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Individual Rights

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Abortion is a woman's right

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Abortion is a private decision between a woman and her doctor. You believe in the `Right to Choose' and are strongly pro-choice. The right to abortion empowers women and is an important part of women's health rights and women's reproductive freedom. That right includes the right to a government subsidy for poor women who want an abortion.
  • Support means you believe: Restricting `Partial-Birth Abortions' or other specific procedures is reasonable, but clinic access should be unfettered, since other women may choose differently than you. You are pro-choice, but believe that some restrictions are acceptable.
  • Oppose means you believe: The fetus is a human being who has rights independent of its mother's rights. You are "pro-life." While abortion under certain circumstances might be tolerated, the basic rights belong to the fetus, not the mother.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Abortion is immoral because it kills a human being, and should never be tolerated. `Roe v. Wade' should be overturned and we should protest abortion clinics as other forms of injustice are protested.

This question is looking for your views on abortion rights in general.  However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Uphold Roe v. Wade
  • No Litmus Test for nominees
  • Enforce Clinic Access laws
  • Oppose Strict Constructionist judges

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose").The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters.If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of the right to choose.
  • Support means you believe that abortions will occur anyway so we should make them safe for practical reasons.
  • Oppose means you believe more practical limitations are appropriate to make abortions rarer.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe that abortion violates the principle of taking a fetus' life.

1.   Abortion is a woman's right
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Require companies to hire more women & minorities

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Affirmative Action makes up for past injustice. Until blacks, women, and other minorities are proportionately represented in the upper classes of the economy and the workplace, society owes them a hand up. Government should actively enforce Affirmative Action laws in private companies.
  • Support means you believe: Under-represented groups should be favored, but perhaps basing results on formal quotas goes too far. Nevertheless, the government should prosecute companies which discriminate against women and minorities.
  • Oppose means you believe: Affirmative Action is a noble idea, but should not be enforced by government. Government should enforce an end to racial prejudice, period.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Affirmative Action is better described as Reverse Discrimination. Quotas based on race and gender are wrong, whichever race or gender they favor. Under-represented groups should fend for themselves without government intervention.

This question is looking for your views on the rights of groups which are under-represented in current society.  However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Support Affirmative Action
  • Women still experience a 'Glass Ceiling'
  • Blacks & Hispanics are not on a 'level playing field' with whites

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose").The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters.If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand.Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of correcting for past discrimination.
  • Support means you believe in the practical benefits of diversity.
  • Oppose means you believe some practical reforms are needed, and all quotas should be phased out.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe that affirmative action violates racist principles.

2.   Require companies to hire more women & minorities
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Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Neither governments nor corporations have any right to decide about sexual preferences. Give same-sex partners the same status as heterosexual partners, and give same-sex marriages the same status as traditional marriage.
  • Support means you believe: Homosexuals should be treated with equal respect as other members of society, not treated as criminals. You acknowledge the diversity of our society by including same-sex partners in most or all benefits of heterosexual marriage partners, but civil unions are preferable to using the term 'marriage.'
  • Oppose means you believe: Homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, and therefore those who choose it should live by the consequences of their choice. Marriage between a man and a woman is the central institution of American society - we shouldn't do anything that perverts that concept or threatens that ideal.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Homosexuality is immoral. You believe that the 'Gay Agenda' seeks to normalize homosexual activity and make it part of the mainstream as 'just another lifestyle.' We must draw the line so that homosexual values are not imposed upon our children.

This question is looking for your views on gay rights. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Allow gay marriage
  • Allow gays to serve openly in the military
  • More support for AIDS research

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose").The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters.If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand.Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of gay equality.
  • Support means you believe in practical improvements in civil rights for gays.
  • Oppose means you believe that society needs practical restrictions on gay rights to foster family development.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the biblical principle of restricting homosexual activity.

