Erica's World

I've gone through so much data: transcripts for debates, each candidate's website, a book summarizing their platforms, and I've actually found time to watch a few debates now… But it's kind of information overload. I get candidates' positions confused, forget what I heard or read last month, etc. So I don't feel I'm making much progress… I decided last night to host my own debate. I will come up with a list of questions that I'd like to ask all of the candidates, and I will focus on these issues -the ones that are the most important to me rather than trying to digest it all…

I think that the most important thing is to get Bush out of the Whitehouse. Which candidate is most likely to be able to attract the more independant voters? He will need to be able to stand up to Bush, deal with dirty politics, and have good defensive and offensive strategies of his own.
The last question asks who will be the best at “playing the political game”, but that's not necessarily the person I want in office. I think we need new faces in Washington -people who haven't seen everyone around them catering to special intrests, people who aren't used to wasteful spending. I want someone who will look at the government through the eyes of a small businessman. Someone who will vow to cut excessive perks, senseless grants, etc before raising taxes. How will each candidate fix the current situation? How will they control spending and fight beurocracy?
I cannot imagine a world where blacks are treated as second class citizens. What society would single out people based on the color of their skin? Who would humiliate a segment of the population by making them use seperate (and far from equal) restrooms? -or make them sit at the back of the bus? -or send them to totally inadequate schools? We all know that this happened, and it happened here. A little over 30 years later there's no question that we were wrong for enslaving and segregating people. Today we face a new civil rights challenge in allowing gay, and lesbian couples the same rights that any other couple attains through marriage. Whether you call it marriage or a civil union, I can't believe that we haven't learned from the past. 30 years from now (actually I predict much sooner) we won't be able to imagine why we resisted allowing same-sex couples to receive the same benefits of marriage that heterosexual couples enjoy: insurance benefits, Social Security survivor benefits, hospital visitation rights and the ability to inherit a spouse's property without being taxed, etc. What is each candidate's stance on GLBT issues?
I used to shoot competitively. I'd like to get back into it one day. I also believe strongly in the 2nd amendment. If I lived alone there is no doubt that I would have a gun for protection, and I don't think the law should limit my choice to defend myself in any way. What is each candidate's stance on gun control?
The war in Iraq is not something that we can go back and change. So how will each candidate handle the war from here? What are their plans for the War On Terrorism? And how will they handle foriegn policy in general?
stance on the Patriot Act?

I love quizes. I've taken a few quizes that were supposed to determine who I should vote for. Here's a list of links to quizes and the results I've gotten from them:

http://www.votebyissue.org says that I agree with Kerry on “Security and Civil Liberties” and “Poverty and Homelessness”. Dean matches my views on Education, Health Care, and Trade Policy. Lieberman shares my views on the economy. I matched up well with Clark on the Role of the US Military, Terrorism, Gun Control, Social Security, and Family and Marriage. Kucinich reflected my views on Employment. Edwards and I agree on Rebuilding Iraq and “Energy and Environment”. I guess they're saying I should vote for Clark.
http://selectsmart.com/president/ Dean 68%, Libertarian candidate 67%, Sharpton 65%, Clark 61%, Socialist Candidate 52%, Kucinich 47%, LaRouche 47%, Edwards 46%, Phillips (Constitution) 44%, Kerry 35%, Bush 24%, Lieberman 23%.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Quiz.htm Clark 45% (40% personal, 50% economic), Graham 43% (45%/40%), Dean 43% (40%/45%), Cheney 43% (40%/45%), Braun 40% (50%/30%), Lieberman 38% (35%/40%), Gephardt 35% (45%/25%), Nader 30% (30%/30%), Sharpton 30% (35%/25%), Kerry 30% (25%/35%), Edwards 30% (30%/30%), Bush 28% (20%/35%), Kucinich 25% (25%/25%).