APRIL 16, 2004
GREENSBORO, NC
The dummy's guide to Elections 2004
Charles Haslam
Associate Editor
The election is about seven
months away. The players are
making themselves known and the
issues are hotter than ever. The list
below was compiled from CNN.com
and the Bush, Kerry and Nader web
sites.
President Bush will face tough com
petition for re-election from
Massachusetts senator John Kerry
and Independent candidate, Ralph
Nader.
Education
George Bush - As part of the "No
Child Left Behind" bill, Bush believes
that education should start early and
keep track of a child's progress, giving
detailed report cards to parents. (From
the Bush campaign website)
John Kerry - Kerry supports the "No
Child Left Behind" bill, but feels it can
be improved. Kerry believes that
schools should be judged on more
than just standardized test scores and
that schools that have high academic
standards should be rewarded. (From
the Kerry Campaign website)
Ralph Nader- Believes that stan
dardized testing should be disregard
ed as an educational-scoring tool in
the school system.
Economy
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WORLD &. NATION
George Bush - The Bush ticket sup
ports investing Social Security taxes in
stocks. During his last four years as
President he has signed two tax-cut
bills; however, more tax cuts seem
unlikely. Bush says that the 2001 and
2003 tax cuts have helped keep econ
omy going.
John Kerry - He opposes privatizing
Social Security and increasing the
child tax credit and feels that tax cuts
should be repealed for the wealthy He
believes in assisting small businesses
and training workers
Ralph Nader- Nader calls for a solid
retirement fund and increases in cor
porate taxes, tax stock, and bond
sales, also retaining the estate tax.
Nadar plans to fund public works proj
ects and amend trade pacts.
Iraqi War and Reconstruction
George Bush - Bush originally
declared war to oust the Saddam
Hussein regime. He was initially
opposed to U.N. involvement but
seems to be now warming up to idea.
John Kerry - Initially Kerry support
ed the war, but later said that Bush
misled the nation. In regards to the
Iraqi reconstruction, Kerry says that
the United States needs to involve
other nations more in Iraqi rebuilding.
Ralph Nader- Nader believes that a
faulty and fabricated rationale led to
the quagmire in Iraq. He calls for the
replacement of U.S. troops with U.N.
forces and speedier Iraqi elections.
Health Care
George Bush - Supports reducing
drug costs for low-income patients, as
well as introducing private sector com
petition to reduce costs. Bush sup
ports adding drug benefits to Medicare
and favors improving the current sys
tem over a government-based system.
He also favors placing limits on patient
lawsuits against HMOs.
John Kerry- His ticket plans to close
loopholes in the Medicare system and
use financial incentives to lower drug
costs. He wants to fund all health care
by withdrawing tax cuts and cutting
medical waste. By tightening rules on
drug companies, more focus would be
put on seniors and veterans. Also, he
wants to allow people buy to into
agovernment system that would be
funded by reversing tax cuts. Unlike
President Bush, Kerry wants to allow
patients to sue HMOs and collect
money for damages.
Ralph Nader - Challenges the drug
industry to negotiate for cheaper
drugs. Says a single-payer system will
fix the program's "precarious future."
Universal health care addresses
issues, lowers drug prices. He wants
to form a single-payer program with
full coverage for all and will attempt to
get insurance companies out of health
care administration.
Social Issues
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
George Bush - On abortion: he
opposes it except in cases of rape,
incest or to save a woman's life. On
gay rights - has proposed a constitu
tional amendment banning same-sex
marriage. Supports "don't ask, don't
tell" policy in the military and opposes
gay adoptions. >
John Kerry -On abortion: Kerry fully
supports a woman's right to an abor
tion. On gay rights: according to
cnn.com, Kerry is "against same-sex
marriage, backs benefits, rights for
same-sex couples; Favors allowing
gay men, women to serve openly in
military; Supports adoption by gay
men, women."
Ralph Nader - On abortion: Fully
supports a woman's right to choose.
He believes that the government has
no right to determine whether or not a
woman can have an abortion. On gay
rights: Nader supports same-sex mar
riages to ensure GLBT full equal
rights. In addition he favors abolish
ment of "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Both Kerry and Nader are attacking
Bush from every angle on their cam
paign websites. Kerry challenged
Bush to a monthly debate on March
31.
Bush has still not responded to the
challenge.
It looks like Election 2004 will truly
be an all-out dogfight.
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