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November 2008

Student Voter Guide for the 2008 Presidential Election

Government Services

Views on National Security from the 2008 Presidential Candidates

Views on American Justice from the 2008 Presidential Candidates

Views on The Economy from the 2008 Presidential Candidates

Views on Government Services from the 2008 Presidential Candidates

Government Services: The Constitution gives the national government responsibility for the general welfare of the people. This includes issues such as unemployment assistance, aid to the poor, and Social Security. Health and Welfare policies include Medicare/Medicaid, health insurance, and workplace safety. Disaster Relief includes issues such as the role of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the role of the federal government in disaster relief.

Below are the issues we looked at associated with Government Services. We have analyzed these issues to develop our views on the two leading presidential candidates, specifically John McCain and Barack Obama. Along side this list of issues, we have provided a section on "What We Think" about the issue and the best candidate to address these issues over the next 4 years. The highlighted issues link to a side-by-side comparison between the two candidates on the key issues that separate them.

Welfare

• Unemployment Benefits

• Government Assistance for those at or below the Poverty Line

• Save Social Security

Health

• Financial Aid to Senior Citizens

• Universal Health Care (See "This Month's Topic")

• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

Disaster relief

• Federal Government Responsibilities for Disaster Relief

• FEMA Preparedness

What We Think:
Government Services

We found that both political parties have similar approaches when in comes to disaster relief, unemployment insurance, and addressing poverty. The two issues upon which there are important differences are health care and social security.

Senator Obama is a wholehearted advocate of universal health care. He believes everyone is entitled to the same type of health program as members of Congress.

Even though Senator McCain plans on making health care more "accessible," he opposes the idea of universal health care.

On the issue of the Social Security system, Barack Obama supports shoring up and sticking with the system, taxing the wealthy make the system solvent. John McCain wants to move America in a different direction: toward a privatized retirement system.

We believe that universal health care and a strong Social Security system are important for our generation's future.

Our Choice: Barrack Obama

Approach: We set out to develop a Student Voter Guide for the 2008 Presidential Election based on what the government of the United States should do for us, the American citizens. By researching the presidential candidates' views and record for each government responsibility, we submit that you, THE VOTER, will have a relatively objective body of information upon which to make an informed decision on Election Day.

— Current Events & Economics Class, Thomas A. Edison High School, Alexandria, Virginia

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Candidate Comparison

Role of Government: Government Services

Issue: Saving Social Security

Barack Obama	John McCain
Direct quote: "Social Security is the cornerstone of the social compact in this country ... if we are firm in our commitment to make sure that it's going to be there for the next generation, then we have to figure out how to stabilize Social Security." [On The Issues]	Direct quote: • "We need personal savings accounts, but we need to fix this system." • "We have a time bomb out there, and it's called the Social Security trust fund, set to go off in 2014." [On The Issues]
Candidate's stand: • New revenue to stabilize Social Security. • Subject all wages above $250,000 a year to the payroll tax. Provide a $500 credit for single workers or $1,000 for families to offset payroll taxes. [New York Times]	Candidate's stand: • Supports supplementing the current system with personal accounts. • Still, no substitute for fixing the current system; anyone receiving services now will not be affected. • Voted YES on allowing Roth IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) for retirees. [On The Issues] • Opposes lifting the ceiling on Social Security payroll taxes, currently $102,000 a year. [New York Times]
Party platform: • Will not allow CEOs to "dump" workers' pensions while lining their own pockets. • Reform corporate bankruptcy laws so that retirement accounts are protected. • Fulfill our obligation to protect Social Security. [Democratic platform]	Party platform: "Under the current system young workers will not be able to depend on Social Security. ... Comprehensive reform should include the opportunity to freely choose to create your own personal investment accounts..." [Republican platform]

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Candidate Comparison

Role of Government: Government Services

Issue: Poverty

Barack Obama	John McCain
Direct quote: "I make the commitment with humility because we've got a lot of work to do... It starts with recognizing that wages for average families have gone down..." [On The Issues]	Direct quote: "Welfare policy must provide a strong safety net, while promoting work, responsibility, self-sufficiency, and dignity." [On The Issues]
Candidate's stand: • Raise minimum wage to $7 per hour. • Establish 20 PROMISE neighborhoods in high poverty cities. • Develop a strategy to address global poverty. • Use faith-based resources. [On The Issues]	Candidate's stand: • Supports housing assistance for low-income families. • Use faith-based resources. • Tax reform to allow more low-income families to own a home. [On The Issues]
Party platform: "Working together we can cut poverty in half in ten years. ... To combat poverty we must work for fair pay, support for mothers, and policies that promote responsible fatherhood." [Democratic platform]	Party platform: Nothing specific. [Republican platform]