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Click here if you care about The Economy

The Economy

More needs to be done to expand economic development programs for the poor?

The Obama administration has spent a large amount of money on multiple different development programs ranging from infrastructure projects to retraining programs to homeowner assistance programs to promoting more green jobs. This question is asking whether these programs should be either continued and expanded or reduced and eliminated.

The government should decrease the limitations for importing goods and services from other countries?

Having limitations on what can be imported drives up the price on those imports. This in turn makes it so that fewer people or companies are able to buy these foreign goods or services because they are more expensive. The advantage of more limitations on trade is that it makes it more likely for people to buy those goods and services from a person or company right here in the US. Another wrinkle is that often limitations on imports cause other countries to limit their imports also. This makes it so that US people and companies are not able to sell as much in other countries.

The government needs to do more to lessen the income gap between rich and poor?

Many statistics are used to show that the income gap between the rich and the poor is bigger in America today than ever before. Most Americans believe that as a wealthy nation, we would like all Americans to continue to get a better and better standard of living. Policies which attempt to limit this gap will, by definition though, limit the amount which people can receive in compensation for their own work and endeavors. These limitations are usually directed at the wealthy, but often will also impact small businesses and family businesses, such as family farms.

Click here if you care about Jobs

Jobs

The current government re-training programs are effective and should be continued or increased.?

Obama talks about ramping up local training programs. The claim by Obama's opponents is that over $18B has been spent on 47 different retraining programs, but they have not been shown to actually produce more skilled workers who can now get jobs more than before the retraining programs.

A good way to increase the number of jobs in America is to reduce the costs and red-tape for businesses to hire more workers

The government should increase the cost to companies of outsourcing in order to keep more jobs here in the US.?

Outsourcing jobs to places other than the US allows for more profits to companies here in the US. Increasing the cost to companies which outsource would slow down their movement of jobs to other countries which increases the number of those jobs still available here in the US.

The government should increase the minimum wage?

By increasing the minimum wage, the amount that people who are legally working are paid increases. But, by doing so, the number of jobs which companies can afford to have decreases. Essentially, increasing the minimum wage is a good thing for those who are working but is bad for both companies (especially small businesses) and those individuals who are currently not working

Click here if you care about Health Care

Health Care

The government should promote insurance coverage for alternative forms of health care?

Alternative forms of health care include not only things like Chiropractic care and acupuncture but also any experimental or “new" procedure. In health care, “new" usually means less than 20-30 years old. Insurance, both private and government sponsored, often does not cover these types of procedures either at all or not as much as other “traditional" procedures

The government needs to change the rules to make prescription drugs less expensive?

Prescription drugs here in the US are significantly more expensive than in other countries and continues to go up. Decreasing the amount which companies can charge for their prescription drugs, though, runs the risk that pharmaceutical companies will not invest as much in new drugs because they will not be able to make a profit.

The so called "ObamaCare" law needs to be repealed?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 23rd, 2010. It has been nicknamed ObamaCare. It is a sweeping change in how health care works in America with many different provisions. Many Candidates on this site listed as agreeing with ObamaCare do not necissarily agree with every single provision, but they agree with enough to believe that it should not be repealed.

Government money should not be spent on embryonic stem cell research?

This is usually a question of morality. Some people believe that doing research on embryonic stem cells is immoral. This is because embryos are sometimes created by joining sperm and eggs for the sole purpose of using the stem cells and not for implantation in a potential mother. Opponents to embryonic stem cell research liken this to murder. Proponents of government spending on embryonic stem cell research believe this is promising work but is a long way off from tangible results and so should be publicly funded in order to progress the research.

Click here if you care about Taxes

Taxes

The personal income tax rates are too high and need to be reduced?

When people “pay their taxes", they are usually referring to their personal income tax. For 2012, the income tax rates are
  • 10% on taxable income from $0 to $8,700,
  • plus 15% on taxable income over $8,700 to $35,350,
  • plus 25% on taxable income over $35,350 to $85,650,
  • plus 28% on taxable income over $85,650 to $178,650,
  • plus 33% on taxable income over $178,650 to $388,350,
  • plus 35% on taxable income over $388,350.
These amounts are calculated on Adjusted Gross Income which means the amount that people made after all of their deductions such as their personal examption of $3800, any dependent exemptions, deducitons for mortgage expenses, charitable donations, etc.

The capital gains tax for everyday people should be eliminated?

When anyone invests in something, either a stock or a house or gold or anything, if it increases in value before they sell the asset, then this increase is called a capital gain. Capital gains on assets held for less than a year are taxed like normal income. Capital gains on assets held for more than one year are taxed at the capital gains tax rate (usually lower). Many people believe that at least for people with income below a certain threshold (if not for everyone) this capital gains tax should be eliminated. Doing so would mean that “normal" people would have to pay less tax in their investment accounts, thereby encouraging investments.

