The 2012 Presidential Campaign Post

The 2012 Presidential Campaign Post

Winning is the Priority

Expect both candidates to lie a little (if not a lot) about their opponent's record and their own.  Expect unspecific answers to general questions that sound good, but aren't helpful in making an informed decision.  Fact-check the comments and claims that upset you the most, and remember to read up on the policy stances you agree with before checking to see who actually would better represent you in office.

What Do I Think About the Candidates?

Honestly, I don't particularly like either of them.  Like I said when I started this blog, I will not tell you who to vote for, just encourage greater informed participation.  If you want to know who I'm voting for you'll have to ask me personally.  But know this, whoever wins is my President.  Even if I didn't vote for him, he gets a certain amount of respect from me and I will continue to participate in the political system constructively.

I Can, however, Share My Opinions on Policies for Our Great Country.  (here are 3 topics that are always hot)

Economy - I've received a few messages in the past that I sometimes come off as an austerity advocate when it comes to the economy, but let me make myself a little more clear.  I don't support severe and sudden cuts.  Cutting the deficit is important, but it has to be done gradually and be supported by loose monetary policies.  (Borrowing at near 0 percent is the right policy at this time, but unfortunately bank's are still tight on their lending to the folk's that could put it to good use, like small business owners.)  If Congress allows the automatic fiscal policies to take place (extreme tax increases AND extreme cuts), the US will go into a double-dip recession.

The best general plan is to gradually cut the deficit while choosing to subsidize winning industries.  We need to make cuts that reduce waste and fraud (yes, the military does waste a lot of money, but it's not just them), reduce corporate tax rates to be competitive globally (they're terribly high right now), providing tax credits for certain things like manufacturing and R&D, end the Bush Tax Breaks (which will bring taxes for the wealthy back to the Clinton era), reduce the tax on repatriated corporate earnings (it's so high it's keeping money that belongs in the US outside of it), and more.  Republicans typically support all of the tax breaks and credits, but don't understand the spending and investment required to support the growth of certain industries (even though they support subsidies for things like corn and sugar).  Democrats usually understand government subsidies, but don't support the corporate tax breaks and credits (to them it just sounds like trickle down economics).  Time to work together US Congress.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform - Two things are at the forefront of this debate, a path to citizenship and the separation of H1B Visa workers from the normal considerations when people think of immigrants.  The H-1B Visa is given to highly skilled workers (such as those in high tech) and is limited to a very small number.  These immigrants are a very separate issue from the comprehensive reform needed and should be allowed in at very high numbers due to the positive effect they have on the economy.  As a child of the Silicon Valley, I strongly support allowing more H-1B immigrants in the country because they tend to create great companies, thus providing jobs for more Americans.

Instead of pushing our immigrants away, we should actually require them to stay in America for a certain number of years AFTER they have finished their education.

Creating a pathway to citizenship is a healthy policy, but it must be coupled with reforms to our immigration laws that are currently confused and fragmented.  

Reduced Use of Large Military Forces Overseas, Improved VA - We are not the world police and the use of our military forces should be reduced and strategically concentrated in areas that are indeed in our nations interest.  We need more special forces and specifically trained support groups for the kind of dangers we face in a world where insurgent warfare is more common.  But I believe these should be military forces.  The CIA has been used much too often by Obama to carry out assassinations and the number of drone strikes is disturbing as are the many civilian deaths associated with them.  The Intelligence Community needs to stay out of the spotlight as they support our military operations.

We need to support our troops better when they come home.  I'm surprised the Republicans blocked the bill to improve the already terrible situation we have with shortages in Veteran's Assistance and other benefits/support programs that take forever to get to our Vets.

Demand More of Your Politicians

Anyhow, as you can see there are many things to have an opinion about, research and see where your candidates really stand.  When you focus on policy,  you can cut through a lot of the nonsense and try to find the information you really need to make an informed decision.  Sometimes you might side with your usual party, sometimes you might really be against them.  More informed and thoughtful voters would require that political candidates do homework and know exactly where they stand on policies.  If you want more than insults, nonsensical political ads, and lies, demand more of your politicians by pushing them on the information you want to know.  Demand answers to your questions.