3.   Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws
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Teach family values in public schools

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Judeo-Christian values are American values. Belief in God is what America was founded upon, so praying in school or other public places does not violate the separation of church and state. Displaying the Ten Commandments is appropriate because they are the moral basis for Western law. The Pledge of Allegiance should continue to include the phrase "Under God."
  • Support means you believe: We need to teach values in our schools. The more our children are exposed to prayer, the Ten Commandments, and other traditional values, the better off they are.
  • Oppose means you believe: Prayer in schools is inappropriate because it fails to recognize American pluralism and religious diversity.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Separation of church and state precludes allowing school prayer. It also precludes other aspects of religion in schools, such as posting the Ten Commandments in public places. We should not violate the Constitutional principle in this case.

This question is looking for you views on how religion should play a part in public institutions.  However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Post the Ten Commandments in public schools
  • "Separation of church and state" does not mean "keep religion out of schools"
  • Nativity scenes on City Hall lawns are acceptable
  • Organized Prayer In Public Schools

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand.Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of teaching religious morality through public schools.
  • Support means you believe in practical methods of some religious expression in school.
  • Oppose means you believe there should be practical restrictions on public religious expression to be fair to minority religions.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe that the principle of separation of church and state precludes any religious expression in public schools or in any government institutions.

4.   Teach family values in public schools



Domestic Issues

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Death penalty

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. The death penalty is appropriate punishment for murder, as a form of justice regardless of the deterrence effect.
  • Support means you believe: The death penalty and other strict forms of law enforcement will reduce the crime rate by removing criminals from the streets and by deterring others from criminal acts. Capital punishment laws should be enforced, although perhaps adjusted to ensure a fair process and to avoid mistakes.
  • Oppose means you believe: The death penalty has been unfairly implemented, especially along racial and class lines. And the mistakes that are made cannot be rectified, so capital punishment should be banned.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: State-sanctioned killing is wrong. Capital punishment should be abolished as a form of 'cruel and unusual punishment.'

This question is looking for your views on whether capital punishment is "cruel and unusual " under the 8th Amendment. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Capital punishment is effective
  • No one has proven a "wrongful death" in any modern state executions
  • Stricter penalties reduce violent crime

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose").The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of equivalent punishment for the taking of a life.
  • Support means you believe in practical benefits like deterrence, or removal from society.
  • Oppose means you believe practical reforms are needed to ensure fair implementation and zero mistakes.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe that the principle of the state taking a life is wrong.

5.   Death penalty
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Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: 'Three Strikes' laws put dangerous repeat offenders where they belong - behind bars, for life. Mandatory sentencing and strict enforcement make sure that judges don't let off criminals too easily.
  • Support means you believe: Keep 'Three Strikes' laws on the books because they seem to be effective, but consider ways to deal with special circumstances so we can avoid horror stories of inappropriate imprisonment.
  • Oppose means you believe: Strict enforcement of pre-determined sentencing threatens civil rights and should be used cautiously. Police, courts and prisons should focus on effective enforcement rather than strict enforcement.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Judicial discretion should not be diminished by formulaic sentencing like 'Three Strikes.' Let judges and juries decide what penalties to apply in each case.

This question is looking for your views on whether stricter enforcement and mandatory sentencing is the solution to crime.  However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Stricter penalties reduce all crimes
  • 'Broken Windows' laws work
  • Reduce judicial discretion

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand.Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of punishment as the purpose of incarceration.
  • Support means you believe in practical reasons like reducing judicial discretion.
  • Oppose means you believe in practical reforms like sentencing guidelines, but not mandatory ones.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle of rehabilitation as the purpose of incarceration.

6.   Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws
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Absolute right to gun ownership

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: The right to bear arms is a basic Constitutional right and expresses the democratic principle of self-defense against tyrannical government. Leave gun rights as they are.
  • Support means you believe: It's not the instrument, it's the morality. Gun ownership should not be restricted - most gun owners use them safely and responsibly. To reduce gun-related crimes, address the moral problems of society and other issues.
  • Oppose means you believe: The only "gun right" is to self-defense against criminals and the right to a secure home and a secure person. Tighten registration rules and keep guns away from kids.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: More guns mean more killing. Limit availability of guns by whatever means are effective. The 2nd amendment does not mean an unlimited right to any and all firearms.

