Domestic Policy was discussed on the third and final presidential debate on October 15, 2008. With Joe the Plummer on his way to political fame, this was an excellent opportunity for John McCain to be aggressive and show how his policies shape up back home. Education, Health Care, Economic plans, and Taxes were among the primary topics under review. This is how things stacked up. ..
Education was a major point in the debate that affects everyone in campus' nationwide, their children, now and in the near future. Both senators were vying for more funds for early childhood education and providing parents with options to send their kids to the schools that they need. Charter schools were mentioned to improve competition and reward good teachers.
There were programs presented to recruit desperately needed teachers, they include: Teach for America and Troops to Teachers. These programs can also reduce the unemployment rate for retired soldiers.
For the college student, McCain guns for student loans to provide a feasible repayment schedule and a full student loan system for in state tuition.
No Child Left Behind was brought up as an attempt for the nation to address public education through a series of unfunded mandates. The concept was noble but it has caused a whole set of new problems in addition to not solving the one it was intended for. This policy is said to be under the list of programs needing reform. (Chya)
Barack Obama said something that didn't suit me. While his verbiage was eloquent and very flattering it bothered me. He said that college students weren't a special interests group. I hate to say it but college students are a special interest group. We do not reflect a separate class, a specific party, or the majority of the nation. We are a group who aim to affect public policy.
Community Colleges were brought up during the Energy and Trade portion of the debate. McCain advocated worker retraining for displaced workers. This is something that colleges already do and those who go to the Workforce office can attest to. Offices that give benefits to students are a dire need in the current economic state. Increasing funds for these programs can only help more people in a tough situation that is growing into an economic crisis.
To address this economic crisis McCain has added tax breaks for seniors, capital gains and write offs for stock losses. He plans to allocate 300 billion in funds from the rescue bill and buy up 11 million mortgages to keep those homeowners who are on the brink of losing their homes in their homes. McCain referred to Senator Clinton, and action taken to reverse the Great Depression in support of this plan to increase home value. He also plans to take on companies that support subprime mortgages.
Obama however, intends to raise taxes on a foundation of the economy…small businesses. The middle class uses and is a part of the small business industry. By raising taxes on small business owners, a class that is smaller in number to the middle class and make less revenue to large corporations, will be financially crushed. While it may be fair to tax those who can afford it, can small businesses foot the bill? Can 2% pay taxes to support 98%? Will our small businesses which are also doing their part in driving the economy, providing goods and jobs survive a tax increase when so many people are struggling?
People wonder why so many people are losing jobs as companies are outsourcing. Having the second highest tax rate on business in the world might affect those decisions. If those taxes are increased what would happen to the corporations we still have?
Raising taxes on small businesses feels like we are punishing those who make a little bit of success. McCain doesn't want to raise taxes. No one does but how else will Obama fund the tax cuts for the middle class?
McCain includes a pay freeze across the board to stop excessive spending reducing further debt and is willing to decrease defense spending in his plan. Some specific programs he plans to cut are the marketing assistance, ethanol subsidies, and eliminating a tariff on sugar cane based ethanol from Brazil.
Both sides offer spending to benefit the US both in the short run and long run. Obama has mentioned several times of investment. Ultimately investment is not a bad thing. However, can we afford to invest in all of his projects? A college student barely surviving on ramen noodles cannot make investments right off the bat. With this economic crisis it looks doubtful that we have the money to spend. We can't take all of his projects on at once.
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