President Forever 2008 + Primaries: Policy Planks

[albaleman]

Abortion: Left
Balanced Budget: Center
Business tax: Left
Education: Center-Left
Energy: Left
Environment: Far-Left
Gun control: Left
Health care: Center-Left
Homeland security: Center-Left
Immigration: Center-Left
Iran: Center-Left
Iraq: Center-Left
Outsourcing: Left
Personal tax: Left
Same-sex marriage: Center-Left
Social Security: Left
Unions: Left
War on terror: Center-Left

[tpfkaw]

Changes in bold.

(Atlas Forever issues)

Abortion: Center
Balanced Budget: Far-right
Business tax: Far-right
Education: Far-right
Energy: Right
Environment: Far-right
Gun control: Right
Health care: Far-right
Homeland security: Far-left
Immigration: Left
Iran: Center-left
Iraq: Left
Outsourcing: Center-right (what's the difference between the positions from center to far-right on this?)
Personal tax: Right
Same-sex marriage: Left
Social Security: Far-right
Unions: Center
War on terror: Far-left

[Goldwater]

Abortion: Center (Abortion is not an issue for government intrusion. Oppose government control over abortion. Leave it to the states.)

Balanced Budget: Center-Right (We need to curb spending in order to balance the budget. Respect taxpayers' dollars.)

Business Tax: Right (Moderate decrease in business taxation.)

Education: Right (Support school vouchers and charter schools. Reduce federal government's role in education.)

Energy: Center-Right (Reduce dependence on foreign sources of oil. Some research on alternate energy sources.)

Environment: Center-Right (The environment is important. Find market based solutions to environmental problems.)

Gun Control: Right (Gun ownership is constitutionally protected. Protect sportsmen's rights and the Second Amendment.)

Health Care: Right (Very limited role for government in health care. Tax credits for personal Health Savings Accounts.)

Homeland Security: Center (Homeland security is a priority, balance between natural disaster relief and anti-terrorism. Missile Defense is inappropriate.)

Immigration: Center (Enforce current laws and tighter border security but allow room for a guest-worker program.)

Iran: Center (Keep diplomatic channels open and use economic sanctions. Go to war as a last resort.)

Iraq: Center-Right (We have successfully liberated Iraq. We must train security forces in Iraq and maintain our presence there.)

Outsourcing: Center-Right (Outsourcing is not a problem, it is part of a globalized world and helps America.)

Personal Tax: Right (Taxes should be flatter and lower. Across-the-board tax cuts.)

Same-Sex Marriage: Center-Left (Same-sex marriage, even if not in name.)

Social Security: Far-Right (Let workers privately invest all retirement payments.)

Unions: Center-Right (Unions are undermining our economy by blackmailing companies to overpay their workers.)

War on Terror: Center-Right (We should not hesitate to use military force against terrorism.)

[fezzyfestoon]

This ought to be fun to try again.

Abortion: CL (Protect responsible choice. Ban partial-birth abortions except in the case of life of the mother.)
Balanced Budget: CR (We need to curb spending in order to balance the budget. Respect taxpayers' dollars.)
Business Tax: R (Moderate decrease in business taxation.)
Education: CL (Support our public school system. Private school vouchers drain resources from public schools. Increase funding.)
Energy: CL (Invest in clean energy and end oil company subsidies. Cut oil use significantly by 2025.)
Environment: CL (We need to leave a healthy environment for our children. Work to reduce emissions and harmful toxins. Modified Kyoto.)
Gun Control: L (We need gun control! Ban certain guns. Require registration/background checks. Gun control protects children.)
Health Care: CL (Universal health care whether public or private. Require health insurance for every child.)
Homeland Security: L (If we were more respectful to other nations they would respect us in return.  Reduce security measures and funding.)
Immigration: L (Immigration is great! The more immigrants the better. Just require a criminal record check. Full blanket-amnesty.)
Iran: CL (Diplomacy and economic sanctions should make Iran see things our way.)
Iraq: CL (We have done our job in Iraq. Begin pulling out troops gradually. Set a timeline for full withdrawal.)
Outsourcing: CL (End some of the tax incentives for companies sending jobs overseas. Support American labor!)
Personal Tax: C (Leave income tax as it is presently. Keep progressive taxes and remove small hidden taxes like marriage tax.)
Same-Sex Marriage: CL (Same-sex marriage, even if not in name.)
Social Security: C (Keep social security as it is.)
Unions: CR (Unions are undermining our economy by blackmailing companies to overpay their workers.)
War on Terror: FL (Terrorism will be reduced if we stop meddling in other country's affairs. Dramatically change our foreign policy.)

