The INFORMED VOTER
Presented by LCCC’s chapter of PHI THETA KAPPA
Political Party
TENETS
Democratic Party
Background
Thomas Jefferson founded DemocraticRepublican Party in 1793
Andrew Jackson split his own coalition from
the main party in a bid for the White House
and the current party Americans know as
Democratic evolved.
Tenants
Beliefs are outlined and protected by the Constitution.
Democrats are those Americans who believe in
government by the people.
Democrats believe in rights of life, liberty, dignity,
security, equal opportunity, justice, privacy, and private
property. All of these should be accomplishable
without impediments by other citizens or government
institutions.
I.E. Democrats cherish individual freedom.
Along with individual freedom, an individual also must
act responsibly for the nation and the whole of society.
Tenants
Societies must have laws that the majority of the
people support and accept.
Dissenting minorities are protected and have the right
to have an opinion different than the majority.
The people rule and thus, the people rule elect
government.
Government should respect and protect individual
rights as well as individual freedoms.
Civil liberties must be guaranteed for ALL citizens by
the government.
Government must work for the common good.
Republican Party
Background
Early 1850’s- these anti-slavery activists found
commonality with rugged individuals looking to
settle in western lands, free of government
charges.
1856- Republicans became a national party by
nominating John C. Fremont for President.
1860- elected Abraham Lincoln, the Republicans
firmly established themselves as a major political
party.
Tenets
Limited Government always subservient to
electorate.
Believe in Civil Rights and are against the threat of
majority rule.
Believe in Justice as Jus Fidus Libertatum (Law Is a
Safeguard of Freedom)
Religious freedom.
Political Integrity or the right to criticize, or protest
freely and independently.
Moral obligation to a standard code of conduct.
Responsibility of public officials to act as
responsible overseers to our economic actions.
Competence as leaders in order to avoid the “easy
way out” options and do what is best.
Be stewards of the environment and take a
responsible route in dealing with the choices that
may impact our planet’s ecology.
“We are Republicans because we believe in
Balance between guns and butter…”
Largest
rd
3
Parties
These parties arise in response to a social dilemma, or as
a product of a schism of a major party, for variant
ideological beliefs.
LIBERTARIAN PARTY:
Founded in 1971, the Libertarian party is the third
largest political party in America.
Believe the federal government should play a minimal
role in the day-to-day affairs of the people.
Believe that the only appropriate role of government is to
protect the citizens from acts of physical force or fraud.
Limit itself to a police, court, prison system and military.
Support free market economy and are dedicated to
protection of civil liberties and individual freedom
CONSTITUTION PARTY:
1992 & 1999- American Taxpayer Party Howard
Phillips was presidential candidate.
National convention in 1999- party officially changed
its name to the "Constitution Party" and again chose
Howard Phillips as presidential candidate for 2000.
Strict interpretation of Constitution.
REFORM PARTY:
Birthed by Ross Perot and his presidential campaign.
As its name implies, Reform Party members are
dedicated to reforming the American political system.
Support candidates they feel will "re-establish trust" in
government by displaying high ethical standards
coupled with fiscal responsibility and accountability.
Green Party
Started extremely small in January, 1984. Branched off from
first meeting and eventually gained a sizable following.
The American Green Party's platform is based on the following
10 Key Values:
1.
Ecological wisdom
2.
Community-based economics
3.
Grassroots democracy
4.
Decentralization
5.
Gender equality
6.
Personal and social responsibility
7.
Respect for diversity
8.
Nonviolence
9.
Global responsibility
10. Future focus
Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney
5 key issues
1.Economy
2.Education
3.Environment
4.Foreign Policy
5.Health Care
Issue:
ECONOMY
Obama’s Plan
Tax policy
O Individual taxes
O Make Bush-era tax rates permanent for everyone
except those making more than $200,000
($250,000 if married).
O For families earning more than that, he would
raise the top two tax brackets to 36 percent and
39.6 percent.
O Corporate Taxes
O Tax credit for companies that bring jobs back to
the United States
O The president would lower the top corporate rate
to 28 percent from 35 percent
Obama’s Plan
Regulatory Policy
O Remove unnecessary regulatory and reporting
saving an anticipated $4 billion over the next five
years.