This question is looking for your views on Second Amendment rights. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • The Second Amendment is one of our most important right
  • If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.
  • People kill, not guns

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principles of the Second Amendment as a fundamental right.
  • Support means you believe in the practical benefits of gun rights, such as self-protection and hunting.
  • Oppose means you believe practical reforms are needed, like bans on assault weapons and certain ammunition.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle that the Second Amendment does not apply to individuals.

7.   Absolute right to gun ownership
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More federal funding for health coverage

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Too few Americans have adequate health insurance. The government should make funds available for more complete coverage, or should expand existing government-run coverage to all citizens. A single-payer system would solve most healthcare problems.
  • Support means you believe: The government should provide coverage or subsidize health insurance for at-risk groups such as children and the elderly. Society benefits when more people are covered. Universal health insurance is a good goal, although some market methods can work as well as government systems.
  • Oppose means you believe: While more thorough health coverage is a noble idea, further health coverage should be promoted through non-government means.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Nationalized health care would entail a government takeover of a large portion of the economy and undue intrusions into our personal medical histories.  Remove the federal government from the health care industry.

This question is looking for your views on how large a role the federal government should play in the health care industry.  However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Single-payer universal coverage
  • Insure the millions of uninsured Americans
  • Require coverage of all children
  • Supported Clinton's "Health Care initiative"

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of single-payer government-run healthcare.
  • Support means you believe in practical progress toward universal health coverage.
  • Oppose means you believe in practical progress towards healthcare availability via the free market.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle that government should not be involved with providing healthcare.

8.   More federal funding for health coverage
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Privatize Social Security

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Our retirement funds should not be entrusted to the government. The entire Social Security system should be run instead as we currently run IRAs, Keogh plans, 401(k)'s, and other private pension plans.
  • Support means you believe: The Trust Fund might be invested in the stock market or via some other private investment vehicle. Individuals should be given at least some control over how their retirement funds are invested.
  • Oppose means you believe: Social Security should remain under federal control, but you want reforms on how the Trust Fund is handled. In particular, the `Lockbox Bill' is a good first reform, since it keeps the system secure while avoiding privatization.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Social Security should remain forever under federal control to ensure that all Americans have a secure retirement. The Trust Fund should not be invested in anything like the stock market, since that would introduce undue risk.

This question is looking for your views on how large a role the federal government should play in individual retirement. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Self-management of one's Social Security account
  • Unlimited contributions to IRAs
  • Allow people to contribute to EITHER Social Security taxes OR their own personal retirement accounts

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of self-determination of one's own retirement funding.
  • Support means you believe in practical progress towards market-based retirement funding.
  • Oppose means you believe in practical reforms to protect the Trust Fund without any risky investments.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle that government involvement in retirement funding should not be replaced by private entities.

9.   Privatize Social Security
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Parents choose schools via vouchers

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: The government should not be in the business of running schools. State-funded vouchers should pay for privately-run education at private schools, parochial schools, charter schools, home-schooling, or whatever schools parents choose. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act sets the stage for terminating failing schools.
  • Support means you believe: School choice helps the poor who would otherwise be stuck in failing schools. Why should only the elite be able to afford private school? Subsidize parents' school choices to foster equality, as long as the school respects separation of church and state, and meets basic state standards. Charter schools are a good compromise.
  • Oppose means you believe: Continue experimenting with charter schools, and with public school choice, but only as a limited experiment, and no vouchers. We should create pressure to improve our public schools, not abandon them. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act is an unfunded mandate.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Public schools are an important component of American society. Improve public schools rather than destroying them with vouchers. More teachers, smaller classes, more funding - then parents will choose public schools.

