It's November 2nd tomorrow, and you all know what that means... Voting day! If you're 18 years-old and registered, you should definitely do your part and have a voice.
I think that when you vote on something, that you should be well-educated about the topic at hand, understand both sides and make your decision rationally. (The last time that DIDN'T happen, we got the Governator, and he screwed us pretty hard.)
Here's a list from Huffington Post's Richard Green on reasons you should vote, and his suggestions on which party you would vote for:
I. Jobs
Republicans believe that cutting taxes for large and small businesses and further reducing investment taxes on capital gains and dividends will spur job growth.
Democrats want to try to create jobs by limiting the outsourcing of jobs to other countries and by creating and investing in new industries such as clean tech/alternative energy like solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, algae fuels.
II. Gays in The Military
Republicans will keep "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Democrats will end "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
III. Oil Spills
Republicans want to keep the $75 million limit on what oil companies have to pay -- taxpayers to pay the rest. Senate Republicans have blocked the investigation of BP and the BP oil spill.
Democrats will make oil companies pay for all oil spill damage and want to investigate what went wrong with the BP oil spill.
IV. Climate Change
Republicans oppose climate change legislation because they believe that global warming/climate change is not a significant issue and, even if it is, that it is not man-made.
Democrats want to limit "greenhouse gases" because they believe that global warming/climate change is a significant issue and is significantly man-made.
V. The "Bush Tax Cuts" and The National Debt
Republicans will make the Bush Tax Cuts permanent for people making less than $250,000 per year only if the tax cuts for wealthier individuals making over $250,000 is also made permanent. Tax cuts for those who make over $250,000 per year will cost $700 Billion over the next ten years. They want to cut the national debt.
Democrats will make Middle Class tax cuts permanent for people making less than $250,000 per year but do not want to extend tax cuts for those making over $250,000. They want to cut the national debt.
VI. Energy Independence/Alternative Energy for America
Republicans will rely on oil as our chief source of energy, continue or increase the subsidies to oil companies, expand drilling for oil in The United States and primarily rely on building nuclear energy plants as "alternative energy" for America's energy needs.
Democrats want to get off of oil as our chief source of energy, stop or reduce our subsidies to oil companies and move as fast as possible to develop renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, geothermal, tidal and algae.
VII. Campaign Finance
Republicans oppose limits on how much individuals, corporations, special interests and their lobbyists can spend to get elected, oppose Public Financing and oppose requiring corporations to disclose their financing of political television and radio ads.
Democrats attempted to limit how much individuals, corporations, special interests and lobbyists spend on elections and also attempted to require that corporations disclose their financing of political television and radio ads. All such efforts were filibustered or defeated in the Senate by the Republicans. With a strong majority, enough to overcome a Republican filibuster, Democrats will pass much if not all of the above legislation as well as Public Financing of campaigns.
VIII. Health Care
Republicans will repeal the recently passed health care reform legislation.
Democrats will keep the recently passed health care legislation which includes reforms to add insurance coverage for approximately 30 million, allow young people to stay on their parents' policy until they are 26 and end insurance companies rights to terminate coverage when one gets sick or loses their job.
IX. Wall Street
Republicans believe in "Laissez Faire", that corporations are "people" and generally want banks and corporations to have less regulation and be left alone. Some "Tea Party" Republican candidates do not believe in any Federal regulation of businesses, including the requirement that restaurants serve African Americans.
Democrats believe that the kinds of investment activity that lead to the recent Wall Street crisis, including the need to bail out AIG and the bankruptcy of many firms should be more tightly regulated to prevent a re-occurrence.
X. Abortion
Republicans will attempt to overturn "Roe v. Wade" and make abortions illegal in states that don't want them.
Democrats believe that a woman's right to choose an abortion is hers and hers alone, and that the current law ("Roe v. Wade") allowing abortion in all states should be continued.
Democrats want to try to create jobs by limiting the outsourcing of jobs to other countries and by creating and investing in new industries such as clean tech/alternative energy like solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, algae fuels.
II. Gays in The Military
Republicans will keep "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Democrats will end "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
III. Oil Spills
Republicans want to keep the $75 million limit on what oil companies have to pay -- taxpayers to pay the rest. Senate Republicans have blocked the investigation of BP and the BP oil spill.
