What Exactly Is Kerry's Platform?

[Rot 911]

For months now I have listened to Bush bashing, some of it warranted, some of it not. But I have yet to hear exactly what it is that Kerry would do differently if he got elected president. So Kerry supporters, please tell me what Kerry is going to do if he is elected president. Just how will he handle the problems in the middle east. What is he going to do regarding taxes, lower? Higher? How about social security? Health insurance?

I really want to know where he stands on these issues.

[Shuie]

--edit: removed Kerry Bashing comment

There have been a lot of commercials here lately where he states at the end that he 'approved this message'. Everything I've seen has been about providing healthcare so far.

[lendaddy]

"So Kerry supporters, please tell me what Kerry is going to do if he is elected president. Just how will he handle the problems in the middle east. What is he going to do regarding taxes, lower? Higher? How about social security? Health insurance?"


To be fair he has answered some of these.

Taxes - raised on anwone who makes over $200k. You know the guys that employ people. Also reinstate the marriage penalty and death tax.

Social security - See above,

Health insurance - Cradle to grave universal health care for everyone. Has not said how he would pay for it or what exact form it would take, just that he is for it

[BGCarrera32]

The 4'x4'x1' plywood box he's standing on.

[Rot 911]

I would request the Kerry bashers try to hold off on the bashing in this thread.

[lendaddy]

will do

[Superman]

Very good question. It seems to me that the Republican party has in past years, probably couple of decades at least, kicked the Democratic party's butt up one side of this nation and down the other when it comes to marketing its policies. Now, being a liberal thinker myself I would LOVE to see my party take the battle back to the other guys. I'd like very much for Kerry or somebody to outline what our thinking it, and why. Support that with some evidence, historial, statistical, whatever. There are a great many people who are liberal thinkers. We think we understand what can make an economy strong, and we have got some fairly good econometric data showing somewhat conclusively that the economic policies of democratic administrations have resulted in the periods of good economic health, and also showing the Republicans' policies, led by tax cuts for investors and businesses, is convenient for those entities but not for the nation's overall financial and economic health.

I would expect that a successful or at least compelling platform can be built around stuff like health care, social security and other specific issues. Crises, is more like it. But this thread is indeed interesting because I have been frustrated for years that the Democratic party has allowed the Republican party to kick its ass in this area, and it is particularly irksome to me how the Republicans have stolen our thunder. Buzzwords like "family" and "freedom" are like cardboard faces placed on the ugly monsters of comporate welfare and intrusion into people's private lives. Heck, the conservatives want to regulate people and their private lives (abortion, gay marriage, patriot act) and reduce regulation on business. How'd they steal the "family" and "freedom" thunder?

[juanbenae]

his lack of a platform and coming out with real answers for the issues is worrisome. it was said above though, the current administration has soiled the nest beyond repair and i think people just want a change. at this point we have seen bush's act and its gotten old. if kerry wins it will not be because he went out and won it, but because of where the country is right now.

[Superman]

I'd rather give Americans something to go toward, than have them running away form something. I think the Democratic Party has been missing a tremendous opportunity. And I'm not suggesting a smear campaign, but right now the weaknesses of the Republican platform are strikingly obvious and the nation is ripe for a head-to-head debate of those failed policies. And public sentiment is receptive.

Why, if only I were Emperor. BTW, thanks to those who are showing restraint here. If the anti-Kerry crowd remains respectful and objective, we could have a good discussion for a change. Go ahead and criticize, just be straightforward about it. And I do appreciate cartoons for amusement, but please put some substance in your posts. Besides respectful, I'd like to see a healthy and vigorous debate here. C'mon, we can do it!

[Yankee911]

Now that's what I'm talking about!!

[araine901]

Its rumord that he is going to add 10 million jobs, get every american the same healthcare that congress has, give un-employed single mothers a greater tax "credit" for day care. (if they are not working they are not paying taxes how can they get a credit? if they are not working why do they need more day care) This my frineds is his platform, promise anything he wants to. It wont matter if he cant deliver it becuase he is not Bush, that's all that matters to some. Facts on how impossible this is get lost in the hate for Bush. Kerry can sell some of these people a terd berger and they will eat it and smile becusae he is not Bush. Got any koolaid?

[techweenie]

k911sc: "his lack of a platform and coming out with real answers for the issues is worrisome."

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues

[araine901]

Form the John Kerry Website
"George W. Bush has chosen tax cuts for the wealthy and special favors for special interests over our economic future"

I got a tax cut, I am not wealthy. Any of you non wealthy peeps get a tax cut too?

[Staylo]

Originally posted by araine901
I got a tax cut, I am not wealthy. Any of you non wealthy peeps get a tax cut too?

Yeah, that couple of hundred goes a long way when gas is $2.65, and the cost of EVERYTHING else has gone up as well. If you live in CA. or Wash. the FERC is thumbing it's nose at you in the name of ill gotten ENRON billions. But hey, if Joe Six-Pack can become Joe Twelve-Pack for a week or so, who am I to complain? Our kids are still young, they can afford it.

[lendaddy]

What do you think the point of a tax cut is? It is to stimulate consumer spending. Do you think giving a guy who makes 200k a year a $200 tax cut will stimulate his spending? How about a guy that only pays $800 a year in taxes? As a percentage he will spend more that year. I am not even getting into issues of fairness here, simple economics my friend. The middle class and poor (me) pay so little in taxes (federal level) that the tax cuts we got were huge as a percentage of our previous rates. Heck some of us were totally removed from the role! What more do you want? Turn the IRS into a wealth redistribution tool(psst it already is EITC). If you want people to spend more, let them keep more. You cant let people keep what they didn't pay. Simple and it works.