This question is looking for your views on how large a role the government should play in running our school systems. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Extend school choice to private as well as public schools
  • Allow taxes to fund parochial schools
  • Extend charter schools nationwide
  • Support "No Child Left Behind"

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand.Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of limiting government's role in schooling.
  • Support means you believe in school choice for practical reasons of improving education.
  • Oppose means you believe more practical improvements could be made by focusing on public school improvement.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle of public education.

10.   Parents choose schools via vouchers
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Replace coal & oil with alternatives

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Overuse of fossil fuels causes serious problems that we should deal with immediately by raising carbon taxes, raising CAFE standards, federally funding research into alternative and sustainable energy resources, and push to imlpement the Kyoto Protocol.
  • Support means you believe: We should establish a market-based solution for excess carbon emissions, and the problem will be solved. The Kyoto Protocol should require developing countries' participation to make the solution work.
  • Oppose means you believe: The cost of dealing with global warming is far higher than the potential damage, so we should do nothing. There's some evidence for global warming, but the effects are not certain. We should perhaps sign on to some international agreements, but make only minimal financial commitments for now.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: There's no such thing as global warming - it's all natural climatic variation. And if there is a problem, it won't affect us much, and we can deal with the problems as they arise.

This question is looking for your views on the use of carbon-based energy sources in general.  However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Spend Resources to Stop Global Warming
  • Institute a Carbon Tax or increase the gasoline tax.
  • Climate change is a serious problem that should be dealt with now.
  • Implement the Kyoto Protocol and the Greenhouse Gas treaty.
  • Generally those who answer positively to those questions will also answer positively on these environmental statements:
  • Spend resources on pollution control and on achieving clean air and clean water.
  • Support and expand the Endangered Species Act.
  • We do not include nuclear energy in the question text because it muddies the water in the discussion about reducing carbon-based energy sources. Some who supoprt the Kyoto Protocol favor nuclear energy, and others claim the problems of its waste products outweight its global warming benefits.

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle that the earth has limited resources.
  • Support means you believe in practical reasons for reduction in carbon usage, such as US technological competitiveness or reducing the risks of global warming.
  • Oppose means you believe that practical cost considerations preclude taking action now.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe that the principle of global warming is false, or an exaggerated scare-mongering tactic.

11.   Replace coal & oil with alternatives
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Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Drug use is immoral and drugs poison our youth and our society. We should fight the Drug War using all reasonable means - Just Say No!
  • Support means you believe: The Drug War is winnable if we invest enough resources. We should do whatever we have to do: More police, more border patrols, more intervention abroad, more prison terms, more prisons.
  • Oppose means you believe: We should have regulated decriminalization. Medical marijuana might be legalized, for example, as might clean hypodermic needles. Our drug policy should be reformed, with less criminal penalties and more drug abuse clinics.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: The Drug War should be ended. It has failed, condemning a 'Lost Generation' of blacks and Hispanics to prison and criminal records. End it now like we ended alcohol Prohibition, and organized crime and drug-related crime will decrease like it did when Prohibition ended.

This question is looking for your views on the War on Drugs.  However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Punish Drug Users
  • Support and win the War on Drugs
  • Marijuana is a gateway drug to cocaine & narcotics
  • Permanently ban medicinal marijuana
  • Use the Army and/or the Coast Guard to stop drugs at our borders
  • Just Say No!

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand.Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe that drug use in wrong on principle, and that drug users should therefore be punished.
  • Support means you believe in the postive practical effects of reduced drug use.
  • Oppose means you believe the practical benefits of reduced restrictions outweigh the costs of incarceration.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe that the principle of personal decision-making applies to recreational drug use.

12.   Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it
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Allow churches to provide welfare services

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Replace the federal welfare system with services provided by churches and other faith-based organizations. Supply block grants to those organizations instead of funding welfare agencies.
  • Support means you believe: Support Charitable Choice: remove restrictions on religious organizations' activities, so that churches can bid on government block grants for performing welfare services. Continue other experiments with faith-based organizations.
  • Oppose means you believe: Support welfare reform like welfare-to-work and welfare block grants, as long as the basic system remains within the federal government.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Compassion requires us to maintain and fund a federal welfare system. The neediest members of society should have a federally-guaranteed safety net.