Our high corporate tax rate has been discouraging business development?

When corporations make a profit, they must pay an income tax on those profits. Currently, the US corporate income tax rate is 35%, one of the highest in the world. Decreasing this tax makes it so that companies have more money to reinvest in endevours, including expanding and creating more jobs. Many people believe lowering this tax rate would stimulate economic growth. Others believe it is giving a tax break to faceless companies and merely decreasing the revenue collected by the already in debt federal government. If any of these profits are to be distributed to owners or stockholders, then the company must first pay the corporate income tax and then each individual owner also must pay personal income tax on the amount of money received.

The corporate R&D tax credit should be permanent?

The Research and Development tax credit for companies encourages them to invest in future technologies. This tax credit expired in January of 2012. The last time it expired (2 years prior) it was reinstated retroactively to cover all of 2010. The same could be done this year. Agreeing with this question indicates a belief that this tax credit is good for America and should be reinstated.

Our tax system is too complicated, it needs to be simplified?

Most people agree with the vague idea of simplifying the multitude of taxes and mostly the multitude of loopholes in the IRS income tax. But, of course, no one wants their loophole closed. All of the exemptions, deductions, etc. were all put there for a reason but the cost has been an extremely complicated system. Candidates noted as supporting this have openly indicated that they would be willing to make significant or even sweeping changes to the tax code

Our tax system needs to be more fair and flat so that everyone pays their fair share?

Many alternatives to our current IRS have been proposed including the Fair Tax, true flat income tax, and the New Flat Tax. All of these tax system are designed to eliminate all the confusion, loopholes, and complications of our current income tax system. Most of these new systems propose that in time the IRS would be either eliminated or significantly reduced in size.

The AMT (Alternate Minimum Tax) should be eliminated from the tax code?

The AMT is an alternative to standard income tax rates. None of the stanard deductions apply when calculating the AMT, so if an individual or couple's income actually was higher than the exemption amount, then the minimum amount of income tax they can pay is 25% (the current rate) of their income. (The real calculations of the amount owed are very complicated for some reason to just impose a supposedly flat tax rate). The AMT was originally enacted to stop the top 0.5% of wage earners in the US from being able to have so many tax deductions and instead imposed a flat 25% income tax minimum. Now, more and more middle income families are finding that the AMT applies to them. If an individual makes more than $50,000 or a family makes more than $75,000, then the AMT applies. Of course, the AMT does not change the amount of tax owed until the amount owed from the AMT exceeds the amount of tax calculated under standard income tax rates. But most middle income families where both spouses work in professional jobs have found that the amount of tax they owe is due to the AMT and not the standard income tax rates.

The estate tax cut should be allowed to expire at the end of this year?

The estate tax, also called the death tax by its opponents, is a tax on the estate of someone after they have passed away. This tax was originally designed to be imposed only on the top 100 families in the US. The estate tax is only assessed on assets over a certain amount in the deceased's estate. The “estate tax cut" increased this asset limit from $1million to $5million. The “cut" is set to expire at the end of this year which means as of January 1, anyone who dies with an estate over $1million will have the excess taxed at a rate of 55%. $1million seems like a lot to most people, but for those who own say a family farm, the value of the land is often assessed at more than this $1million mark. Also, life insurance proceeds are not subject to income tax, but they ARE subject to estate tax. A $1million term policy on a young healthy father runs less than $100/month (something affordable to many middle class Americans) and as such is a normal safety net for families where one spouse stays at home. All that said, the $1million limit could effect over 10% of Americans. The $5million limit affects less than 2% (and most years less than 1%) of those who die.

The estate tax should be eliminated all together?

The estate tax, also called the death tax by its opponents, is a tax on the estate of someone after they have passed away. This tax was originally designed to be imposed only on the top 100 families in the US. The estate tax is only assessed on assets over a certain amount in the deceased's estate. The “estate tax cut" increased this asset limit from $1million to $5million. The “cut" is set to expire at the end of this year which means as of January 1, anyone who dies with an estate over $1million will have the excess taxed at a rate of 55%. $1million seems like a lot to most people, but for those who own say a family farm, the value of the land is often assessed at more than this $1million mark. Also, life insurance proceeds are not subject to income tax, but they ARE subject to estate tax. A $1million term policy on a young healthy father runs less than $100/month (something affordable to many middle class Americans) and as such is a normal safety net for families where one spouse stays at home. All that said, the $1million limit could effect over 10% of Americans. The $5million limit affects less than 2% (and most years less than 1%) of those who die.

The estate tax cuts which expire at the end of this year should instead be made permanent, and indexed for inflation so as to be continually increased?