One notch to the right on balanced budget and unions, one left on environment, gun control and outsourcing.  I've got 1R, 2CR, 2C, 9CL, 3L, 1FL.  So much for being a moderate hero...

[Donerail]

Abortion: Left (up to viability)
Balanced Budget: Right
Business Tax: Center-Right
Education: Left (better schools=smarter workers=prosperity)
Energy: Center-Left
Environment: Left
Gun Control: Far-Right (or, the liberal position)
Health Care: Center-Right
Homeland Security: Left
Immigration: Center-Right (Send them back, accept more people who want to come legally)
Iran: Far-Left
Iraq: Far-Left
Outsourcing: Center-Left
Personal Tax: Right (Fair Tax)
Same-Sex Marriage: Far-Left
Social Security: Center-Right
Unions: Center-Left
War On Terror: Far-Left
-------------------------------
Far-Left: 4
Left: 4
Center-Left: 3
Center: 0
Center-Right: 4
Right: 2
Far-Right: 1

11 Left, 7 Right, making me some kinda Libertarian (Liberalitarian?)-type thingy. I might have a decent shot in either the Mountain West or New England, but not Florida, or really much anywhere else. Certainly not my current district (though that's because the guy's been in office since Nixon and is on the Apporpriations Committee so the voters get stuff more than anything).

[Redalgo]

Abortion - Centre-Left:

Pro-choice except for in the third trimester unless the mother’s life is in a substantial degree of danger.


Affirmative Action - Centre-Left:

Diversity in all spheres of daily life doesn’t justify quotas but is desirable, fostering intergroup solidarity.


Balanced Budget - Centre-Right:

End the wars, halve other defense-related spending, streamline government programs, and increase taxation.


Business Tax - Far-Right:

Lower these taxes markedly. A strong, vibrant economy is needed for social programs to be sustained.


Campaign Finance Reform - Left:

The campaigns should only get public funds, and receive equal airtime and coverage on a public news network.


Environment - Far-Left:

Promote sustainability, treat animals according to their qualities of personhood, and be good stewards of nature.


Education - Centre-Left:

It is a right, not a privilege. All schools should be worker co-ops. Decentralize more power to the many states.


Energy - Left:

Nationalize and invest in nuclear, phase out coal, and fund research. Let markets pick which renewables prevail.


Gun Control - Centre-Left:

Only allow small arms & light weps to folk who who register, wait, take safety classes, and get a license.


Health Care - Far-Left:

It is a right, not a privilege. Worker co-ops should run the system. Emulate aspects of French or German policy.


Homeland Security - Left:

It should be the responsibility of police and the military. Privacy trumps security. Proliferate all of our ABM tech.


Immigration - Left:

Immigration is culturally healthful. Increase opportunities for guest workers, legal immigration, and “amnesty.”


International Trade - Centre-Left:

Globalization is good but try to negotiate labour and environmental protections. Shelter poorer countries.

Iran - Far Left:

Their regime is undesirable but we should not meddle in their affairs without an invite from Iranians to do so.


Iraq - Left

Apologize for missteps on the ground. Work multilaterally to promote Iraqi development and self-determination.


Military Funding - Left:

Cut it deeply. Train for quality, pay well, and be high-tech. Retain far fewer personnel and close bases abroad.


