Obama supports a new school construction program to improve crumbling
schools. Supports recruitment of a “new generation” of teachers,
improving teacher pay, and improvement in early childhood education.
Opposes school vouchers. Has called for a “STEP UP” summer learning
program for disadvantaged children through partnerships between
community groups and schools. Supports increased funding for Head
Start. Opposes reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind law until
it undergoes reform. Supports merit pay for “master teachers” but
opposes merit pay for teachers based on test outcomes.
Foreign Policy -
Obama spoke out against the war in Iraq when he was a state senator in Illinois
but was not in Congress when the vote to authorize the use of force was taken.
Supports a plan to immediately begin troop withdrawal from Iraq at a pace of one
or two brigades a month, to be completed by the end of 2008. Has called for a
new constitutional convention in Iraq, to be convened with the United Nations.
Gun Control -
Says he believes that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms,
but this does not mean that the state or local government can't constrain the
exercise of that right and he was the most strident candidate when it came to
enforcing and expanding gun control laws.
Health Care -
Obama’s promotes a new national health plan that covers the nation’s uninsured,
which would guarantee eligibility, provide coverage similar to the federal
employee health insurance program, offer “affordable” premiums, co-pays and
deductibles; and allow enrollees to keep their coverage when they change jobs.
He would introduce a requirement for all children to have health insurance and
pledges to expand eligibility for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health
Insurance Program (SCHIP). Businesses that do not provide insurance to their
employees would be assessed a fee based on a percentage of their payroll. His
plan would allow states to continue developing their own reform plans. He would
also make employer health plans eligible for reimbursement of catastrophic costs
provided the savings would be used to offset employee premiums. Obama also
pledges to support disease prevention programs, promote quality and cost
transparency and reform medical malpractice insurance.
Homeland Security -
Close Guantanamo in order to reach Muslims; wants to restore habeas corpus; send
a strong signal that we are going to talk directly to not just our friends but
also to our enemies.
Energy/Environment - Obama pledges to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a goal of 80 percent by 2050, and make the
U.S. a leader in the effort to combat climate change by leading a new
international global warming partnership. Supports implementing a cap-and-trade
program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Pledges to invest $150 billion over
the next 10 years to develop and implement “climate-friendly energy supplies,
protect our existing manufacturing base and create millions of new jobs.”
Pledges to double federal clean energy research spending. Supports efforts to
reduce dependence on foreign oil, and to reduce oil consumption by 35 percent by
2030. Would require that 25 percent of electricity come from renewable sources
by 2025.
Social Security - Obama opposes
privatization of Social Security. Has pledged to take steps to keep Social
Security and Medicare solvent. Promises to amend federal bankruptcy laws to keep
companies from choosing bankruptcy to avoid private pension obligations.
Promises to eliminate the income tax for seniors who earn less than $50,000 a
year.
Welfare & Poverty - Support housing assistance for welfare recipients.
Continue to give states and local governments responsibility for welfare
programs through block grants.
Maintain current welfare-to-work requirements in order for states to
qualify for block grants.
Restore food stamp programs to legal immigrants.
Transfer homeless housing programs to states through block grants.
Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other
non-profit organizations.
Provide states with additional funding for Medicaid programs to
alleviate increasing state budget deficits. Believes that states should be given the flexibility
to provide assistance to welfare recipients as they see fit, including
housing assistance."
Senator Obama, as do all candidates, has what I consider both good and bad
ideas, with some being sorely needed but his rise to power in a relatively short
time from being a virtual unknown to a prominent presidential candidate is
amazing. He was voted the most liberal senator person and has a lack of
substantial experience in military, diplomatic and foreign affairs, which can be
viewed as good or bad.
Senator Obama has proposed uncapping the payroll tax, which is directed
at those making the most money but will hit people up and down the
income ladder. This is proposed for folks earning more that $200,000 a
year, his tax hike on payrolls would actually slam middle-income
earners. The cap on wages subject to the payroll tax is presently
$102,000. By eliminating that cap veteran firemen, cops, teachers, and
health-service workers, will be affected along with a variety of other
occupations. Raising taxes in the middle of a depression is never
a good economic plan, nor is taxing the middle classes to finance
support of illegal aliens.
We do need a change as the current situation is affecting all Americans by
the huge jump in gas prices, which is forcing more middle class citizens to stop
donating to food banks and start requesting assistance from these same food
banks. This fuel hike will be visible across the spectrum of groceries,
medicines, jobs, etc. Again, terrorists must be strictly dealt with to avoid a repeat
on the 911 disaster, and not convene a conference with the United Nations to
work things out with the Muslims who are in dissent against America.
A comment about how ignorant small-town turnip-truckers “cling to guns or
religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them doesn't bode well as like
other members of congress who aspire to higher office, there is no contact with
the average person, who works hard for a living and has a right to those
comments. This seems to be an elitist comment, as those who don't believe as you
do are deemed to be ignorant of the issues.
Reduction of the greenhouse gases and a dependence on foreign fuel sources is
an excellent idea but the actual implementation and success of such a plan
sorely needs an actual working plan to succeed. Senator Obama is a master of
oratory, often deemed to be like Jack Kennedy, seeming to be a quasi-messianic
promoter of a bi-partisan change for the better. As will all candidates,
check their voting record to judge how they qualify for your support.
On Senator Obama, I grade him a C- as I did the other two as I am not confident
that any contender can do what I consider best for America as a whole.
Congressional voting records, a matter of public record - http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htm
That's my opinion and I'm
sticking to it!