This question is looking for your views on the government's role in providing welfare service.  However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Faith-based organizations can provide services better than can the government.
  • Support Welfare-to-work and/or workfare programs
  • Fund welfare entirely via block grants to the states
  • Armies of volunteers can cure most of America's social ills.

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle that religious institutions should be involved in welfare.
  • Support means you believe in practical reasons that religious institutions are better equipped than government to help with charitable causes.
  • Oppose means you believe government oversight is needed for practical reasons of effectiveness or full inclusiveness.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle of church-state separation precludes the involvement of religious institutions.

13.   Allow churches to provide welfare services



Economic Issues

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Decrease overall taxation of the wealthy

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Ideally, the income tax and the IRS should be abolished. Perhaps a national sales tax is a good replacement. Lower and flatter taxes are a good first step.
  • Support means you believe: A Flat Tax would simplify the entire tax system. It would get rid of loopholes that drive tax-avoiding behaviors. And it would remove most deductions and the special interests that come with them. In the meantime, tax cuts benefit the economy in both good economic times and bad economic times.
  • Oppose means you believe: Flatter taxes benefit the wealthy more than the lower and middle class. We should focus tax relief on the majority of taxpayers instead of on the richest few percent, while preserving important deductions like mortgage interest and charitable donations.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: A progressive income tax is one of the cornerstones of modern society. Its premise is that the wealthy contribute proportionally more than those with lower incomes. That is the right way to run our tax system, and we should keep it that way.

This question is looking for your views on reducing the power and size of the IRS. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • A National Sales Tax is better than an income tax
  • Support tax simplification
  • Repeal the 16th Amendment

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of Trickle-Down Economics or against the principle of taxation.
  • Support means you believe in the practical benefits of a simplified flat tax system.
  • Oppose means you believe in the practical societal necessity of a progressive tax system.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle of progressive taxation, i.e., that redistribution of wealth is a proper role of government.

14.   Decrease overall taxation of the wealthy
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Illegal immigrants earn citizenship

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Immigration restrictions are basically racist because they keep out Hispanics and other non-whites. We should reform US immigration laws and use them to increase our diversity and cultural tolerance. Social services should be offered to all residents of the United States regardless of immigration status. Illegal aliens should be offered amnesty if they prove themselves as productive members of society.
  • Support means you believe: The government should make few restrictions on immigration. If the number of immigrants is too high, establish an immigration fee and raise it until the number of immigrants is acceptable. Or change the immigration quotas by some other method.
  • Oppose means you believe: Maintain legal immigration while enforcing against illegal immigration. Tighten our borders - decrease substantially or stop all immigration so we can address domestic problems.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: We should strictly enforce our immigration laws by increasing border patrols, and we should crack down on illegal immigrants already in the US by deportation and by removing all their social benefits. In the long run, we should decrease immigration.

This question is looking for your views on both legal and illegal immigration; whether we should open our borders or patrol them more tightly and lower the legal immigrant count.  However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Legal immigration should be increased
  • We spend enough on patrolling the Mexican border
  • Grant amnesty to illegal immigrants who have resided here for 5 years

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of free immigration: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," as inscribed on the Statue of Liberty.
  • Support means you believe in practical reforms but not in treating illegal aliens as criminals.
  • Oppose means you believe in practical limitations like increased border security.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle that illegal aliens are criminals.

15.   Illegal immigrants earn citizenship
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Support & expand free trade

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Free trade is always in the people's interest. We should have open trade with every country in the world. The government has no right to make restrictions on imports or exports. NAFTA, GATT, and the WTO should be expanded and made less restrictive over time. Globalization is good.
  • Support means you believe: Free trade is in our national interest because it provides economic growth and jobs. We should only restrict free trade when it poses a security risk. Including environmental and labor safeguards are acceptable if they can be successfully negotiated into trade agreements, but should not be used as a pretext to stop trade agreements.
  • Oppose means you believe: Free Trade should be replaced by Fair Trade. Free trade is not in our national interest when it poses a risk to job security, causes humanitarian problems overseas, or results in environmental damage. Globalization should focus on benefiting people instead of benefiting multinational corporations.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Americans should buy from other Americans because that creates American jobs. We should restrict trade with any country which costs us jobs or which creates a trade deficit. Globalization is just another means of corporate influence over our society.