Military Purpose - Left:

Focus on humanitarian interventions, guarding our territory and abolishing weapons of mass destruction.


Outsourcing - Centre-Right:

It is good for humanity as a whole... but without an adequate social safety net endangers our workers.


Personal Tax - Left:

Increase income taxes in their rates and progressiveness. States can do great things if adequately funded.


Same-Sex Marriage - Left:

It should be recognized by the state and convey benefits equal to those enjoyed by heterosexual married folks.


Social Security - Far-Left:

Do not privatize it. Create a lox-box. We should also eventually implement a social democratic welfare regime.


Terrorism - Left:

Empathize with the enemy, identify underlying causes of extremism, and fight those. Work multilaterally.


Unions - Centre-Left:

Workers should be able to organize, bargain, and strike without being replaced, or decide not to join a union.


<Edited for better compliance with the list of issues and norms provided in the other thread.>

Far-Left (4), Left (10), Centre-Left (7), Centre (0), Centre-Right (2), Right (0), Far-Right (1)

[perdedor]

Abortion: FL (Full reproductive rights for women! Only appoint pro-choice judges to Supreme Court and extend abortion rights!)

Balanced Budget: C (Balance lowering the deficit with other priorities. No long-term deficits.)

Business Tax: L (Moderate increase in business taxes.)

Education: L (No school vouchers, large increase to federal funding. Modernize school system with more after-school programs.)

Energy: CL (Invest in clean energy and end oil company subsidies. Cut oil use significantly by 2025.)

Environment: CL (We need to leave a healthy environment for our children. Work to reduce emissions and harmful toxins. Modified Kyoto.)

Gun Control: CR (We should be wary of gun control. The Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms.)

Health Care: FL (We need a completely public health care system! Publicly funded, universal health care insurance. Health care is a right!)[1]

Homeland Security: CL (We must defend ourselves only if attacked. Increase some security, funding for natural disasters. Oppose Patriot Act.)[2]

Immigration: L (Immigration is great! The more immigrants the better. Just require a criminal record check. Full blanket-amnesty.)

Iran: C (Keep diplomatic channels open and use economic sanctions. Go to war as a last resort.)

Iraq: L (Withdraw all American troops at once. This was an illegal war of aggression.)

Outsourcing: L (Remove tax incentives on companies that send jobs overseas to discourage outsourcing. Protect American labor.)

Personal Tax: L (Increase income tax for the rich. Reduce slightly for those in lower income bracket.) [3]

Same-Sex Marriage: FL (Same-sex marriage is a fundamental human right.)

Social Security: C (Keep social security as it is.)

Unions: CL (Labor Unions provide job security and allow workers to collectively better themselves and be paid a fair wage.)

War on Terror: L We should develop an anti-terror strategy with the United Nations to stop economic and social injustice.

[1] I don't believe that health care is necessarily a right, only that UHC is a more sensible health care system than the corporate cluster**** that we have now.

[2] I do support a missile defense system.

[3] I don't support lowering taxes on anyone at this point, rather I would prefer to eliminate all deductions and treat "capital gains" as regular income (taxed progressively). From there, if we want to stimulate consumer spending we can raise the minimum wage.

[Pheurton Skeurto]

Abortion: Center Left
Balanced Budget: Right
Business Tax: Far Right
Education: Right
Energy: Center
Environment: Center Right
Gun Control: Right
Health Care: Far Right
Homeland Security: Left
Immigration: Center Right
Iran: Far Left
Iraq: Left
Outsourcing: Center Left
Personal Tax: Right
Same-Sex Marriage: Far Left
Social Security: Far Right
Unions: Center Left
War on Terror: Far Left


Left: 8
Right: 9
Center: 1

Libertarian.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Abortion: Far left
Balanced Budget: Left
Business Tax: Far left
Education: Left
Energy: Left
Environment: Left
Gun Control: Center Left
Healthcare: Far left
Homeland Security: Left
Immigration: Center
Iran: Left
Iraq: Left
Outsourcing: Left
Personal Tax: Left
Same Sex Marriage: Left
Social Security: Left
Unions: Center Left
War on Terror: Far Left

