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The
Next Four Years: Promises Made by the Presidential Candidates |
Posted:
09.06.04
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As the two major presidential candidates criss-cross the country
giving speeches about Iraq and the economy, many first-time voters
are scrutinizing their words and actions to see how George Bush
and John Kerry are addressing issues important to young people.
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Walk into any classroom in America and you will find a wide range
of views about what is important and why.
 "Many
of the social issues, such as same-sex marriage, education costs,
health care, are much more important to the younger generation
of voters," says 17-year-old Jason Rae, a Democrat from Wisconsin.
"I would say they are: the war against terror, the economy,
gay marriage, abortion, and a youthful voice in government,"
says 18-year-old Joshua Rushton, a Republican from Arizona.
Some teenagers think neither candidate speaks to their concerns.
Mike Dooley, a senior at Needham High School in Massachusetts,
says that while both men talk about the war in Iraq, or domestic
issues such as gay marriage, "the real divisions in our country
are more insidious, and more damaging."
"The economic gulf is widening, between the haves and the
have nots -- between those who live comfortably in middle class
communities and those who struggle to find work and to get by
day to day without health care or higher education," he says.
 Of
course there are independent candidates such as Ralph Nader and
other parties such as the Green, Conservative, Independent, Right
to Life, Socialist, and Libertarian Parties, but none have built
up enough support to win the election.
So what kinds of promises are President Bush and John Kerry making
about the next four years if they are elected? While it is impossible
to fully understand the candidates' positions in quick glances,
here are brief summaries of their stances with links to the candidates'
pages and issue overviews from Public Agenda, a research group
that aims to provide citizens with unbiased information.
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Education |
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Have you taken more tests recently? One political issue that
directly affects young people is education. Both candidates have
offered various plans to help students pay for college, but they
differ on how to help students finish high school.
President Bush created the No Child Left Behind Act to force
schools to identify and help students who are falling behind.
Under the law, public schools are required to set achievement
standards, and conduct annual tests of third- through eighth-grade
students in reading and math. Schools that fail to improve have
to pay for students' private tutoring, and transportation to attend
another school. The president also supports vouchers to help parents
afford private schools.
John Kerry voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, but argues
that the president's regulations are too strict and that there
is not enough money available to make the necessary improvements.
The senator has also stressed the need to recruit more teachers.
On the voucher issue, Kerry says the program would help too few
students and transfers money away from the public schools that
desperately need it.
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Environment |
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Both candidates have too many environmental initiatives to list
here, but basically, President Bush favors a more business-friendly
environmental policy, and John Kerry gets high ratings from environmental
activist groups.
President Bush has refused to join the Kyoto global warming pact
that calls on all countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions, saying
it would harm the U.S. economy. He says his policies will be based
on sound scientific evidence and wants to spend more on hydrogen
fuel technology. The president also backs "environmentally
sensitive" oil exploration in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
John Kerry wants to sign up for the Kyoto pact. He also promises
to invest in hydrogen-based energy technology and other clean,
renewable fuels, including ethanol. The senator opposes oil exploration
in the Arctic Refuge because he says it would have a negative
impact on the environment and has promised much more aggressive
enforcement of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.
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Abortion |
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President Bush opposes abortion except in cases of rape or incest,
or when a woman's life is in danger. He also signed into law a
ban on late-term "partial-birth" abortion.
John Kerry supports a woman's right to choose, though opposes
third-trimester abortions unless for health reasons. The candidate
has said he would appoint only pro-choice Supreme Court judges.
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Gay marriage |
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resident Bush has asked Congress to amend the Constitution to
define marriage as between a man and a woman only, but says states
can pass laws allowing civil unions that give gay partnerships
legal benefits similar to those of marriage.
John Kerry opposes a constitutional amendment and supports civil
unions for gay couples, but he stops short of backing marriages
for gay couples.
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Health care |
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President Bush has proposed tax credits for low income people
so that they can buy their own health insurance and has introduced
a prescription drug benefit for elderly people.
Sen. John Kerry proposes opening up the existing health care
program for federal government employees to all adults, and giving
money to states to help them reduce the number of uninsured children.
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Social security |
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Almost everyone agrees that the government program that provides
pensions for retired workers is in trouble, and that if changes
are not made, it may not be there when today's high school seniors
reach retirement age-- currently 67.
President Bush has proposed allowing younger workers to control
how part of their Social Security taxes are invested, a policy
called privatization because it would move funds to non-government
institutions such as the stock market.
John Kerry opposes any privatization of Social Security, saying
that workers could lose their retirement funds if they invest
in risky stocks or if market goes down. He has not put forth specific
proposals for changing the system, but says that he is "open
to considering various avenues of reform."
--
Leah Clapman, Online NewsHour
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Issues links |
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Education:
President
Bush on education
John Kerry
on education
Public
Agenda Education Overview
Environment:
President
Bush on the Environment
Kerry on
the Environment
Public
Agenda Environment Overview
Abortion:
Public
Agenda Abortion Overview
Gay marriage:
NewsHour
Gay Marriage Issue Guide
Public Agenda Gay Marriage overview
Health care:
NewsHour
Health Care Issue Guide
Public
Agenda Health Care Overview
Social security:
NewsHour
Social Security Issue Guide
Public
Agenda Social Security Overview
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I think we've been witnessing violence for years, whether in reality through the media or through video games, and I don't think that's a first-hand effect.
