strengthen the economy. He thinks that "Good luck" was responsible for the economic prosperity of the 90's not deficit reduction.
http://www.georgewbush.com/Economy/Read.aspx?ID=3029 http://www.georgewbush.com/Economy/Read.aspx?ID=3225
3. IRAQ
The Bush position is clear, so I won't put too much here other than to say that Kerry wants to stabilize Iraq, train more Iraqi forces, and encourage the other UN security council and NATO nations to take a larger role http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0430.html http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/national_security/compare.html
5. EDUCATION
Kerry wants to establish an Education trust fund to ensure that No Child Left Behind actually works (i.e. that it's not just an unfunded mandate)He also wants to reward teachers that meet the higher standards and schools that turn around, increase after-school programs, and give a tax credit for college tuition.
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/education/
Bush Supports "school choice", wants to increase spending for job training, and private tutoring, and wants to measure results by testing.
http://www.georgewbush.com/Education/Brief.aspx
How's that for a brochure? ;-)
I won't pretend that I've presented the positions entirely fairly to both sides but I've given enough info to dispel any notion that they candidates hold the same positions. People may disagree as to how effective either candidate's policies (or proposed policies) are or will be, and one can still decide that they're voting for the "lesser of two evils", however as of now it is clear: there IS a choice to be made.
Finally, it took me less than an hour to find the above information, so anyone who is still trying to say that they're the same, or that Kerry has not defined his position on the issues, is either advancing an agenda, or not paying enough attention.
The Bush position is clear, so I won't put too much here other than to say that Kerry wants to stabilize Iraq, train more Iraqi forces, and encourage the other UN security council and NATO nations to take a larger role http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0430.html http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/national_security/compare.html
4. SOCIAL SECURITY
Bush wants to privatize retirement saving.
Bush wants to privatize retirement saving.
Kerry wants to strengthen the current plan and not use the SS trust fund to balance the budget. He also wants to expand healthcare so that seniors won't be forced to use most of their SS payments to cover medical costs.
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/health_care/seniors.html http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/health_care/medicare.html
5. EDUCATION
Kerry wants to establish an Education trust fund to ensure that No Child Left Behind actually works (i.e. that it's not just an unfunded mandate)He also wants to reward teachers that meet the higher standards and schools that turn around, increase after-school programs, and give a tax credit for college tuition.
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/education/
Bush Supports "school choice", wants to increase spending for job training, and private tutoring, and wants to measure results by testing.
http://www.georgewbush.com/Education/Brief.aspx
6. WAR ON TERROR
Bush created the Homeland Security Department, has recently created an "Intelligence Czar" and supported the Patriot Act. And of course there are the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also wants to increase Defense spending particularly on Missile Defense and things like UAV's
http://www.georgewbush.com/NationalSecurity/Brief.aspx
Kerry wants to increase international alliances, modernize the military (not sure what that means) , and decrease dependence on Middle Eastern Oil.
Bush created the Homeland Security Department, has recently created an "Intelligence Czar" and supported the Patriot Act. And of course there are the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also wants to increase Defense spending particularly on Missile Defense and things like UAV's
http://www.georgewbush.com/NationalSecurity/Brief.aspx
Kerry wants to increase international alliances, modernize the military (not sure what that means) , and decrease dependence on Middle Eastern Oil.
7. STEM CELL RESEARCH
Kerry supports it
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/health_care/stemcell.html
Bush "Supports Exploring the Promise of Stem Cell Research" but wants to "do so in a way that doesn't cross a clear moral threshold" apparently that means increasing funding for non-embryonic SCR and limiting funds for embryonic SCR. Bush however also notes that is the first president to fund embryonic SCR ( duh, I'm guessing neither Washington nor Lincoln funded it either) He also wants to encourage more private funding for embryonic SCR.
Kerry supports it
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/health_care/stemcell.html
Bush "Supports Exploring the Promise of Stem Cell Research" but wants to "do so in a way that doesn't cross a clear moral threshold" apparently that means increasing funding for non-embryonic SCR and limiting funds for embryonic SCR. Bush however also notes that is the first president to fund embryonic SCR ( duh, I'm guessing neither Washington nor Lincoln funded it either) He also wants to encourage more private funding for embryonic SCR.
http://www.georgewbush.com/healthcare/Read.aspx?ID=3226 http://www.georgewbush.com/healthcare/Read.aspx?ID=3226
How's that for a brochure? ;-)
I won't pretend that I've presented the positions entirely fairly to both sides but I've given enough info to dispel any notion that they candidates hold the same positions. People may disagree as to how effective either candidate's policies (or proposed policies) are or will be, and one can still decide that they're voting for the "lesser of two evils", however as of now it is clear: there IS a choice to be made.
Finally, it took me less than an hour to find the above information, so anyone who is still trying to say that they're the same, or that Kerry has not defined his position on the issues, is either advancing an agenda, or not paying enough attention.
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