We all want the same things in life. We want freedom; we want
the chance for prosperity; we want as few people suffering as
possible; we want healthy children; we want to have crime-free
streets. The argument is how to achieve them…
Party Q’s believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity
and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to help the
poor and to protect civil rights and individual and human rights.
Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no
one is in need. Party B policies generally emphasize the need for
the government to solve our problems.
Party Z’s believe in personal responsibility (get a job and work
hard), limited government, less laws, free markets (ability to buy
and sell without the government making rules or taxing
businesses.). Party A believes in individual liberty, traditional
American values and a strong national defense. Party A believes
the role of government should be to provide people the freedom
necessary to pursue their own goals. Party A policies generally
emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.
Death Penalty
Party L
The death penalty should be abolished. It is inhumane and is ‘cruel
and unusual’ punishment. Imprisonment is the appropriate
punishment for murder. Every execution risks killing an innocent
person.
Party M
The death penalty is a punishment that fits the crime of murder;
it is neither ‘cruel’ nor ‘unusual.’ Executing a murderer is the
appropriate punishment for taking an innocent life.
Economy
Party D
A market system in which government regulates the economy is
best. That means the Government taxes successful businesses more
to provide more services to the poor. This party believes that the
government must protect citizens from the greed of big business.
Unlike the private sector, the government is motivated by public
interest. Government regulation or rules through taking money
from each paycheck in our paychecks is needed to level the playing
field. The Government must tax the more wealthy and create
programs to give to the poor.
Party K
The free market system, (or ability to buy and sell without
government rules) creates the greatest opportunity and the highest
standard of living for all. Free markets produce more economic
growth, more jobs and higher standards of living than those
systems burdened by excessive government regulation.
Energy
Party P
Oil is a depleting resource. Other sources of energy must be
explored. The government must produce a national plan for all
energy resources and subsidize (partially pay for) alternative
energy research and production. Support increased exploration of
alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power. Support
government control of gas and electric industries.
Party M
Oil, gas and coal are all good sources of energy and are abundant
in the U.S. Oil drilling should be increased both on land and at
sea. Increased domestic or (Here in USA) production creates
lower prices and less dependence on other countries for oil.
Support increased production of nuclear energy. Wind and solar
sources will never provide plentiful, affordable sources of power.
Support private ownership of gas and electric industries.
Global Warming/Climate Change
Party Y
Global warming (ruining of our environment) is caused by an
increased production of carbon dioxide through the burning of fossil
fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). The U.S. is a major contributor
to global warming because it produces 25% of the world’s carbon
dioxide. Proposed laws to reduce carbon emissions in the U.S. are
urgently needed and should be enacted immediately to save the
planet. Many reputable scientists support this theory.
Party H
Change in global temperature is natural over long periods of time.
Science has not shown that humans can affect permanent change to
the earth’s temperature. Volcanoes cause more pollution than
factories. Proposed laws to reduce carbon emissions from factories
will do nothing to help the environment and will cause significant
price increases for all. Many reputable scientists support this
theory.
Gun Control
Party O
The Second Amendment does not give citizens the right to keep
and bear arms, but only allows for the state to keep a militia
(National Guard). Individuals do not need guns for protection; it is
the role of local and federal government to protect the people
through law enforcement agencies and the military. Additional gun
control laws are necessary to stop gun violence and limit the ability
of criminals to obtain guns. More guns mean more violence.
Party T
The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to keep and bear
arms. Individuals have the right to defend themselves. There are
too many gun control laws – additional laws will not lower gun crime
rates. What is needed is enforcement of current laws. Gun
control laws do not prevent criminals from obtaining guns. More
guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens mean less crime.
Full text of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “A
well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed.”
Healthcare
Party B
Support free or low-cost government controlled health care.
There are millions of Americans who can’t afford health care and
are deprived of this basic right. Every American has a right to
affordable health care. The government should provide equal
health care benefits for all, regardless of their ability to pay.
Party A
Support competitive, free market health care system. All
Americans have access to health care. The debate is about who
should pay for it. Free and low-cost government-run programs
(socialized medicine) result in higher costs and everyone receiving
the same poor-quality health care. Health care should remain
privatized. The problem of uninsured individuals should be
addressed and solved within the free market healthcare system –
the government should not control healthcare.
Homeland Security
Party B
Airport security – Passenger profiling is wrong, period. Selection
of passengers for extra security screening should be random.
Using other criteria (such as ethnicity) is discriminatory and
offensive to Arabs and Muslims, who are generally innocent and
law-abiding. Terrorists don’t fit a profile.
“…Arabs, Muslims and South Asians are no more likely than whites
to be terrorists.” (American Civil Liberties Union ACLU)
Asked on 60 Minutes if a 70-year-old white woman from Vero
Beach should receive the same level of scrutiny as a Muslim from
Jersey City, President Obama’s Transportation Secretary Norman
Mineta said, “Basically, I would hope so.”
Party A
Airport security – Choosing passengers randomly for extra security
searches is not effective. Rather, profiling and intelligence data
should be used to single out passengers for extra screening. Those
who do not meet the criteria for suspicion should not be subjected
to intense screening. The terrorists currently posing a threat to
the U.S. are primarily Islamic/Muslim men between the ages of 18
and 38. Our resources should be focused on this group. Profiling
is good logical police work.
