It is important to vote; and to me, it is important to not vote blindly.
I voted by mail this year and I didn’t want
to cast my vote solely based on what someone else believed or told me to
believe. So, I studied every issue and in
my research I came to discover that I am a woman divided. On many of the issues, I fall smack dab in
the middle, which makes choosing one side over the other quite challenging.
If we could merge both parties, I think great
progress could be made. Instead, we seem
to enjoy fighting and lying and it makes me wonder if any of the politicians
really want to make a positive difference in the world(?) And if they do, are their hands tied by the two-party system? Is it working against us?
Unfortunately, it’s hard to ascertain the truth from
the lies, particularly when most everything you read or watch on television is
tainted one way or the other. A friend
posted on Facebook that presidential candidates should have to debate while
hooked up to a lie detector test; that way, we’d have a better chance of
hearing the truth. I think it’s a
fantastic idea!
How do we sort through the lies and find the
truth? The first thing is to understand
the issues and what each side believes.
This helped me immensely. After
you have studied the issues, decide what YOU believe is the correct path down
which we should proceed as a Nation. Let
knowledge lead you this year and vote according to your convictions, not
according to rumor or pressure; but rather, truth.
I have listed some of the issues in alphabetical
order below followed by an explanation of what the liberal and conservative
parties believe. This is a non-bias
list, merely intended to define the issues, not sway you in either
direction.
THE
ISSUES:
Abortion
Liberal
A woman has the right
to decide what happens with her body. A fetus is not a human life, so it does
not have separate individual rights. The government should provide taxpayer
funded abortions for women who cannot afford them. The decision to have an
abortion is a personal choice of a woman regarding her own body and the
government must protect this right. Women have the right to affordable, safe
and legal abortions, including partial birth abortion.
Conservative
Human life begins at
conception. Abortion is the murder of a human being. An unborn baby, as a
living human being, has separate rights from those of the mother. Oppose
taxpayer-funded abortion. Taxpayer dollars should not be used for the
government to provide abortions. Support legislation to prohibit partial birth
abortions, called the "Partial Birth Abortion* Ban"(*Partial Birth
Abortion: the killing of an unborn baby of at least 20 weeks by pulling it out
of the birth canal with forceps, but leaving the head inside. An incision is
made in the back of the baby's neck and the brain tissue is suctioned out. The
head is then removed from the uterus.)
Affirmative Action
Liberal
Due to prevalent
racism in the past, minorities were deprived of the same education and
employment opportunities as whites. The government must work to make up for
that. America is still a racist society, therefore a federal affirmative action
law is necessary. Due to unequal opportunity, minorities still lag behind
whites in all statistical measurements of success.
Conservative
Individuals should be
admitted to schools and hired for jobs based on their ability. It is unfair to
use race as a factor in the selection process. Reverse-discrimination is not a
solution for racism. Some individuals in society are racist, but American
society as a whole is not. Preferential treatment of certain races through
affirmative action is wrong.
Death Penalty
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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
Liberal
A market system in
which government regulates the economy is best. Government must protect
citizens from the greed of big business. Unlike the private sector, the
government is motivated by public interest. Government regulation in all areas
of the economy is needed to level the playing field.
Conservative
The free market
system, competitive capitalism, and private enterprise create 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.
Education -
vouchers & charter schools
Liberal
Public schools are the
best way to educate students. Vouchers take money away from public schools.
Government should focus additional funds on existing public schools, raising
teacher salaries and reducing class size.
Conservative
School vouchers create
competition and therefore encourage schools to improve performance. Vouchers
will give all parents the right to choose good schools for their children, not
just those who can afford private schools.
Embryonic Stem Cell
Research
Liberal
Support the use of embryonic
stem cells for research. It is necessary (and ethical) for the government
to fund embryonic stem cell research, which will assist scientists in
finding treatments and cures for diseases. An embryo is not a human. The tiny
blastocyst (embryos used in embryonic stem cell research) has no human
features. Experimenting on embryos/embryonic stem cells is not murder.
Embryonic stem cells have the potential to cure chronic and degenerative
diseases which current medicine has been unable to effectively treat.
Embryonic stem cells have been shown to be effective in treating heart
damage in mice.
Conservative
Support the use of adult
and umbilical cord stem cells only for research. It is morally and
ethically wrong for the government to fund embryonic stem cell research.
Human life begins at conception. The extraction of stem cells from an embryo
requires its destruction. In other words, it requires that a human life be
killed. Adult stem cells have already been used to treat spinal cord
injuries, Leukemia, and even Parkinson's disease. Adult stem cells are derived
from umbilical cords, placentas, amniotic fluid, various tissues and organ
systems like skin and the liver, and even fat obtained from liposuction. Embryonic
stem cells have not been successfully used to help cure disease.
Energy
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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 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.
Euthanasia &
Physician-assisted suicide
Liberal
Euthanasia should be
legalized. A person has a right to die with dignity, by his own choice. A
terminally ill person should have the right to choose to end pain and
suffering. It is wrong for the government to take away the means for a
terminally ill person to hasten his death. It is wrong to force a person to go
through so much pain and suffering. Legalizing euthanasia would not lead to
doctor-assisted suicides of non-critical patients. Permitting euthanasia would
reduce health care costs, which would then make funds available for those who
could truly benefit from medical care.
Conservative
Neither euthanasia nor
physician-assisted suicide should be legalized. It is immoral and unethical to
deliberately end the life of a terminally ill person (euthanasia), or enable
another person to end their own life (assisted suicide). The goal should be
compassionate care and easing the suffering of terminally ill people.
Legalizing euthanasia could lead to doctor-assisted suicides of non-critical
patients. If euthanasia were legalized, insurance companies could pressure
doctors to withhold life-saving treatment for dying patients. Many religions
prohibit suicide and euthanasia. These practices devalue human life.
Global Warming/Climate
Change
Liberal
Global warming 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.
Conservative
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. Proposed laws to
reduce carbon emissions will do nothing to help the environment and will cause
significant price increases for all. Many reputable scientists support this
theory.
Gun Control
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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
Liberal
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.”
Conservative
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
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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.
Same-sex Marriage
Liberal
Marriage is the union
of people who love each other. It should be legal for gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender individuals, to ensure equal rights for all. Support same-sex
marriage. Opposed to the creation of a constitutional amendment establishing marriage
as the union of one man and one woman. All individuals, regardless of their
sexual orientation, have the right to marry. Prohibiting same-sex citizens from
marrying denies them their civil rights. [Opinions vary on whether this issue
is equal to civil rights for African Americans.]
Conservative
Marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Oppose same-sex marriage.
Support Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996, which affirms the right
of states not to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states.
Requiring citizens to sanction same-sex relationships violates moral and
religious beliefs of millions of Christians, Jews, Muslims and others, who
believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman.
Social Security
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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)
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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.]
War on
Terror/Terrorism
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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.
Welfare
Liberal
Support welfare,
including long-term welfare. Welfare is a safety net which provides for the
needs of the poor. Welfare is necessary to bring fairness to American economic
life. It is a device for protecting the poor.
Conservative
Oppose long-term
welfare. Opportunities should be provided to make it possible for those in need
to become self-reliant. It is far more compassionate and effective to encourage
people to become self-reliant, rather than allowing them to remain dependent on
the government for provisions.
Whatever side you choose... VOTE... because your voice matters.
