feralchimp vs. procon.org
I looked at procon.org for the first time today, to try to fill in many gaps in my understanding of what McCain and Obama have actually said about their positions.
Issues where I prefer McCain’s position:
pro globalization, clear anti eminent domain invocation for non-public use, pro nuclear power, anti ethanol subsidies, pro migration away from social security
Issues where I prefer Obama’s position:
pro abortion choice, pro explicit and sustained sex education, pro “attacking Iraq in 2003 was a mistake”, anti “don’t ask don’t tell”, pro aggressive federally-funded stem cell research, anti immunity for telecoms complicit in warrantless wiretapping cases
Supposed differentiators that aren’t swaying me due to my own ignorance and/or the candidates’ lack of clarity, or (least likely) a personal sense that the universe lacks sufficient example data with which a totally informed, reasonably intelligent person of moral standing could possibly make a sufficiently-informed choice:
No Child Left Behind, timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, supposed difference of opinion on Mexican border fencing, medical marijuana (both candidates are anti federal raids in states with pro weed laws), Bush tax cut permanence, gun control, universal health care
Wednesday, October 1st 2008 at 1:06 pm
Your stance seems well considered. Taking cultural and morality off the table, I disagree with every candidate’s educational policies (sex ed, child left behind, etc.), because this is not a federal matter - the POTUS’s opinions should be irrelevant.
Thursday, October 2nd 2008 at 4:42 pm
I’m intrigued by their views on Pakistan, especially against the backdrop of their respective views of the Iraq war. Obama is all “We will invade your country when and if we feel like it” and McCain is all “Eh, let’s not bother.”
Also of note: They’re both against gay marriage from an ethical standpoint. Lame.
Monday, October 6th 2008 at 1:05 pm
No Child Left Behind is a joke that is screwing over kids everywhere. It’s a reward/punishment system for the schools based on how well the students do. If a student is developmentally behind the other students in his/her class, they should repeat the grade, but every child that stays back means less funding for the school. So schools are pushing kids through the system when they’re not ready. I believe McCain is for keeping it, and Biden said it’s underfunded. I would suggest scrapping it and starting over, but I have suspended my campaign until I’m 35.