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Phone (419) 448-3200 Fax (419) 447-3274 General E-Mail: adtrib@bright.net Newsroom E-Mail: atnews@bright.net |
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There are differences between Bush and Gore You hear people say there are no differences between the two major political parties. What they probably mean is that Democrats and Republican on the national level have too many similarities -- especially in regard to issues such as influence peddling and pork barrel politics. There ARE philosophical differences between the parties ... and their candidates for president. An example is their stances on changes in Social Security. George W. Bush wants to allow Americans to put aside 2 percent of their Social Security contributions in a private investment account. The investments would be of the minimal risk variety, making an estimated 6 percent. When the time came for these people to retire, their modified Social Security checks would be augmented by money coming from the investments, which would have accumulated in accounts in their names. Al Gore opposes the proposal, calling it dangerous. The issue demonstrates one of their philosophical differences. Bush wants to free a tiny portion of the Social Security payments so that Americans have an opportunity to earn more toward a better retirement, at the same time gaining ownership of some of the money they are sending to the government. Gore's rejection of the plan shows his penchant for government control and his unwillingness to allow people to take back some of that ownership and control. The two candidates also differ greatly on national defense issues. Bush points to the problems with readiness faced by today's military. And he is right. The numbers of people in the armed forces are down for several reasons. One of them is pay. Those in our all-volunteer forces in too many cases are living near the poverty level. There also are major problems with equipment and spare parts. As documented weekly on this page in the columns of David Hackworth, the men and women serving their country are on a regular basis confronted with planes that won't fly, weapons that won't fire and vehicles that won't move because of spare parts shortages. Bush proposes to remedy those situations, and we would like to see him get the chance to do so. The military, despite these problems, has been called upon to become peacekeepers on an ongoing basis in a growing number of places around the world. We see the election of Bush as an opportunity to reduce the numbers of these missions and to gain time limits on the ones that remain. There also are differences between the two candidates in regard to truthfulness. We find it troubling that Gore has shown a proclivity to state "facts" about where he has been and what he has done, but which turn out to be invented. This tendency to "exaggerate," as his own staffers have called it, does not suit someone who wants to be president. The televised debates between Gore and Bush were not decisive in terms of one man winning or losing. But Bush gained from them anyway. Americans were able to see him as something other than the caricature that had been developed by national television commentators and by talk show hosts. Bush is no smooth talker, like Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan. But he is a straight talking Texan who would like a chance to do what he thinks will benefit the nation. And he has plans to surround himself with excellent people like Colin Powell. We would recommend a vote for George W. Bush. |