This question is looking for your views on opening the US economy to the rest of the world. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Support NAFTA and trade with Mexico
  • Support the WTO and GATT
  • Expand free trade agreements to more countries
  • A 'Global Economy' helps the US economy

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of open global trade.
  • Support means you believe in practical improvements to increase international trade over time.
  • Oppose means you believe practical restrictions on trade based on labor, environment, human rights, and national security.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle of "Buy American" and that international trade just ships jobs overseas.

16.   Support & expand free trade



Defense/International Issues

Quiz_range
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More spending on armed forces

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: We have an obligation as the leaders of the world to maintain a strong military. And we have an obligation to our service personnel to pay them adequately.
  • Support means you believe: We should consider carefully before making more cuts - for example, base closings have hurt local economies, and reducing military personnel has put pressure on employment.
  • Oppose means you believe: Build smart, not necessarily big. Money is often better spent on issues other than defense. We should cut back on troops stationed abroad and focus on quality of our troops instead of quantity.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Defense spending includes huge amounts of pork-barrel spending and should be reduced dramatically. We should change our Defense policy to one of defense, instead of one where we police the world. Pull US troops out of Europe, Japan, Korea, and elsewhere. We are wrong to have a military that is as large as the rest of the world combined.

This question is looking for your views on military spending in general. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Improve military readiness
  • Rebuild the `Hollow Military'
  • Maintain our troop commitments overseas
  • Men and women in the armed services are paid shamefully little

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of American strength abroad.
  • Support means you believe that we need more spending to keep up with our practical national security requirements.
  • Oppose means you believe that a better practical use of military funding would be on social programs or other domestic spending.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle that an overly-large US military hurts our security interests by making enemies abroad and destroying our economy in the long run.

17.   More spending on armed forces
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Stricter limits on political campaign funds

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: Public funds should be used for political campaigns. The best way to reduce the influence of big-money lobbyists and special interests is to remove as much money as possible from campaigning. Free television time would be a good start.
  • Support means you believe: Reforms are needed in campaign finance, in order to reduce the influence of moneyed interests. Those reforms might include restrictions on personal donations to political campaigns; restrictions on corporate, labor union, or PAC donations; and restrictions on PAC activities.
  • Oppose means you believe: Politicians will always find loopholes in any campaign finance reform, so the best approach is just to monitor campaigns for lawbreaking and leave the rest to the press. Better reporting of donations would be useful.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Campaign donations are free speech, and should not be limited for corporations nor for individuals. PACs and 527 committees should be similarly allowed free speech via unlimited spending on any issue or any candidate they choose.

This question is looking for your views on whether wealthy individuals should have an unlimited right to finance political candidates (including themselves). However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Require TV networks to provide free air time to candidates
  • Include a checkoff box on tax returns for optional $1 contributions
  • Support "Clean Election" laws where candidates receive funding if they agree to spending limits
  • Restrict PAC (political action committees) spending on individual campaigns.
  • Restrict the activities of 527 committees (independent fundraising entities such as MoveOn.org or the Swift Boat Veterans committee)

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of taxpayer funding for political campaigns.
  • Support means you believe that restrictions on campaign finance, and/or partial public funding, is a practical means to reduce undue political influence.
  • Oppose means you believe some practical reforms are needed, but that the basic system of privately financing political campaigns is acceptable.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe that the principle of free speech applies to political campaign donations.