[tmthforu94]

Abortion: Right
Balanced Budget: Center Right
Business Tax: Right
Education: Center Right
Energy: Center Right
Environment: Center Right
Gun Control: Right
Healthcare: Center Right
Homeland Security: Right
Immigration: Right
Iran: Center Right
Iraq: Center Right
Outsourcing: Center Left
Personal Tax: Right
Same Sex Marriage: Center
Social Security: Center Right
Unions: Center
War on Terror: Center

5.2 on the scale

[morgieb]

Abortion: L
Balanced Budget: C
Business Tax: C
Education: L
Energy: CL
Environment: L
Gun Control: CL
Health Care: FL
Homeland Security: CL
Immigration: L
Iran: CL
Iraq: L
Outsourcing: CR
Personal Tax: L
Same-Sex Marriage: FL
Social Security: C
Unions: FL
War on Terror: C

So, 3 FL's, 6 L's, 4 CL's, 4 C's, and 1 CR.

Make of that as what you will.

[TNF]

Abortion: Left
Balanced Budget: Center-Left
Business Tax: Center-Right
Education: Left
Energy: Center-Left
Environment: Center
Gun Control: Center-Right
Health Care: Far-Left
Homeland Security: Center-Left
Immigration: Center-Right
Iran: Center
Iraq: Center-Left
Outsourcing: Left
Personal Tax: Center-Left
Same-Sex Marriage: Far-Left
Social Security: Left
Unions: Left
War on Terror: Center-Left

Far-Left: 2, Left: 6, Center-Left: 5, Center: 2, Center-Right: 3, Right: 0, Far-Right: 0

[RedPrometheus]

Abortion: Left
Balanced Budget: Left
Business Tax: Left
Education: Left
Energy: Left
Environment: Left
Gun Control: Center-Left
Health Care: Far-Left
Homeland Security: Center-Left
Immigration: Center-Left
Iran: Center-Right
Iraq: Center
Outsourcing: Left
Personal Tax: Left
Same-Sex Marriage: Far-Left
Social Security: Left
Unions: Far-Left
War on Terror: Center-Left

3 FL's, 9 L's, 2 CL's, 1 C and 1 CR.

[Goldwater]

Abortion: Center-Left
Balanced Budget: Center-Right
Business Tax: Right
Education: Right
Energy: Center-Right
Environment: Center-Right
Gun Control: Right
Health Care: Right
Homeland Security: Center-Right
Immigration: Center-Left
Iran: Center-Right
Iraq: Center-Right
Outsourcing: Center-Right
Personal Tax: Right
Same-Sex Marriage: Center-Left
Social Security: Right
Unions: Center-Right
War on Terror: Center-Right

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Abortion: Center-Left
Balanced Budget: Center-Right
Business Tax: Center-Right
Education: Left
Energy: Left
Environment: Center-Left
Gun Control: Centrist
Health Care: Center-Left
Homeland Security: Centrist
Immigration: Center-Left
Iran: Centrist
Iraq: Left
Outsourcing: Left
Personal Tax: Centrist
Same-Sex Marriage: Center-Left
Social Security: Left
Unions: Centrist
War on Terror: Center-Left

0 FL's, 4 L's, 6 CL's, 5 C's and 2 CR's.

[Maxwell]

Abortion: CL
Balanced Budget: R
Business Tax: R
Schools: FR
Energy: R
Enviorment: CR
Gun Control: CR
Health-care: FR
Homeland Security: FL
Immigration: CR
Iran: L
Iraq: L
Outsourcing: FR
Personal Tax: R
Same-Sex Marriage: L
Social Security: FR
Unions: CR
War on Terror: FL

2 FL's, 3 L's, 1 CL, 4 CR's, 4 R's, 4 FR's

[Donerail]

