With the Presidential election looming less than two weeks away, knowing where the candidates stand on major issues has never been more critical. The 2000 Presidential nominees have proposed numerous plans and policies on a broad range of important issues that will shape the future of our nation. Texas Governor George W. Bush is one such nominee who, with running mate Dick Cheney, promises to "trust people with responsibility, and open wide the door of opportunity. To every man and woman, a chance to succeed. To every child, a chance to learn. To every family, a chance to live with dignity and hope"
Looking at the military
While he acknowledges that the United States currently has the strongest military in the world, the Governor also recognizes the Armed Forcesı rapidly decreasing morale. He and Cheney believe that Americaıs military is faced with a moment of opportunityan opportunity to transform itself, and thus ensure peace for generations. Bush and Cheney believe, as Bush says, that our "military requires the rallying point of a defining mission: to be able to fight and win our nationıs wars and thereby deter war. Sending our military on vague, aimless and endless deployments is a sure way to destroy morale." They believe that "Nothing would be better for morale than clarity and focus from the Commander-in-Chief"
While seizing this opportunity of growth will require spending more, it will also require spending more wisely. If elected, Bush plans to increase weapons research and development spending by $20 billion over five years. He plans to spend an extra $1 billion per year to raise military salaries beyond recent pay increase, and build missile defense systems for deployment both inside and outside U.S. The Governor proposes to "Maintain longstanding U.S. commitments, but order an immediate review of overseas deployments in dozens of countries, with the aim of replacing uncertain missions with well-defined objectives"
Examining foreign policy
The Governorıs views on foreign policy remain consistent with his opinions on military defense. He believes that isolationism and trade protectionism are "shortcuts to chaos, approaches that abandon our allies and our ideals. The vacuum left by America's retreat would invite challenges to our power". If elected, Bush and Cheney plan to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. They plan to keep sanctions on Cuba, and make aid to Russia conditional on its cessation of civilian killings in Chechnya.
Education in the United States
On education, Bush promises to leave "Not one child behind". He believes that "All true education reform insists on high goals for schools and high expectations for children. All true education reform measures results, praises success and confronts failure. Parents must know if learning is taking place. Teachers must know when students need help. Districts must know if the curriculum is working". To confront the alarmingly high rate of childhood illiteracy in the United States, Bush says he has "set a goal: Every American child will read by the end of the third grade". He has also proposed a measure called Reading First. "Reading First," Bush says, "is a concentrated, systematic approach that identifies early reading problems and gets children the best possible help. It includes diagnostic tests to identify early reading challenges in grades K-2; a curriculum based on sound research, including phonics; intensive training for teachers of early grades; and intervention to give extra help to those having trouble reading, including summer school and after school programs. The message of Reading First is simple: We are going to have high standards. But we are going to prepare children to meet those standards. Accountability is not sink-or-swim. We want them to succeed, and we will take practical steps so everyone enters the accountability system on an equal footing. So that every third grader has an equal chance". The Governor proposes scholarships of $1,500 per year for children in public schools that fail state testing for three years. The money could be used for private schooling, tutoring or "whatever offers hope."
Gun control
Bush and Cheney propose sensible gun control laws. They propose enforcing existing laws and raising the age for handgun purchases to 21. The Governor supports instant background checks at gun shows, yet opposes universal gun registration.
An eye on health
Healthcare and Medicare are definite priorities of the Governorıs. He supports expanding medical savings accounts, and wants to strengthen tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to employees. "Medicare is one of the most important contributions to seniors' health care ever enacted," the Governor said. "I will work to strengthen Medicare by enhancing its financial stability and ensuring seniors have access to more comprehensive coverage better tailored to their health care needs. We now have an inefficient system that is run by a 132,000-page document where the government makes all the decisions. I support increasing competition and giving seniors the right to choose their health care plan, including the right to keep the traditional Medicare plan they have today. Medicare should give seniors the right to choose from comprehensive health plans that include basic coverage such as prescription drugs. We should also ensure prescription drug coverage is available for low-income seniors who otherwise cannot afford it," Bush says.
Seeing Social Security
George W. Bush places a high priority on Social Security. He promises to "fulfill the solemn commitment of Social Security by guaranteeing no reduction in benefits for retirees or those nearing retirement." His plan sets aside $2 trillion over the next decade to protect Social Security. "We can reform Social Security for future generations without hurting the current generation of retirees," he said. Bush also supports a Social Security "lock-box." "The money people send to the government for their Social Security," Bush says, "should be just that -- money for their Social Security. It should not be spent on anything else." Bush opposes any tax increase for Social Security, and supports making personal retirement accounts part of Social Security reform. Finally, he opposes any government investment in private stocks or bonds.
Perhaps most striking, Bush proposes a broad and drastic tax cut. He proposes a $483 billion, five-year package that would gradually cut all tax rates, with poorest workers paying 10 percent and the richest, 33 percent. The current child tax credit would be doubled to $1,000, with an income ceiling doubled to $200,000. Bush plans to extend charitable deduction to non-itemizers. These tax cuts would be paid for from projected non-Social Security budget surpluses and economic growth.