18.   Stricter limits on political campaign funds
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The Patriot Act harms civil liberties

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: The Patriot Act is unpatriotic. The terrorists are winning because they have forced us to limit our Constitutional civil rights. We should not give up our liberties in exchange for security, because if we do we will end up with neither.
  • Support means you believe: Homeland security needs should be balanced with respect for civil rights, and the Patriot Act goes too far. The sunset clause (automatic phaseout) should apply to all aspects so that the Patriot Act automatically disappears when the War on Terror is ended. Some provisions should be repealed immediately, because they grant too much power to the federal government and restrict our Constitutional rights too much.
  • Oppose means you believe: To win the War on Terror, we need powerful tools to fight a new and powerful enemy.Hiding behind "civil rights" arguments coddles the terrorists and encourages them to strike again. We need to counter-attack the terrorists with financial weapons and legalistic weapons as well as military weapons.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: The president should be granted all the means necessary to fight the War on Terror. When dealing with terrorists who want to destroy our country, stretching the definitions of torture and the Geneva Convention is necessary. Remember the victims of 9/11 first, and focus on preventing another 9/11 rather than focusing on civil rights of terrorists.

This question is looking for your views on balancing the War on Terror with the protection of civil liberties. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Domestic spying is unconstitutional.
  • Guantanamo Bay's terrorist prison system should be shut down.
  • Habeus Corpus (the right to a hearing) should be respected, even for terrorist suspects.
  • The Patriot Act invests too much power in a centralized Executive.
  • The Geneva Convention defines torture, and US actions must follow those international rules.

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle that the Patriot Act violates constitutional rights.
  • Support means you believe that for practical reasons, the patriot Act goes too far.
  • Oppose means you believe that for practical reasons, the Patriot Act is necessary, but might be amended over time as needed.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle of a strong Presidency as the best means to fight the War on Terror.

19.   The Patriot Act harms civil liberties
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Replace US troops with UN in Iraq

POSITIONS

  • Strongly Support means you believe: The United Nations is a force for good in the world. We should consult with the UN Security Council before any attacks abroad. Foreign aid fosters global cooperation and US foreign involvement should be focused on maintaining peace and stability.
  • Support means you believe: The UN has an important role in US military action abroad but should not have veto power. Foreign aid should be targeted at maintaining US interests overseas, and in supporting countries which are critical to our economy or strategic interests. Aid could also be targeted toward fulfilling US international commitments and to support foreign leaders who are favorable to the US.
  • Oppose means you believe: Phase out foreign aid - people who want to contribute to foreign countries should do so privately. And phase out involvement in foreign wars - as recommended by the Founding Fathers, we should not become entangled in foreign affairs.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe: Phase out foreign aid entirely - we should focus on America. We have plenty of domestic issues to spend our resources on. We should exit the UN and other organizations that use our money with little US benefit.

This question is looking for your views on the US role in the world at large. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

  • Pay our UN dues.
  • The world's leader has a financial responsibility.
  • Internationalism is better than isolationism.
  • Multilateralism is superior to unilateralism.
  • Continue Foreign Aid to Russia, India, China, and third-world countries.
  • Take a leadership role in the Israel-Palestine conflict and other disputes.

How do you decide between "Support" and "Strongly Support" when you agree with both the descriptions above? (Or between "Oppose" and "Strongly Oppose"). The strong positions are generally based on matters of PRINCIPLES where the regular support and oppose positions are based on PRACTICAL matters. If you answer "No Opinion," this question is not counted in the VoteMatch answers for any candidate. If you give a general answer of Support vs. Oppose, VoteMatch can more accurately match a candidate with your stand. Don't worry so much about getting the strength of your answer exactly refined, or to think too hard about the exact wording of the question -- like candidates!

  • Strongly Support means you believe in the principle of multilateralism.
  • Support means you believe in practical benefits of UN involvement and foriegn aid.
  • Oppose means you believe there are serious practical problems of UN military involvement and foreign aid.
  • Strongly Oppose means you believe in the principle of unilateralism, that the UN and other international institutions threaten US sovereignty.

20.   Replace US troops with UN in Iraq

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