By Emily Simpson
Obama:
Foreign policy: Obama wants to keep troops in Egypt, Tunisia, and Liberia because, in his words, we are “one indispensable nation.” He has also raised funding to the embassy in Baghdad by 0.3 million dollars and is planning on creating embassies in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Abortion: Employees will be offered birth control under Obama’s plan, but it will come straight from insurance providers instead of employers. He also believes that there should be no restrictions on a mother’s right to abort her child. Obama has promised to repeal all restrictive legislation on abortions at the federal and state level, but will expand access to contraception and work to provide more comprehensive sexual education.
Economy/Budget: Obama wants to switch to a bottom-up economy, where the rules of business and government are “fair and apply to everyone.” He wants to put the focus on middle class citizens instead of “trickle-down” economics and will focus on economic justice rather than macroeconomic policy. Obama supports federal programs to protect rural economies and plans to establish a Financial Crimes Unit. He doesn’t know the details of next year’s budget due to his financial rescue plan.
Education: Obama created the Recovery Act to stop teacher layoffs, and he is working to increase number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers. He will reform No Child Left Behind by re-appropriating funding for the law and believes in making math and science a higher national priority. Obama wants to provide funding for intervention programs to decrease drop-out rate by placing emphasis on high-quality after-school opportunities. He has also been working to create teacher service scholarships, which will pay for four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate education.
Romney:
Foreign Policy: Romney promises to use Kim-Jong II’s death to push for a new regime in North Korea. He has stated that we will stand behind our current allies and that it is unacceptable for Iran to become a nuclear nation. Romney wants to keep our military strong, if not make it stronger, but also wants to try other methods to draw other countries towards democracy.
Abortion: Romney is pro-life, and believes that abortions are inherently wrong and life begins at conception. Although, he also believes states should not restrict contraception, . He plans to work on having Roe v. Wade overturned, and stated he would be “delighted” to sign a federal ban on abortion.
Economy/Budget: The cornerstones of Romney’s plan consist of an emphasis on job-training programs, small businesses, and balancing the budget. Romney proposed that anyone earning $200,000 or less should be able save their money tax-free and that those over the age of 65 should not have payroll taxes taken out of their incomes. He plans to cut waste by getting rid of unneeded government programs and supports letting companies go bankrupt instead of bailing them out.
Education: Romney backs “graduation tests,” where those who score in the top 25% of their high school would be assured access to four years of undergraduate schooling at a public college. He plans to lessen the federal government’s role in education and curriculum, giving the power back to parents and teachers. Romney also supports continued teacher evaluations to make sure only the best are educating our nation’s students.
