The following topics are related to domestic issues—one of the primary concerns to presidential candidates. The stances of the candidates were determined by presidential-candidates.insidegov.com and based on speeches, press releases and public statements by each candidate. Domestic issues pertain to all administrative decisions related to the internal affairs of the nation.
Strict Punishment
This refers to views on whether stricter enforcement and mandatory sentencing is the solution to crimes. Stances on enforcement take into consideration the following concepts: “Three Strikes” Laws, which convict people with a third felony with a mandatory life sentence, “Prison-Industrial Complex,” which focuses on the increasing prison population, “Broken Windows” Laws, where police focus on quality of life issues as much as the crime itself, and the death penalty.
Strongly Opposes—Candidate believes judges and juries should decide what penalties are administered on a case-by-case basis and the death penalty should be abolished.
Opposes—Candidate believes strict enforcement of pre-determined sentencing threatens civil rights. They say police, courts and prisons should focus on effective, rather than strict, enforcement and the death penalty should be used with caution.
No Stance—Candidate has not issued an official statement regarding the issue.
Favors—Candidate believes the death penalty should be kept because it is effective. They also say that enforcement should consider rulings on special circumstances to avoid inappropriate imprisonment.
Strongly Favors—Candidate believes death penalty is crucial to keep. They believe mandatory sentencing and strict enforcement prevent judges from letting criminals off too easily.
Gun Ownership
The gun control debate focuses on whether existing laws are sufficient or if more are needed. Stances on gun ownership take the following concepts into consideration: child-safety lock efficiency, background checks and the right to bear arms.
Strongly Opposes—Candidate believes that more guns mean more killing and that the government should limit gun availability by any means necessary. They say the second amendment does not mean an unlimited right to any and all firearms.
Opposes—Candidate says gun rights pertain to self-defense, home security and personal security. They believe registration rules should tighten and that kids should not have access.
No Stance—Candidate has not issued an official statement regarding the issue.
Favors—Candidate says morality, and not guns, is the issue. They believe gun ownership should not be restricted and that to reduce gun-related crimes, moral problems and other issues need to be addressed.
Strongly Favors—Candidate believes the right to bear arms is a constitutional right and that the issue should be left alone.
ObamaCare Expansion
The debate over the Affordable Care Act is whether the expansion is socialized medicine or beneficial to society’s progress. Stances on whether ObamaCare should be expanded take the following concepts into consideration: individual mandate, tort reform, mental health, patients’ bill of rights, Medicaid, Medicare and euthanasia.
Strongly Opposes—Candidate says nationalized health care allows the government to take over a large portion of the economy and have access to personal medical histories. They believe the federal government should be removed from the health care industry.
Opposes—Candidate says that the concept is noble, but that further health coverage should be promoted through non-government means.
No Stance—Candidate has not issued an official statement regarding the issue.
Favors—Candidate says the government should provide coverage for at-risk groups and that it benefits society. They believe universal health insurance is a good goal but some market methods can work just as well.
Strongly favors—Candidate says not enough people have adequate health insurance and the government should make funds available to help. They believe a single-payer system would solve most healthcare problems.
School Vouchers
School vouchers are given to parents by school districts and provide them with a discounted price to send their children to public or private schools. Stances on school vouchers take the following concepts into consideration: parents’ ability to choose what school their children will attend, charter schools and failing schools.
Strongly Opposes—Candidate says public schools are important and that they should be improved with more teachers, smaller classes and more funding.
Opposes—Candidate says we should continue experimenting with charter schools but with no vouchers. They believe we need to create pressure to improve public schools rather than abandon them.
No Stance—Candidate has not issued an official statement regarding the issue.
Favors—Candidate says vouchers help people who aren’t able to afford private schools. They believe subsidizing parents’ school choices fosters equality and that charter schools are a good compromise.
Strongly Favors—Candidate says the government shouldn’t be involved in running schools and that state-funded vouchers should pay for privately-run education.
Green Energy
The green energy debate revolves around the severity of global warming. Stances on global warming take the following concepts into consideration: greenhouse gases, Climate Change Treaty, which was signed by 183 countries in 1992, the Kyoto Protocol, which would require the U.S. to reduce its carbon emissions, and climate effects on the U.S.
Strongly Opposes—Candidate says global warming is nonexistent and if there is a problem, it won’t have a significant effect.
Opposes—Candidate says the cost of dealing with global warming is higher than the potential damage and that the uncertain effects of global warming aren’t evidence enough to deal with the issue regularly. They believe we should sign on to some international agreements, but only make minimal financial commitments.
No Stance—Candidate has not issued an official statement regarding the issue.
Favors—Candidate says we should establish a marked-based solution for carbon emissions to solve global warming. They believe the Kyoto Protocol should require developing countries’ participation.
Strongly Favors—Candidate says the overuse of fossil fuels causes serious problems and that they can be solved immediately by raising carbon taxes, raising CAFE standards, federally funding research and resigning the Kyoto Protocol.
Drug War
The War on Drugs refers to international drug crimes and drug use within the country. Stances on the War on Drugs take the following concepts into consideration: industrial hemp use, marijuana use, and the U.S. partnership with Colombia, where the U.S. provides international aid to Colombia’s government in exchange for anti-narcotic activities.
Strongly Opposes—Candidate says the drug war should be ended because it has failed and has done nothing but condemn blacks and Hispanics to prison and criminal records. They believe if ended immediately, organized crime and drug-related crime will decrease.
Opposes—Candidate says regulated decriminalization is needed and medical marijuana should be legalized as part of a drug policy reform. They say the reform should include less criminal penalties and more drug abuse clinics.
No Stance—Candidate has not issued an official statement regarding the issue.
Favors—Candidate says the drug war is winnable if resources are invested. They believe more police, border patrols, intervention, prisons and prison terms are needed to do so.
Strongly Favors—Candidate believes drug use is immoral and that drugs poison society. They say the drug war should be fought with all reasonable means.