The estate tax, also called the death tax by its opponents, is a tax on the estate of someone after they have passed away. This tax was originally designed to be imposed only on the top 100 families in the US. The estate tax is only assessed on assets over a certain amount in the deceased's estate. The “estate tax cut" increased this asset limit from $1million to $5million. The “cut" is set to expire at the end of this year which means as of January 1, anyone who dies with an estate over $1million will have the excess taxed at a rate of 55%. $1million seems like a lot to most people, but for those who own say a family farm, the value of the land is often assessed at more than this $1million mark. Also, life insurance proceeds are not subject to income tax, but they ARE subject to estate tax. A $1million term policy on a young healthy father runs less than $100/month (something affordable to many middle class Americans) and as such is a normal safety net for families where one spouse stays at home. All that said, the $1million limit could effect over 10% of Americans. The $5million limit affects less than 2% (and most years less than 1%) of those who die.

Taxes should stay at or below their current rates, even at the possible cost of cutting some programs?

All government programs cost money. That money ultimately comes from taxes. The money must either come from taxes collected today or money borrowed today and then taxes collected in later years.

Click here if you care about Energy Policy

Energy Policy

The government should increase its funding for alternative, "clean" energy development and use

The government should limit the amount of energy exports we produce

A law should be passed to stop us from importing so much foreign oil

We should build the Keystone oil pipeline from Texas to Canada?

The Keystone oil pipeline is a proposed pipeline from Canada down to Texas which would allow for crude oil from Canada's oil sands to be transported easily to the Texas refineries. This would allow for additional US production of refined oil (e.g. gasoline) and would decrease our dependence on oil from the Middle East. Opponents of the pipeline believe it is a symbol of anti-environmentalism and leads America away from other more green energy sources like wind and solar power.

The government should change their policies to decrease the gas price at the pump

The government should change the limits/time-frames so that car manufacturers must make more fuel efficient vehicles?

There are currently many different CAFE standards for producing vehicles. Proponents of these measures say that they force auto makers to innovate more and produce more fuel efficient vehicles which is something required for our national security. Opponents of the CAFE requirements believe that Americans should be allowed to choose which vehicles they want to buy without government mandates and also that these CAFE requirements significantly favor foreign vehicles rather than vehicles from the “big three" American companies (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler).

Click here if you care about Education

Education

Private student loans should be able to be dismissed in Bankruptcy?

Most types of unsecured loans can be dismissed in bankruptcy. Secured loans such as for a house, car, or appliance, cannot be dismissed (though if the item was repossesed and then worth less than the loan, the judgement for the excess can be dismissedin bankruptcy). Student loans, though, have been put into a special category of having to be proven individually that the filer is undergoing “undue hardship" in trying to repay the loan. Many people and politicians believe this “undue hardship" rule should be eliminated.

The government should have a program of some sort to forgive more student loan debt

"No child left behind" is not working and should be eliminated

The basics of "No child left behind" are good, but a few of the details may need to be modified

The Department of Education should be eliminated and power given back to each state to make education decisions

Parents should be able to decide where to school their children through some form of a voucher system?

More and more politicians are getting on the Charter school bandwagon. So, indicating that a candidate supports school choice through charter schools is not very good discriminator. A voucher type system where any school can be set up without a public university offering them a charter, though, still has a lot of people on both sides of the issue. Having a voucher type system allows for more parent choice in how money for their child is spent. Those who oppose school choice vouchers believe that this would hurt the public school system too much.

Click here if you care about Social Security

The age Social Security can start to be collected needs to be raised (gradually).?

Social security as it is today is going bankrupt. And, it is possibly going to take all of America with it. Something needs to be done. In general, the options are (a) to completely change the system, (b) to modify the current system (usually by keeping it the same for current seniors but changing it for people not yet in or sometimes near retirement), or (c) increasing the amount collected to cover the increasing costs.

Social Security as it is now should be eliminated (e.g. privatized, completely changed, etc)?

Social security as it is today is going bankrupt. And, it is possibly going to take all of America with it. Something needs to be done. In general, the options are (a) to completely change the system, (b) to modify the current system (usually by keeping it the same for current seniors but changing it for people not yet in or sometimes near retirement), or (c) increasing the amount collected to cover the increasing costs.

The amount collected to cover Social Security costs should be increased?

Social security as it is today is going bankrupt. And, it is possibly going to take all of America with it. Something needs to be done. In general, the options are (a) to completely change the system, (b) to modify the current system (usually by keeping it the same for current seniors but changing it for people not yet in or sometimes near retirement), or (c) increasing the amount collected to cover the increasing costs.

More Issues

Click here if you care about Medicare

Medicare

The age Medicare can begin being collected needs to be raised (gradually).?

Medicare as it is today is going bankrupt; something needs to be done. In general, the options are (a) to completely change/eliminate the system, (b) to modify the current system (usually by limiting current or at least future costs by adding limits), or (c) increasing the amount collected in taxes to cover the increasing costs.

