Topics covered in this round are:
Environment: Advantage Even
When you divorce the energy issue from the Environment issue, these candidates have very similar views on environment protection. Obama's goals for cutting emissions are slightly more aggressive but based on what I have read so far, it is splitting hairs. While environmental protection is important, I am debating whether this is even a deciding factor for my vote.
Foreign Policy: Advantage Obama
Now before I begin here, I am admittedly not very well informed about foreign policy and international relations theories so my views below are more speculation than based in any real detailed evaluation. I certainly reserve the right to change my views on this a hundred times before election day as I read more on the topic!
I know this might surprise a number of people given the experience differences between the candidates, but I believe that the current status quo of our foreign relations is not working. Some folks may not care, but believe it or not, we are not a well liked nation to the majority of the world. Those of you who have traveled abroad will likely agree. The candidates have extremely different philosophical differences on how our foreign affairs should be handled. John McCain’s policies are essentially to continue what we are doing today. I believe that we should not be a nation requiring concessions or appeasement before sitting down with U.S. foes to discuss how to ease tension and promote peace. Our current approach to U.S. opponents is to handle them through cessations of talks and the threat of military action, which has only increased resentment towards us. Isolationism does not work. We should be spending more time building our base of allies and providing aid to countries in need. A couple of quotes come into mind:
“You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”
- American Proverb
"Keep your friends close - hold your enemies closer"
- Arabian Proverb
I also personally believe that more investment should be put toward covert operations rather than outright military actions against our foes. You can catch more roaches by keeping the lights off than shining a flashlight on them.
Guantanamo: Advantage Obama, with concessions…
I think the following quote from Obama summarizes my belief as well:
"Why don't we close Guantanamo and restore the right of habeas corpus, because that's how we lead, not with the might of our military, but the power of our ideals and the power of our values. It's time to show the world we're not a country that ships prisoners in the dead of night to be tortured in far off countries. We're not a country that runs prisons which locks people away without ever telling them why they're there or what they're charged with. We're not a country which preaches compassion to others while we allow bodies to float down the streets of major American cities. That's not who we are."
However, I do agree with McCain that the prisoners are not US citizens so should not be treated as such. I would suggest respecting the intent of habeas corpus, but have different flavors of it for those who are US citizens and those who are unlawful combatants.
Gun Control: Advantage Obama
This is another of the few “easy ones”, although one that would inspire debate at the Christmas dinner table with the family. I certainly respect the right to bear arms, but don’t see any need for Joe Blow to own assault weapons with high capacity magazines containing armor piercing rounds. A simple Glock or shotgun should do for personal protection. And if you need assault weapons for hunting, I would suggest picking up a new hobby because you can’t be very good.
I do support allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons. Good for protection and keeps the bad guys guessing on who might be packing.
Health Care: Advantage McCain
This is a pretty complex issue and I am not sure I have enough interest in digging too far into this one given that I have health insurance I don't have a problem paying that bill.
Not a fan of mandating anything, including healthcare. I agree that the costs for the uninsured are ridiculous, but a federally funded universal healthcare system is too far to the other extreme and with a $50-$60B annual bill, that is tough to swallow. We should give tax breaks and incentives so that healthcare can be affordable, promote modernization of the healthcare industry to reduce cost, and make insurance and drugs available across state and country borders respectively. We need to be fostering more competition in the healthcare industry to allow the free market to drive the costs and price tag down.
Immigration: Advantage McCain
The differences between the two candidates are relatively small on immigration, in my opinion. While I certainly don't see how we can possibly deport illegals outright, given the amount of work they do for this country, I don't understand why neither candidate really has a policy to turn the screws on them a little bit. Personally, I think we need to do more to discourage this activity or, perhaps in conjunction with that, make the process for citizenship easier and more expeditious. I don't understand why we should be extending social security or other benefits to illegals. It is essentially rewarding them for their crimes.
I do like McCain's idea of deporting illegals that have committed violent crimes. I don't like them, they are a drag on society, we don't need them. I am not even happy about US citizens committing violent crimes, much less those who broke the law to get here in the first place.
They both support guest worker programs and streamlining paths to citizenship for guest workers.
Just based on McCain's deportation of violent criminals, and support for setting English as the official national language, he gets my vote in this category.
Drugs and Marijuana: Advantage McCain
As a frame of reference, yes I have done marijuana and a good deal more. While I am not proud of that fact, I feel it is important to mention it here so that any readers who might stumble across this understand that I am not standing on my pedestal wagging my finger at those awful offenders.
Let's be honest with ourselves.. Medical marijuana can be prescribed for just about anything; Insomnia, loss of appetite, "Case of the Mondays". We need to regulate this a bit more. Don't get me wrong, if someone has some serious illness that marijuana can take the edge off (e.g. cancer), smoke up, but I don't think that should open the door for any affliction.
Yes, I know some folks will debate that marijuana is not as bad (or not any better than) alcohol and I would largely agree with that but the fact remains that we tried to make alcohol illegal and it didn't work, likely due to its use being more ubiquitous. I would also debate that alcohol is just as much as a gateway drug as marijuana. Really, anything that someone uses to escape reality can be considered a "gateway" to something. One day, perhaps I'll have a post to talk about addiction, but won't bore the readers (if there are any) now.
We need to maintain the "war on drugs" (note I said "maintain" not "escalate") but prescription drug abuse should be given equal weight as well. I believe that cocaine and crack should absolutely carry the same punishment. It is ridiculous that they don't today.
And, BTW, the fact that Obama did drugs has no impact on my vote. We have all done things in our past that we might regret. Most of us get a little smarter and make better decisions as we get older. As long as he is not doing lines in the white house, I could care less that he played around with a little powder.
So, back to the purpose of this blog, my vote goes to McCain here because he has a stronger policy on drug enforcement.
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