O Simplify and to improve hazard warnings for
workers saving employers over $2.5 billion over
the next five years
O Eliminate regulation of the railroad industry,
saving up to $340 million in the near future
O The Internal Revenue Service will eliminate 55
million hours in annual paperwork by
consolidating reporting requirements and
streamlining various tax forms
Obama’s Plan
Cutting Waste
O Eliminating Duplication, Cutting Waste,
and Saving Money
O Cracking Down on Waste, Fraud, and
Abuse
O Leveraging Technology to Save Money
and Deliver Results
O Making Government More Open and
Responsive
Romney’s Plan
Tax Policy
O Individual Taxes
O Maintain marginal rates at current levels
O Further reduce taxes on savings and investment
O Eliminate the death tax
O Long-term goal: pursue a flatter, fairer, simpler
structure
O Corporate Taxes
O Lower the corporate income tax rate to 25 percent
O Transition to a “territorial” tax system
Romney’s Plan
Regulatory Policy
O Repeal and replace Obamacare and
Dodd-Frank .
O Review and eliminate Obama-era
regulations
O Cap new regulatory costs at zero dollars
O Require Congress to approve all major
regulations
O Reform legal liability system
Romney’s Plan
Fiscal Policy
O Cut federal spending and cap it at 20
percent of GDP
O Reduce the Federal Workforce
O Work to cut the current size of the federal
workforce by 10 percent, saving money
O Undertake Fundamental Restructuring
O Pursue a Balanced Budget Amendment
Romney’s Plan
Fiscal Policy
O Enact Entitlement Reform
O Social Security
Raise the eligibility age
Change the way benefits are indexed to inflation for high-income
retirees
O Will not raise the payroll tax
O Will not expand the base of income to which the tax is applied
O
O
O Medicare
O
O
Keep the system solvent
Introduce market-based dynamics
O Medicaid
Romney will push for the conversion of Medicaid to a block grant
administered by the states
O Saves the federal government over $200 billion over 10 years
O Provides states with the flexibility to develop innovative and
effective approaches best suited to their needs
O
Issue:
EDUCATION
Obama’s Plan
Rewarding responsible students
Prevent federal student loan interest rates from
doubling for more than 7 million students
Cap federal student loan repayments at 10% of
income.
Establish the American Opportunity Tax Credit
Double funding for Pell Grants so more
Americans can afford college
Keeping good teachers in the classroom
Support the jobs of thousands of educators
and call for incentives to keep the best ones
in the classroom
Using local solutions to improve schools
Set a goal to cut tuition growth in half over
the next decade, working with states and
colleges
Give states the flexibility to create their own
ambitious plans for reform
Providing pathways to good jobs
Invest 2 billion dollars in community colleges to
provide education and career-training programs
Propose forging new partnerships between
community colleges and employers
Partnering with states to raise standards
Implement the Race to the Top initiative
Ensuring a good future for our veterans
Veterans and service members can get a college
education and find work when they return from
service
Expand the post-9/11 G.I. Bill
Romney’s Plan
Promoting Choice and Innovation
Allow low income and special needs students to
choose which school to attend by making Title I
and IDEA funds portable.
Provide incentives for states to increase choices
for parents and develop quality alternatives.
Build on the success of effective Charter and
Digital schools.
Expand the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program
to serve as a model for the nation.
Ensuring High Standards Responsibility for Results
Reform No Child Left Behind by emphasizing
transparency and responsibility for results.
Recruiting and Rewarding Great Teachers
Attract and reward great teachers through
increased flexibility and block grants.
Eliminate unnecessary certification requirements
that discourage new teachers.
Higher Ed: A New Vision of Affordable and Applicable Learning
Strengthen and simplify the Financial Aid system.
Welcome private sector participation instead of
pushing it away.
Replace burdensome regulation with innovation
and competition.
Issue:
ENERGY &
ENVIRONMENT
Obama’s Plan
Use all our resources including: oil, gas, wind, solar,
nuclear, bio-fuels, and more.
Investments made thus far doubled wind and solar
energy in this country and created more jobs.