Medicare as it is now should be eliminated?

Medicare as it is today is going bankrupt; something needs to be done. In general, the options are (a) to completely change/eliminate the system, (b) to modify the current system (usually by limiting current or at least future costs by adding limits), or (c) increasing the amount collected in taxes to cover the increasing costs.

Seniors should have more choice in what their Medicare plan covers?

Medicare as it is today is going bankrupt; something needs to be done. In general, the options are (a) to completely change/eliminate the system, (b) to modify the current system (usually by limiting current or at least future costs by adding limits), or (c) increasing the amount collected in taxes to cover the increasing costs.

Click here if you care about Campaign Finance Reform

Campaign Finance Reform

Campaign funds should come significantly from taxpayer's dollars to level the playing field

At the very least, all campaign donations over a certain size should be public information

Click here if you care about Immigration

Immigration

We should allow significantly more immigrants to be able to come to the US legally

Children of illegal immigrants born in the US should not have citizenship

States should have the right to make and enforce laws regarding immigrants in the US illegally

The government should have a realistic road to citizenship for illegal immigrants here in the US without having to return to their native countries

Click here if you care about Terrorism

Terrorism

The government needs to do more to stop terrorism from occurring here in the US

The government needs to fight terrorists wherever they attack around the world

We have not really won the "War on Terror"

The "War on Terror" should never have been attempted

Click here if you care about Abortion

Abortion

Abortion is murder

Abortion should be legal when a woman is raped

Only certain types of abortion should be legal, not all such as partial birth abortion

Abortion laws should be determined by each state and not the federal government

Click here if you care about Gay Marriage

Gay Marriage

I support allowing gay couples to be married

I support a Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as between a single man and woman

I support gay couples being able to get a civil union as a legal comparable to marriage

Click here if you care about The Environment

The Environment

A cap and trade carbon policy makes good sense

Global warming is man-made and must be man-corrected

The only proper response to global warming is to reduce carbon usage

The government should allow for limited disturbances of wildlife to allow for oil drilling in the US

Click here if you care about Racial issues

Racial issues

There should be much bigger penalties for race related "hate crimes"

The government should do more to promote affirmative action

The government needs stronger regulations to ensure equal opportunity

The government should consider race when analyzing people as potential terrorists and enemies of the US

The government should stop all forms of utilizing race in decisions

Click here if you care about The Separation of Church and State

The Separation of Church and State

From a federal/state standpoint, local communities should have the right to either have or stop religious laws and buildings

It's supposed to be freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion

Click here if you care about Judicial Bounds

Judicial Bounds

Judges need to be stopped when they try to create law rather than interpret the laws as written

Judges should judge Constitutionality with "Original Intent" in mind

Click here if you care about Term Limits

Term Limits

Every position in government should have a limit as to the number of terms/years a person can serve in that position

Click here if you care about Gun Control

Gun Control

We need more gun control laws.

We need fewer gun control laws

Click here if you care about The Military

The Military

I support “Don't Ask Don't Tell"

The US is above using torture on prisoners of any type, even if it would save lives

The Afghan/Iraq war is over, so we should be bringing all of our troops home

Our military is much bigger than it really needs to be

Our military is much smaller than it really needs to be

Click here if you care about Privacy

Privacy

The government is correct to invade our privacy in order to defend this country from threats

The government should continue to respect an individual's privacy in its dealings with suspected illegal behavior

Click here if you care about Marijuana

Marijuana

The prohibition of Marijuana should be lifted; it should be regulated like tobacco and alcohol

Only Marijuana trafficking should be illegal. Small amounts produced or in possession for personal use should not be prosecuted

Click here if you care about Foreign Relations

Foreign Relations

We should send military to Syria to stop the current massacre

The US government should do more to guarantee that "bad" nations do not get nuclear weapons

The US should continue its support of Israel, even if that means injustice to Palestinians

The US must force Israel to keep its former agreements and allow for a separate Palestinian state

Click here if you care about Fiscal Policy

Fiscal Policy

Our national debt is out of control and needs to be brought down significantly

Our government budget deficit cannot be sustained

We need a law or amendment to force government to always have and stick to a balanced budget

As long as the government can keep inflation under control, our current monetary system has been working

Our inflationary monetary system is hurtful and should be replaced with a system without intentional inflation

Click here if you care about Policing

Policing

The death penalty (capital punishment) should not be allowed.

The "War On Drugs" needs to be ended

Click here if you care about Animal Rights

Animal Rights

The only rights animals have is that humans should not torture them or hurt them for no reason

Click here if you care about Corporation Regulation

Corporation Regulation

Corporations should have the right to limit what their customers can access through their internet data pipe.

The government should stop regulating utility companies and allow for free market competition

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