Abortion: CL (Protect responsible choice. Ban partial-birth abortions except in the case of life of the mother.)
Affirmative Action: R (Abolish all federal affirmative action programs.)
Balanced Budget: R (A large decrease in federal spending. A Balanced Budget Amendment to ensure responsible fiscal management.)
Business Tax: FR (Significantly decrease business taxation.)
Campaign Finance Reform: C (We need to put more power into smaller donors' hands.)
Education: L (No school vouchers, large increase to federal funding. Modernize school system with more after-school programs.)
Energy: CL (Invest in clean energy and end oil company subsidies. Cut oil use significantly by 2025.)
Environment: CR (The environment is important. Find market based solutions to environmental problems.)
Free Trade: CR (Most markets should be open.)
Gun Control: FR (The Second Amendment is not negotiable! No restrictions on firearms!)
Health Care: R (Very limited role for government in health care. Tax credits for personal Health Savings Accounts.)
Homeland Security: FL (We do not need to be concerned with homeland security. No Star Wars or infringement on civil liberties!)
Immigration: CL (Legal immigration is great. Support guest-worker program for illegals and amnesty.)
Iran: FL (Iran should be able to develop nuclear technology - they will only use it for peaceful purposes.)
Iraq: FL (Apologize to Iraq and the United Nations. Pull out all troops at once and pay reparations.)
Military Funding: L (Drastically cut military funding, establish a Department of Peace.)
Military Intervention: L (Military intervention is another way of saying 'empire building'.)
Outsourcing: CR (Outsourcing is not a problem, it is part of a globalized world and helps America.)
Personal Tax: R (Taxes should be flatter and lower. Across-the-board tax cuts.)
Same-Sex Marriage: L (Same-sex marriage is a constitutional right.)
Social Security: CR (Let workers privately invest some of their retirement payments.)
Unions: CL (Labor Unions provide job security and allow workers to collectively better themselves and be paid a fair wage.)
War on Terror: FL (Terrorism will be reduced if we stop meddling in other country's affairs. Dramatically change our foreign policy.)

Around balanced.

[ViaActiva]

Abortion: Left
Balanced Budget: Left
Business Tax: Centre
Education: Far-Left
Energy: Centre-Left
Environment: Left
Gun Control: Left
Health Care: Far-Left
Homeland Security: Centre
Immigration: Left
Iran: Centre
Iraq: Centre-Left
Outsourcing: Centre-Right
Personal Tax: Left
Same-Sex Marriage: Far-Left
Social Security: Centre-Left
Unions: Centre-Left
War on Terror: Centre

[後援会]

Abortion: Center-Left
Balanced Budget: Center
Business Tax: Right
Education: Center-Right
Energy: Center
Environment: Right
Gun Control: Center
Health Care: Center-Left
Homeland Security: Left
Immigration: Left
Iran: Center-Left
Iraq: Center-Left
Outsourcing: Far-Right
Personal Tax: Center
Same-Sex Marriage: Center
Social Security: Center
Unions: Right
War on Terror: Center-Left

0 FL's, 2 L's, 5 CL's, 5 C's, 1 CR, 3 R, 1 FR.

[OAM]

Abortion: Center-Left
Balanced Budget: Far-Left
Business Tax: Left
Education: Far-Left
Energy: Left
Environment: Center
Gun Control: Right
Health Care: Far-Left
Homeland Security: Center
Immigration: Left
Iran: Far-Left
Iraq: Left
Outsourcing: Far-Left
Personal Tax: Far-Left
Same-Sex Marriage: Far-Left
Social Security: Center-Left
Unions: Far-Left
War on Terror: Far-Left

Totals

FL: 9 L: 4 CL: 2 C: 2 CR: 0 R: 1 FR: 0

Though to be fair some were really between settings...

