As long promised, I have finally decided which candidate to endorse. Let’s look at the issues and then tomorrow I’ll tell you who I picked and why. This isn’t me forcing my political views, merely an informed citizen walking you through the process of picking a candidate. Again, I’m not forcing my views on you, and I am not interested in you forcing yours on me.
To help me identify the candidate’s stances on the issues, I found a great website called OnTheIssues.org. Links to McCain and Obama’s pages are at the bottom. We won’t discuss the VP candidates because, present VP excluded, it’s typically an insignificant job and they’re impact on government is merely ceremonial, like the Queen of England. Off to the issues!
Economy
McCain: John supports a balanced budget law, meaning Congress could never operate at a deficit. Any surplus should go to social programs like Medicare and Social Security. He’s big on cutting out the “pork” in various bills. Supports the bank bailout and says we can make up the potential loss by cutting expenses elsewhere in the budget. Wants to cut corporate taxes to keep jobs in the states. Supports NAFTA, which opens trade with Mexico and Canada.
Obama: Blames Bush Administration for current budget deficit. Wants to cut taxes to the middle class in effort to free up cash. Also supports bank bailout bill. Rejects free market policies of current administration, thusly supporting more government oversight. Does not believe in top down economics, the idea the helping the top filters down to the bottom. Wants to close tax loopholes for corporations that send jobs overseas.
Weakonomist: I’m Darwinian about economic policies. Let me take care of myself. Obama promises tax cuts to help the middle class, but has proposed too many spending programs to keep a balanced budget. I prefer the government to stay out of my way and not spend so much money at the federal level. John McCain is very conservative about budgets and federal spending. Advantage: McCain.
Healthcare
McCain: Supports $5000 tax credit per family for health insurance. Proposes additional taxes on cigarettes. Does not support universal healthcare.
Obama: Believes healthcare is a birthright, and the current system does not acknowledge this. Supports universal healthcare. Make private insurance as cheap as company provided. Force insurance companies to insure the sick.
Weakonomist: You already know my stance about Universal Healthcare from my week devoted to it (see bottom of Special Features). I don’t want it. However the Clintons failed in getting Universal Healthcare passed, I think Obama will too. Obama may succeed in actually lowering the cost of healthcare to the end user though. McCain has promised tax cuts, but they are targeted at the healthcare companies. Just because a company gets a tax break, doesn’t mean they have to pass on the savings to me. Advantage: Obama.
Foreign Policy
McCain: Nuclear Iran is a major threat to Israel, and thusly the US. Will meet with any leader, if preconditions are met. Keep embargo with Cuba. Wants to employ same winning strategy in Afghanistan as in Iraq. Troops come home with victory and honor from Iraq, after winning. Iraq war was worth the price in blood and treasure. The biggest mistake in Iraq was not having a plan for success. No timetable for withdrawal.
Obama: Believes his strongest critics are the ones that created most of our foreign problems. Moral obligation to interfere in Darfur. Willing to work with Cubu, Iran, and North Korea. Capital of Israel and Palestine can be the same. Wasting too much money in Iraq, bring majority of troops home soon, no guarantee of official withdrawal.
Weakonomist: My message to John McCain: Just because one is experienced, it doesn’t mean they’re capable of providing the best possible service. Case in point: every banking business leader in the country. Experience means little in foreign policy, and it may be better to not have so much. Advantage: Obama.
Social Programs
McCain: Require 40 hours of a work per week for welfare recipients. Anti-poverty can be fought by the government and faith based charities. Not opposed to raising cap on payroll tax, but not a supporter of any raised taxes. Supports greater emphasis on privatization of social security.
Obama: Develop strategy to eliminate global poverty. Spent most of his career speaking for those who cannot. Supports faith based charity. Raise cap on payroll tax to add more to social security. Does not support privatization because it puts retirement into the hands of the stock market. More taxes on the wealthy.
Weakonomist: I’m not sure what the faith based kick is, but whatever. McCain has sensible ideas, and I don’t think the wealthy should have to pay more into social security. It’s the Robin Hood approach of many of Obama’s policies. Of course I hate social security and want it all privatized. Advantage: McCain.
Immigration
McCain: Secure borders before anything else. Hispanics are the backbone of the economy, just like any other generation of immigrants before them. Reform existing policies to make legal immigration easier.
Obama: Nothing to fear from immigrants. Encourages everyone to learn a second language, especially students. Against deputization of citizens to report illegal immigrants. Should not deport every illegal immigrant, instead get them documented. Immigrants are being used as an excuse for unemployment. Supports policy reform over additional funding of existing programs.
Weakonomist: I thought this might be a push, because they both have similar feelings and I don’t have a strong opinion. I support “open borders” in that anyone who wants to become American can, but everyone must enter the country legally. So I want the reform but I do support secured borders. No I don’t think a fence will do it, but I will say Advantage: McCain. Barely.
Technology
McCain: No taxes on internet or new cell phones. Against telecom deregulation. Doesn’t know how to use a computer.
Obama: Tax incentives for expansion of broadband internet. Supports a neutral internet.
Weakonomist: Tech is my life. McCain isn’t informed on the subjects and is more
likely to cave to “advisor” recommendations (read: lobbyists). Of course Obama wants tax cuts for telecoms to expand internet access. We did this once and the telecoms squandered all the money. Advantage: Obama.
Energy and Environment
McCain: Supports offshore drilling, nuclear power, and alternative energies. Wants oil companies to reinvest profits into nuclear energy. Is critical of Bush’s withdrawal from Kyoto. Make EPA a cabinet department. Supports stronger emissions regulations
Obama: Nuclear is fine as a portion of independence. Critical of Bush Administration’s stance on environment vs energy. Offshore drilling fine as a stop-gap to long term solution. Raise fuel efficiency standards.
Weakonomist: Neither has a really strong stance on the Energy and Environment. In fact, many of their opinions are similar. I like most of what they say. Advantage: Push.
So the score is 3-3 with a tie on the tie breaker. Obviously I didn’t touch every issue. This is a focus on the issues that are related to Weakonomics. Tune in tomorrow to get my official endorsement of one of our candidates.
McCain On The Issues
Obama On The Issues
 By The Weakonomist |
The Weakonomist is the founder of Weakonomics. Clicking the picture of the puppy will tell you more about him. If you like what you're reading consider subscribing to the blog, following him on Twitter, and checking out the related posts below. Please consider a donation if you really enjoy Weakonomics. Also keep in mind that nothing I say can be construed as financial advice. |
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