Democrats will make oil companies pay for all oil spill damage and want to investigate what went wrong with the BP oil spill.
IV. Climate Change
Republicans oppose climate change legislation because they believe that global warming/climate change is not a significant issue and, even if it is, that it is not man-made.
Democrats want to limit "greenhouse gases" because they believe that global warming/climate change is a significant issue and is significantly man-made.
V. The "Bush Tax Cuts" and The National Debt
Republicans will make the Bush Tax Cuts permanent for people making less than $250,000 per year only if the tax cuts for wealthier individuals making over $250,000 is also made permanent. Tax cuts for those who make over $250,000 per year will cost $700 Billion over the next ten years. They want to cut the national debt.
Democrats will make Middle Class tax cuts permanent for people making less than $250,000 per year but do not want to extend tax cuts for those making over $250,000. They want to cut the national debt.
VI. Energy Independence/Alternative Energy for America
Republicans will rely on oil as our chief source of energy, continue or increase the subsidies to oil companies, expand drilling for oil in The United States and primarily rely on building nuclear energy plants as "alternative energy" for America's energy needs.
Democrats want to get off of oil as our chief source of energy, stop or reduce our subsidies to oil companies and move as fast as possible to develop renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, geothermal, tidal and algae.
VII. Campaign Finance
Republicans oppose limits on how much individuals, corporations, special interests and their lobbyists can spend to get elected, oppose Public Financing and oppose requiring corporations to disclose their financing of political television and radio ads.
Democrats attempted to limit how much individuals, corporations, special interests and lobbyists spend on elections and also attempted to require that corporations disclose their financing of political television and radio ads. All such efforts were filibustered or defeated in the Senate by the Republicans. With a strong majority, enough to overcome a Republican filibuster, Democrats will pass much if not all of the above legislation as well as Public Financing of campaigns.
VIII. Health Care
Republicans will repeal the recently passed health care reform legislation.
Democrats will keep the recently passed health care legislation which includes reforms to add insurance coverage for approximately 30 million, allow young people to stay on their parents' policy until they are 26 and end insurance companies rights to terminate coverage when one gets sick or loses their job.
IX. Wall Street
Republicans believe in "Laissez Faire", that corporations are "people" and generally want banks and corporations to have less regulation and be left alone. Some "Tea Party" Republican candidates do not believe in any Federal regulation of businesses, including the requirement that restaurants serve African Americans.
Democrats believe that the kinds of investment activity that lead to the recent Wall Street crisis, including the need to bail out AIG and the bankruptcy of many firms should be more tightly regulated to prevent a re-occurrence.
X. Abortion
Republicans will attempt to overturn "Roe v. Wade" and make abortions illegal in states that don't want them.
Democrats believe that a woman's right to choose an abortion is hers and hers alone, and that the current law ("Roe v. Wade") allowing abortion in all states should be continued.
---
In case you couldn't tell, I'm a democrat, but by all means, feel free to voice your own opinions! I just feel that Republicans are way more concerned about themselves instead of the good of all. (Living where I do, I know this first hand.)
Either way, educate yourselves and then tell America how you feel!
P.S. What the heck is that Sarah Palin ad doing on this page?! -____-
♀♀♀
In case you couldn't tell, I'm a democrat, but by all means, feel free to voice your own opinions! I just feel that Republicans are way more concerned about themselves instead of the good of all. (Living where I do, I know this first hand.)
Either way, educate yourselves and then tell America how you feel!
P.S. What the heck is that Sarah Palin ad doing on this page?! -____-
♀♀♀
It's a shame that there isnt even a conversation around other parties. How about the green party, the peace and freedom party, or other progressive parties? They are striving to make changes that even Democrats aren't considering. I also oppose Republicans but I'm skeptical of Democrats too, who also mostly come from very privileged backgrounds and are honestly doing little to change this fucked up capitalistic oppressive imperialist bullshit country that we have.
ReplyDeletejust my two cents.
I appreciate your input. I agree, and admit, I don't know much about the other parties myself. I'll look into it though. Thanks! =]
ReplyDelete