Continue the development of technologies that allow us
to have to put less oil and gas into our cars, buildings,
plants, etc.
Launch a program that brought together the nation’s
best scientists and engineers and entrepreneurs to
figure out how to power car’s by natural gas, which we do
not have to import and may be exporting soon.
Investments made in development of gasoline,
diesel, and jet fuel made from the plant
substance algae.
End taxpayer giveaways to an industry and use
that money to reduce our deficit and doubledown on a clean energy industry.
Replace up to 17 percent of the oil we import
for transportation with this fuel that we can
grow right here in the United States, which
would give us greater energy security, meaning
lower costs, more jobs, and a stronger
economy.
Romney’s Plan
Empower states to control onshore energy
development which will give power to states to
control all energy forms excluding “off-limit”
lands.
Open offshore areas for energy development;
including the coasts of Virginia and the
Carolinas.
Pursue a North American Energy Partnership by
crossing borders and establishing pipelines and
other infrastructures with Mexico and Canada.
Ensure accurate assessment of energy
resources and seeing true extent of resources.
Restore transparency and fairness to permitting
and regulation, by pursuing measured reforms
of our environmental laws and regulations.
Facilitate private-sector-led development of new
energy technologies, through jobs in research
and development.
Eliminate barriers preventing new energy
technologies from succeeding
Issue:
FOREIGN
POLICY
Obama’s Plan
SYRIA:
O Call for Assad to step down
O Provide non-lethal aid to rebels
O Support other countries providing arms
IRAN:
O Tighten sanctions
O Pursue negotiations
O Prevent from nuclear armament
Obama’s Plan
AFGHANISTAN:
O Hand over responsibility in 2014
O Allow small number of troops
CHINA:
O Filed complaints w/WTO
O Increase military presence in Asia
Romney’s Plan
SYRIA:
O Call for more support for rebels
O Support rebels who share US values
O Provide arms to rebels
IRAN:
O Tighten sanctions
O Skeptical on negotiations
O Prevent from nuclear armament
Romney’s Plan
AFGHANISTAN:
O Hand over responsibility in 2014
O Heed US commanders’ advice
CHINA:
O Labeled China “currency manipulator”
O Increase military presence in Asia
Issue:
HEALTH CARE
Obama’s Plan
Expand access to free preventive services like flu
shots, diabetes screenings, and mammograms
Provide rebates for consumers who were overcharged by their insurance companies
Put an end to lifetime caps on coverage, so that
families have the security of knowing that their
insurance will cover them when they need it most
Make Medicare more efficient, adding eight years
to the life of the current Medicare Trust Fund
People with Medicare who fell into the “donut
hole” have saved an average of $600 this year on
prescription drugs
Believes a woman’s health care choices are
personal decisions, best made with her doctor—
without interference from politicians
Fight back against Republican attempts to defund
Planned Parenthood
End the health insurance practice of charging
women more than men for the same coverage
Make sure health insurance companies cover
recommended preventive care like birth control,
mammograms, and other cancer screenings
Improve Medicare—helping seniors save on
prescription drugs and get access to free
preventive care like annual wellness visits and
cancer screenings
Romney’s Plan
Restore State Leadership and Flexibility
Block grant Medicaid and other payments to states
Limit federal standards and requirements on both
private insurance and Medicaid coverage
Ensure flexibility to help the uninsured, including
public-private partnerships, exchanges, and
subsidies
Ensure flexibility to help the chronically ill,
including high-risk pools, reinsurance, and risk
adjustment
Offer innovation grants to explore non-litigation
alternatives to dispute resolution
Promote Free Markets and Fair Competition
Cap non-economic damages in medical
malpractice lawsuits
Empower individuals and small businesses to
form purchasing pools
Prevent discrimination against individuals with
pre-existing conditions who maintain
continuous coverage
Facilitate IT interoperability
Empower Consumer Choice
End tax discrimination against the individual
purchase of insurance
Allow consumers to purchase insurance across
state lines
Unshackle HSAs by allowing funds to be used
for insurance premiums
Promote "co-insurance" products
Promote alternatives to "fee for service"
Encourage "Consumer Reports"-type ratings of
alternative insurance plans
You have been informed…
Now go vote!