[Incipimus iterum]

Abortion:Center-Left: Protect responsible choice. Ban partial-birth abortions except in the case of life of the mother.
Balanced Budget:Center-Right: We need to curb spending in order to balance the budget. Respect taxpayers' dollars.
Business Tax:Center-Right: Reduce taxes for small businesses.
Education:Center: Support public school system but allow room for vouchers.
Energy:Center: Renewable and non-renewable energy must be equally researched.
Environment:Center-Left: We need to leave a healthy environment for our children. Work to reduce emissions and harmful toxins. Modified Kyoto.
Gun Control:Right: Gun ownership is constitutionally protected. Protect sportsmen's rights and the Second Amendment.
Health Care:Center-Left: Universal health care whether public or private. Require health insurance for every child.
Homeland Security:Center-Right: Homeland security is an important priority. Focus on fighting terrorism but also provide disaster relief funding.
Immigration:Center: Enforce current laws and tighter border security but allow room for a guest-worker program.
Iran:Center: Keep diplomatic channels open and use economic sanctions. Go to war as a last resort.
Iraq:Center: We should seek a multilateral solution and bring in the UN/NATO and allies to help rebuild Iraq.
Outsourcing:Center-Left: End some of the tax incentives for companies sending jobs overseas. Support American labor!
Personal Tax:Center-Right: Reduce income tax for the lower and middle class.
Same-Sex Marriage:Center: Retain marriage as it is but explore civil unions.
Social Security:Center-Left: Allow a small amount of private investment but keep it regulated.
Unions:Center: Labor demands must be balanced with business concerns.
War on Terror:Center-Right: We should not hesitate to use military force against terrorism.

[TNF]

Let's see if this has changed any since April.

Abortion: Left
Balanced Budget: Center-Left
Business Tax: Right (moved from Center-Right to Right)
Education: Left
Energy: Left
Environment: Center
Gun Control: Center-Right
Health Care: Far-Left
Homeland Security: Center-Left
Immigration: Center-Right
Iran: Center
Iraq: Center-Left
Outsourcing: Far-Left (moved from Left to Far-Left)
Personal Tax: Center-Left
Same-Sex Marriage: Far-Left
Social Security: Left
Unions: Left
War on Terror: Center-Left

Just two position shifts. I have moved towards favoring a total abolition of corporate taxes on value-added manufacturers that build here in the United States, while also favoring the implementation of a 'social tariff' system against corporations that outsource jobs.

Far-Left: 3, Left: 4, Center-Left: 5, Center: 2, Center-Right: 2, Right: 1, Far-Right: 0

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Abortion: Right
Balanced Budget: Far Right
Business Taxation: Far Right
Education: Far Right
Energy: Center Left
Enviroment: Right
Gun Control: Far Right
Healthcare: Far Right
Homeland Security: Far Left
Immigration: Right
Iran: Left
Iraq: Far Left
Outsourcing: Left
Personal Tax: Right
Same Sex Marriage: Center
Social Security: Right
Unions: Right
War on Terror: Far Left

[Horus]

Abortion - CL
Balanced Budget - C
Business Taxation - CR
Education - FL
Energy - CL
Environment - C
Gun Control - CR
Health Care - FL
Homeland Security - FL
Immigration - CL
Iran - CL
Iraq - L
Outsourcing - L
Personal Tax - CL
Same Sex Marriage - FL
Social Security - C
Unions - R
War on Terror - FL

FL - 5
L - 2
CL - 5
C - 3
CR - 2
R - 1

[morgieb]

Abortion: CL
Balanced Budget: C
Business Tax: CR
Education: L
Energy: CL
Environment: L
Gun Control: CL
Health Care: FL
Homeland Security: CL
Immigration: CL
Iran: CL
Iraq: C
Outsourcing: CR
Personal Tax: CL
Same-Sex Marriage: FL
Social Security: CR
Unions: L
War on Terror: CL

Average: 3.1. According to this I'm further to the right of Obama and HRC according to policy planks.

2 FL's, 3 L's, 8 CL's, 2 C's, 3 CR's. Not so left after all, I guess