debates
The Presidential Debates
By Daniel G. Jennings
I finally watched one of the presidential debates - that held on Friday Oct. 7, and I noticed something: there was little or no difference between what the candidates were saying.
Both President Bush and Senator Kerry were making essentially the same promises and taking the same basic stand on the issues. The differences between the positions the two candidates take on the issues are minor.
First take the Iraq War, which seems to be the big issue of the day because the media says so. Mr. Kerry's solution to the Iraq problem is to form an alliance of nations to secure and rebuild that country while training Iraqis to fight their own battles and secure their nation. Isn't that Mr. Bush's Iraq policy? Yes, it is. Kerry occasionally mumbles something about bringing in new allies but doesn't say who these allies are or where he'd find them.
Now take the war on terrorism Kerry promises to aggressively pursue terrorists and capture or kill them. That is exactly what Mr. Bush has done so there's no real difference there. Like Bush, Kerry would increase security around the country.
Then there's energy policy Bush's policy is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by increasing investment in research to develop alternate energy sources namely hydrogen powered cars. Guess what Kerry's policy is he'd increase investment in research to develop alternate energy resources. The only difference being that Kerry would invest in solar panels and windmills rather than hydrogen cars. Either way we'll still be importing oil and burning coal to get most of our energy. Even if these new technologies pan out they'll take years perhaps decades to develop and perfect.
Now onto healthcare neither Kerry or Bush wants to really reform the healthcare system and say set up a real national healthcare system for people under 65. Instead they'll tweak the existing private system. Bush would make something called medical savings accounts available to people. Kerry would tax the rich to somehow give health coverage to the poor (he doesn't say how this would work). Neither would do anything to lower health care costs or ensure universal coverage. Either way insurance companies will make a fortune and the taxpayer will get soaked.
In economic matters both candidates will try to boast the economy and create jobs by giving selective tax breaks. That's it. Bush would give across the board breaks to big business. Kerry to businesses that don't export jobs. Nothing like public works projects to generate jobs and stimulate the economy are planned.
In intelligence matters both candidates would create a new central clearing house for intelligence data, in other words more bureaucracy and bureaucrats. How will that fight terrorism or locate and neutralize enemies?
On the matter of free trade and foreign trade the candidates on are on much the same tack. Both favor it, but claim not to and take token steps to appear to be protecting our trade while exporting jobs. Kerry's solution is tax breaks to keep certain jobs in the US, a doubtful strategy, Bush's answer is selected tariffs to protect industries like steel. Both are token issues. On the issue of importing cheaper drugs from Canada both Kerry and Bush claim to favor this but Bush hasn't implemented a plan. Kerry supports it even though it would probably mean opening the door to the import of drugs from China or India. This doesn't seem to bother Kerry who like Bush is a long time advocate of free trade.
Then there was all the stuff that wasn't discussed. First transportation, I haven't heard the t-word mentioned in this campaign even though we're facing a national transportation crisis. Our highways are clogged by gridlock, many of them are aging, wearing out and falling apart, our railroads are ancient and in many cases overloaded to the point of breaking, passenger rail is nonexistent, airports are crowded and aging, mass transit is sorely lacking in many areas, nonexistent in others and where it exists is often old and limited, and our passenger rail system is simply a bad joke.
Beyond that there is military reform, which is needed, space (our space program is in sorry shape), immigration and overall foreign policy. (we aren't developing the real relationships needed with emerging powers like India and China). I don't hear the candidates mentioning this stuff either. Not only are the candidates taking the same stands on the issues they're ignoring the same issues.
Instead of giving us a clear choice the candidates are giving us two sides to the same coin. It is time for the American people to demand something better from our political class.