[Yankee911]

I guarn-on-tee I would trade tax cuts with Bush or Cheney--and we're a 2 income family.

[lendaddy]

I would hope so Yank, they pay more than you make.

[Moneyguy1]

To be fair, this country is in the middle of a very messy international situation. For any opponent of the administration to come out too strongly at this point about the perceived weaknesses of those at the helm could have the perceived effect of undermining any efforts at stabilization and backfire.

Whether the Dems or the Reps were at the helm, the situation would be the same. So, the opposition has to tread carefully re: major criticism at this juncture.

Also, the Convention has yet to officially nominate Kerry. Once that is done, and the candidates are clearly defined, I am certain that the rhetoric on the Democratic side will become more defined itself.

I also expect more personal attacks from the administration, moreso than from the opposition. That seems to be the pattern so far. From an independent's point of view, the current "ins" have little to run on, given the agreed upon fact that Presidents have little effect on the economy, but take credit for it, and the current attitude of most of the world, right or wrong, toward our efforts at providing security.

I would guess that, other than domestic issues which have to be addressed, one focus will be on the perceived inability of the administration to successfully use diplomacy in dealing with the rest of the world. Note I said perceived.

As far as the economy, one must ask what can be done to improve health care and the need for meaningful jobs. To the average citizen, these are paramount. Many people do not realize that, for a retired couple, if the retiree dies, medical coverage for the surviving spouse often ends, leaving the individual without at that time in their lives when they may need it the most. And, Medicare just doesn't cover much of the costs. As far as jobs, those fortunate enough to have a good paying job in many industries are constantly looking over their shoulders, fearing the worst. And, those in small businesses depend on the disposable income of others in order to continue in business. The so-called "top 1%" does NOT include small business owners as stated by some. Most of that group are coupon clippers, taxed at the new low rate for monies invested rather than earned. The small business person is currently taxed rather highly.

On a personal note, although in favor of removing Saddam and keeping the promise to the Iraquis by GHWB, I do think that a little more time could have been used to convince others of the need for our actions. But, since we are there, it must be seen through to its logical conclusion, no matter what that may ultimately be. GHWB in his book plainly pointed out the results of invasion that, as far as Iraq, "We would own it", with all the inherited problems.

My remaining problem as to my vote in November is whether some one else should be given a chance or whether we, as a nation, should force GWB to finish what he started and take responsibility for the results.

[Yankee911]

Len:

So many questions!

I am not myself this year because my anger of Bush has me blinded and in the anybody but Bush column. The Commie-bastard Corvair-killer Nader is not even worthy of consideration.

When "my party" gets back to what is "Right" I'll be voting right again.

No doubt Bush/Cheney paid in a lot more in taxes than I made. The big difference is I made mine the old fashion honest way without the help of inside political deals, Saudi oil buddies, former President Daddies, etc, etc, etc.

I think my anger has me in tunnel vision mode, but it wouldn't bother me one ****ing minute to pull the Kerry lever this year. And I'm doing all I can with my die-hard Rep friends to do the same. So far, for vets and police buddies, it's not been a hard sale.

Cutting taxes for the wealthy. What the **** does a wealthy guy do with more money??? He invests it probably in oil stock or Haliburton stock. Hell--he's already blowing his walking-around-money on a couple of cases of Scotch, boob job for his 3rd trophy wife, tax-rightoff of a new Hummer and other crazy ****.

The low and middle class would spend a few hundred bucks on a new TV or couch or something that would help the consumer marketplace. I'm not a ****ing communist or Lenists or anything. It just seems to me to be common ****ing sense. Must of us can't even imagine how that top upper-****ing-crust lives.

If USA keeps heading the way it's going with a shrinking middle class and growing at the top and bottom of the income levels--the poor guys from the inner city will be dropping a French Revolution on our heads that would make the Iffel Tower spin.

[bbq_duck]

found this while surfing (while at work )

Tax The Rich!
Democratic Tax the Rich System

Democrats exclaim; "It's just a tax cut for the rich!", and it
is just accepted to be fact. But what does that really mean?
Just in case you are not completely clear on this issue, we
hope the following will help. "Tax Cuts - A Simple Lesson In
Economics" by David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor
of Economics; 536 Brooks Hall, University of Georgia. This is how
the cookie crumbles. Please read it carefully.

Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand. Suppose that
every day, ten men go out for dinner. The bill for all ten comes
to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it
would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh $7.
The eighth $12.
The ninth $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men ate dinner in the restaurant every day and seemed
quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner
threw them a curve.

"Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going
to reduce the cost of your daily meal by $20."

So, now dinner for the ten only cost $80. The group still
wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes.

So, the first four men were unaffected. They would still eat
for free. But what about the other six, the paying customers?
How could they divvy up the $20 windfall so that everyone
would get his 'fair share'?

The six men realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33 But if they
subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and
the sixth man would each end up being 'PAID' to eat their meal.

So, the restaurant owner suggested that it would be fair to
reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he
proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first
four continued to eat for free. But once outside the restaurant,
the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man.
He pointed to the tenth man "but he got $10!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved
a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than me!"

"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get
$10 back when I got only $2? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't
get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for dinner, so the
nine sat down and ate without him. But when it came time to pay
the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have
enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors,
is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes
get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack
them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up at the table
anymore. There are lots of good restaurants in Europe and the Caribbean.

Thanks David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Economics, U
of Georgia