Based on the summary in this Newsday article*, here are the pros and cons as I see them to Obama and McCain:
McCain
| Pros |
Cons |
- “Would declare a summer gas tax holiday, suspending the 18.4 cent federal gas tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day.” Sounds useful to me, but it also sounds like a symptom treatment rather than treating the root cause.
- “…establish a permanent research and development tax credit equal to 10 percent of wages spent on R&D”, with respect to the economy and I think to vehicle fuel efficiency–the article is a little unclear.
- “Would also ban any Internet taxes.”
- “Would close the base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.” Obama would do this also.
- “Backs more nuclear power and other alternative energy sources, pledging to build 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030 and eventually 100 total.”
- “But opposes drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.”
- “Would commit $2 billion annually to develop clean coal technology.” I don’t know what’s being contributed to research in this technology currently, but $2 billion sounds like a lot, and I definitely think this is a good area for research. It would especially help Kentucky, considering we have a lot of coal.
- “Favors tougher fuel efficiency, and led Senate efforts to cap greenhouse emissions.”
- “Wants greenhouse emissions cut by 60 percent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels.” Obama wants this also, but Obama wants to cut it by 80%.
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- “Would lower corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent, saying the United States currently has second highest corporate tax rate in the world.” And our corporations are doing so poorly? Considering they probably have teams of lawyers and accountants whose goal is to figure out how to save them the most money in taxes, while the average working Joe does not, I don’t think corporations deserve any other breaks.
- “Does not believe in setting a withdrawal timetable from Iraq.” I want us out of there, pronto, without any dilly-dallying around.
- “Would send three additional combat brigades to Afghanistan.”
- “Pledges to revitalize U.S. public diplomacy and create independent agency with purpose of getting America’s message to the world.” Getting our message to the world? That sounds vaguely creepy to me, and like a first step in invading other countries like Iraq to force our governmental style down their throats. I think the article should clarify what is meant by this.
- “Voted for the Patriot Act in 2001 and for its reauthorization in 2006.”
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Obama
| Pros |
Cons |
- “Would inject $75 billion into the economy through tax cuts and direct spending.” I prefer tax cuts to refunds, because tax refunds just seem like treating the symptom–why is the government taxing us that money in the first place if they’re just going to give it back in a refund later? Just don’t take it from us to begin with.
- “The plan includes an immediate $250 tax cut for workers and their families.” This seems like a good idea to me, rather than cutting taxes on folks that have a lot of money or corporations, which have tons of money.
- “Pledges to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months, by the end of next year.” Damnit, I want our people home; let other countries figure themselves out–we shouldn’t be babysitting them.
- “Would close controversial prison at U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.” McCain wants this also.
- He would revise the Patriot Act.
- “Pledges to secure chemical plants and ensure safe, secure disposal of nuclear waste.”
- “Proposes eliminating U.S. need for Middle Eastern and Venezuelan oil within 10 years.”
- “Proposes to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050.”
- “Wants 10 percent of U.S. electricity to come from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.”
- “Wants 1 million plug-in hybrid cars on road by 2015, and tougher fuel efficiency standards.”
- “Proposes new $7,000 tax credit for purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles.” Thank you! This is a much better idea than a tax credit for buying an SUV.
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- “Voted to reauthorize Patriot Act in 2006.”
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Edit: haha, in response to Amanda’s comment about not knowing who I plan to vote for, I plan to vote for Obama because I feel I agree with him the most out of the two. That’s not just based on the pros and cons listed above, but also on the idea that I dislike the Bush Administration and think the McCain one would be more of the same. Also, I vehemently disagree with Sarah Palin’s stances on a few issues, including abortion and the teaching of creationism in school, whereas I haven’t found anything in Biden’s views that makes me shudder.
* Note: these pros and cons are taken only from what I read in that particular article, and do not take into account McCain’s or Obama’s views on abortion, nationalized healthcare, the teaching of creationism or intelligent design in schools, concealed carry laws, or any other topic not mentioned in the article. I should make a more complete pros/cons list for each candidate based on all the sources I find at some point, as well as such a list for the VP candidates.
Ok I like both Obama and McCain but the person who wrote this article ….makes McCain look really bad…… you shouldn’t put one Con on one person and five on another!?!!? If Obama was to cut soooo many taxes i just got one question. Where is he going to get the money for all that, with our economy like this we would have a depression. I agree with John… “nobody is perfect” when u publish an article do it rite plz…… :)
I agree with John……if you are publishing ah article you should the same amount of pros and cons for each canidate… I am for both parties and this article is anti-McCain?!?!!?
:) FYI
AshleyTwang, that makes so little sense I can’t even begin to wrap my head around why you would think such a thing. I would only put an equal number of pros and cons for each candidate if I liked each candidate the same amount, which I don’t. I guess if I made a pros and cons list for Jesus Christ and Hitler, you’d have me equal them out, too. This article was in part written to help me decide who to vote for, and as I read the Newsday article and found things I liked and disliked about each, a clear picture of who I should vote for came out. No way was I going to lie and say I liked some things about McCain that I didn’t, or that I disliked some things about Obama that I did. That would have been completely useless in helping me choose a candidate to support. Honestly, some of the comments on here are getting a bit stupid, so I’m going to close the comment form. Thanks to everyone who contributed a reasonable, well-thought comment.