VOTEn Smart2004BB

VOTE! Smart

2004

Political Parties

An early model of the modern

party system developed in

Britain in the 18th century,

shaped around the efforts of

the Whig and Tory parties to

control government jobs and

political influence. A party

system also developed in the

United States in the decade

following ratification of the

Constitution of the United

States in 1788, pitting

members of the Federalist

Party against members of the

Democratic-Republican

Party.

Political Parties

During the late 19th and early 20th

centuries, arguably the period

when political parties in the

United States reached the height

of their influence, party

organizations played an

important role in the lives of

millions of Americans. Political

party “machines” organized new

communities out of the vast

waves of immigrants settling in

America's largest cities. These

political machines offered urban

Americans an array of services,

ranging from housing, food, and

jobs to legal assistance and

language instruction. In return,

they asked for votes. They also

expected loyalty from their

victorious candidates, who were

to remain ever mindful of the

party organization's role in

delivering the votes.

2004 Canidates

George W. Bush (Republican)

John Kerry (Democrat)

Ralph Nader (Independent

Bush on Civil Rights/Criminal

Justice

• Would not extend hate crimes

legislation to cover sexual

orientation. Supports marriage

amendment to Constitution.

Opposes women's right to

choose -- abortion permissible

only in cases of rape, incest,

life of mother endangered.

Seeks renewal of Patriot Act

without sunsets.

• Supports death penalty. Would

fill any Supreme Court

vacancies with conservative-

minded justices. Medical use

of marijuana is state issue.

Kerry on Civil Rights/Criminal

Justice

• Would support civil unions but

opposed to gay marriage.

Would strengthen hate crimes

legislation and support pay

equity legislation. Voted for

Patriot Act but seeks revision.

• Supports death penalty only in

terrorism cases. Yes on litmus

test for Supreme Court

nominees (support civil rights

and Roe v Wade). May

consider legalization of

medical use of marijuana

Nader on Civil Rights/Criminal

Justice

• Wants to restore and

expand civil liberties

and constitutional

rights.

• Believes in equal

rights for Gays and

Lesbians.

• Criminal Justice

Reform

Economy

Would make all Bush tax cuts permanent (estimated to

cost $1.7 trillion). Provide $500M in worker training

and education programs and loosen overly restrictive

regulations on business.

Repeal tax cuts for taxpayers earning over $300k. Plan to

cut deficit in half in first term, tax credits for

manufacturers, small businesses, technology and

energy infrastructure investments, other infrastructure

to restore 2.7M lost jobs in 500 days

Wants a fair tax where the wealthiest and corporations

pay their fair share, tax wealth more than work, and

tax activities we dislike more than necessities

Bush on Education

Supports regular testing of

students with

performance tied to

increased federal funding.

Supports adding a

reading focus to

HeadStart (current focus

on nutrition and health

care). Favors vouchers to

enable parents to send

kids to private or religious

schools

Kerry on Education

Would focus on early

childhood education and

create $35B National

Education Trust Fund to

mitigate unfunded

mandates. Would

subsidize college

education in exchange for

2 years national service.

Reduce emphasis on test

scores in public schools.

Opposes vouchers

Nader on Education

• Education for Everyone

• Less Standardized

Testing

• Force schools to infuse

curriculum with civic

experiences that teaches

students both how to

connect classroom

learning to the outside

world and how practice

democracy.

Enviroment

Believes that good stewardship of environment is a personal

responsibility and a public value. Enacted disputed "Clean Skies

Initiative" to accelerate pace of facilities upgrades and pollution

reduction. Withdrew from Kyoto global warming treaty. Supports

hydrogen fuel technology research

Believes clean air, safe water, leaving behind natural resources for

future generations are basic rights. Would better enforce Clean Air

and Clean Water laws; create environmental empowerment zones to

hasten economic development of brownfields; support continued

negotiation of Kyoto treaty; support goal of 20% of US electricity to

come from renewable sources by 2020

Believes in an increase in Toxic Standards along with the need to make

environmental protection a priority for our energy, trade, industrial,

agricultural, transportation, development and land use policies,

indeed protecting the environment must be weaved throughout our

governance.

Health Care

• Bush: Relies on private marketplace to offer more choice among health care plans.

Control costs by opening up Medicare and Medicaid programs to competition, i.e., private

providers would compete to offer more choices to recipients. Would allow tax deduction for long-

term care insurance and tax exemption for caregivers. Tied prescription drug benefit to HMO

selection in Medicare. No plan available for pre- and post-natal care

• Kerry: Believes affordable health care is a right. Plan claims to cover additional 27M

uninsured, including 99% of children. Would expand Medicaid and state aid programs, provide

tax credits to offset premium costs. Would protect Medicare, affordable prescription drugs and

quality options for long term care. No plan available for pre- and post-natal care

• Nader: We need to get the insurance companies out of administering health care,

increase patient choice, expand coverage and save money. The United States spends far more

on health care per capita than any other country in the world, but more than 45 million Americans

have no health insurance. A single-payer program, with full medical coverage, should provide

health care that provides comprehensive benefits with quality care and cost controls to all

Americans throughout their lives.

Choose the one…

For more Information

visit..

www.candidatescorecar

d.com

Right for you! www.votenader.com

http://

special.msn.com/msn/