“If people are offended (by profiling), that’s unfortunate, but I
don’t think we can afford to take the risk that terrorism brings to
us. They’ve wasted masses of resources on far too many people
doing things that really don’t have a big payoff in terms of
security.” – Northwestern University Aviation Expert, A.Gellman.
Immigration
Party G
Support legal immigration. Support amnesty for those who enter
the U.S. illegally (undocumented immigrants). Also believe that
undocumented immigrants have a right to:
— all educational and health benefits that citizens receive
(financial aid, welfare, social security and medicaid), regardless of
legal status.
— the same rights as American citizens. It is unfair to arrest
millions of undocumented immigrants.
Party S
Support legal immigration only. Oppose amnesty for those who
enter the U.S. illegally (illegal immigrants). Those who break the
law by entering the U.S. illegally do not have the same rights as
those who obey the law and enter legally. The borders should be
secured before addressing the problem of the illegal immigrants
currently in the country. The Federal Government should secure
the borders and enforce current immigration law.
Private Property
Party R
Government has the right to use eminent domain (seizure of private
property by the government–with compensation to the owner) to
accomplish a public end.
Party X
Respect ownership and private property rights. Eminent domain
(seizure of private property by the government–with compensation
to the owner) in most cases is wrong. Eminent domain should not
be used for private development.
Religion & Government
Party B
Support the separation of church and state. The Bill of Rights
implies a separation of church and state. Religious expression has
no place in government. The two should be completely separate.
Government should not support religious expression in any way. All
reference to God in public and government spaces should be
removed (eg., the Ten Commandments should not be displayed in
Federal buildings). Religious expression has no place in government.
Party A
The phrase “separation of church and state” is not in the
Constitution. The First Amendment to the Constitution states
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” This prevents the
government from establishing a national church/denomination.
However, it does not prohibit God from being acknowledged in
schools and government buildings. Symbols of Christian heritage
should not be removed from public and government spaces (eg., the
Ten Commandments should continue to be displayed in Federal
buildings). Government should not interfere with religion and
religious freedom.
War on Terror/Terrorism
Party B
Global warming, not terrorism, poses the greatest threat to the
U.S., according to Democrats in Congress. Terrorism is a result
of arrogant U.S. foreign policy. Good diplomacy is the best way to
deal with terrorism. Relying on military force to defeat terrorism
creates hatred that leads to more terrorism. Captured terrorists
should be handled by law enforcement and tried in civilian courts.
Party A
Terrorism poses one of the greatest threats to the U.S. The
world toward which the militant Islamists strive cannot peacefully
co-exist with the Western world. In the last decade, militant
Islamists have repeatedly attacked Americans and American
interests here and abroad. Terrorists must be stopped and
destroyed. The use of intelligence-gathering and military force
are the best ways to defeat terrorism around the world. Captured
terrorists should be treated as enemy combatants and tried in
military courts.
Social Security
Party B
The Social Security system should be protected at all costs.
Reduction in future benefits is not a reasonable option. [Opinions
vary on the extent of the current system’s financial stability.]
Social Security provides a safety net for the nation’s poor and
needy. Changing the system would cause a reduction in benefits
and many people would suffer as a result.
Party A
The Social Security system is in serious financial trouble. Major
changes to the current system are urgently needed. In its current
state, the Social Security system is not financially sustainable. It
will collapse if nothing is done to address the problems. Many will
suffer as a result. Social Security must be made more efficient
through privatization and/or allowing individuals to manage their
own savings.
Taxes
Party B
Higher taxes (primarily for the wealthy) and a larger government
are necessary to address inequity/injustice in society (government
should help the poor and needy using tax dollars from the rich).
Support a large government to provide for the needs of the people
and create equality. Taxes enable the government to create jobs
and provide welfare programs for those in need. Government
programs are a caring way to provide for the poor and needy in
society.
Party A
Lower taxes and a smaller government with limited power will
improve the standard of living for all. Support lower taxes and a
smaller government. Lower taxes create more incentive for people
to work, save, invest, and engage in entrepreneurial endeavors.
Money is best spent by those who earn it, not the government.
Government programs encourage people to become dependent and
lazy, rather than encouraging work and independence.
United Nations (UN)
Party B
The UN promotes peace and human rights. The United States has
a moral and a legal obligation to support the United Nations (UN).
The U.S. should not act as a sovereign nation, but as one member
of a world community. The U.S. should submit its national
interests to the greater good of the global community (as defined
by the UN). The U.S. should defer to the UN in military/
peacekeeping matters. The United Nations Charter gives the
United Nations Security Council the power and responsibility to
take collective action to maintain international peace and security.
U.S. troops should submit to UN command.
Party A
The UN has repeatedly failed in its essential mission to promote
world peace and human rights. The wars, genocide and human
rights abuses taking place in many Human Rights Council member
states (and the UN’s failure to stop them) prove this point.
History shows that the United States, not the UN, is the global
force for spreading freedom, prosperity, tolerance and peace.
The U.S. should never subvert its national interests to those of
the UN. The U.S. should never place troops under UN control.
U.S. military should always wear the U.S. military uniform, not
that of UN peacekeepers. [Opinions vary on whether the U.S.
should withdraw from the UN.