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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ColtonGang who wrote (44844)	10/10/2000 11:36:15 PM
From: greenspirit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

FREEDOM OR A FREE LUNCH TWO VERY DIFFERENT VISIONS FOR AMERICA By: Tom Bevan etherzone.com On November 7 the public will choose between two very different visions for America. Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak said it best this past Saturday when he told viewers that this year's election would be a "campaign on the issues to see whether the American people want freedom or a free lunch." This is exactly right. Nearly every pivotal issue boils down to George Bush's concept of personal responsibility and more freedom versus Al Gore's belief in government-centered spending solutions. Both candidates have reason to believe their message will resonate with the voting public. So will Americans choose liberty or liberalism? Take, for example, the critical issue of education. Gore's $115 billion dollar spending program over 10 years includes $50 billion for "free or subsidized" preschool to every 4 year-old. The Washington Post reported that Gore's proposal "would plunge the federal government into areas of education where it has not gone before" and that his plan called for a "significant expansion of the federal role in education." George Bush's proposal, which offers a much more modest $13.5 billion investment over 5 years, focuses the government's role on holding state and local school systems accountable through testing. Bush promised to "grant unprecedented freedom and flexibility (to schools) in return for high standards and results." In addition, Bush strongly supports school vouchers to offer parents more control over their child's education. Bush believes that "if the poorest of the poor remain in trapped schools, that money, that would go to the school should go to the parent so the parent gets to make a different choice." What about Social Security? Bush proposes to give the American people the option to manage a small percentage of their Social Security money. In his speech to the Republican National Convention Bush stated, "When this money is in your name, in your account, it's not just a program, it's your property. Now is the time to give American workers security and independence that no politician can ever take away." Gore insists that it is "risky" to trust Americans to invest a small percentage of their Social Security money. Instead, he opts for a government managed, taxpayer funded subsidy to individuals in addition to guaranteed Social Security benefits. The Vice President proposes no reform to the current system and instead offers a literal free lunch - the government will give people money to invest. So, letting people keep a small portion of their own money to invest is "risky," but giving people money from the public tax coffers to invest is good? Finally, there is the issue of tax cuts. Bush proposes an across-the-board cut that will return roughly one-quarter of the projected surplus to the American people - with no restrictions. Nine million people will have their tax burden completely lifted and millions more will see more of their hard-earned money back in hand. Gore, on the other hand, proposes a $550 billion package of "targeted" tax cuts to be disbursed by the government to only those Americans who "qualify". Gore's plan is not really a tax cut at all, but a series of tax "credits" designed to reward Americans based on government sanctioned behavior. The message of the two campaigns is clear. Gore wants the American public to keep it's snout planted firmly in the government trough. Trust the government to take care of you and to solve your problems. Bush wants Americans to rely on themselves and to exercise their freedoms to create new market-oriented solutions. But freedom and self reliance take courage and in these prosperous and complacent times it's easy to trade freedom for the offer of a free lunch.