Electoral College

The Opportunity of a Lifetime

The upcoming election will not only pass the reins on to another president, but shape history for the next four years. The person selected will be the first, elected president of the new millennium, after his Inauguration Day on January 20. The major issues of this years candidates are welfare reform, Social Security, education, and abortion; thus, suggesting a predicament. Who should be the next individual to run the United States of America? Is the best man Al Gore or George W. Bush?

One major problem facing the U.S. government is change in the welfare system. Al Gore says: "I believe our prosperity gives us not just an opportunity, but a great obligation. We must make sure that no one is consigned to be left out or left behind (www.algore.com)." Gore plans to make work pay, to help families get from welfare to work, and to promote responsibilities for fathers. Al Gore plans to put pressure on men to give financial support and respect to the mothers of their children, and to spend time with those offspring. He has proposed state bonuses and employment programs to benefit low-income fathers. As president, Gore would also promote welfare to work by providing local, tribal, state, and community grants. Raising the minimum wage one dollar over the next two years is also in his plan.

On the other side, George W. Bush believes that our children are our most priceless treasure and link to the future. He deems that everything we can do to ensure safety, stability, and the ability to love our children must be done. He has some of the same views as Gore in that he wants to encourage fathers to take part in their children's lives, and he plans to do this by providing over two hundred million dollars in grants to communities that promote responsible fatherhood.

Social Security appears to be another major problem that the next president will have to deal with. Social Security has been a retirement system for our seniors for a long time, and with the baby-boomer generation starting to draw from it in eight years, it looks like the Social Security system will go bankrupt. Al Gore says: "To me, Social Security is more than a government program. It is a solemn compact between the generations. It is responsible to make the strength an solvency of Social Security a major national priority. And it is responsible to tell the American people exactly how you propose to do it (www.algore.com)." Al Gore wants to devote all Social Security surpluses to debt reduction. He believes that the Social Security system shouldn't be undermined by a tax cut or other spending.

George W. bush says he will honor and strengthen Social Security. He will protect all benefits for today's seniors and ensure that Social Security is available for their grandchildren (www.georgewbush.com). Bush plans to stabilize the Social Security system by having no change in benefits for retirees, locking away the surplus, raising payroll taxes, and preventing the government from investing in the stock market.

About education, Al Gore says: "There is no greater test of our national responsibility than the quality of the education we provide (www.algore.com)." Gore wants to raise standards and accountability and to invest more in public schools. First, he wants to use tests to measure results and student progress. His plans make teachers pass rigorous tests in their fields of study. Furthermore, he would award or penalize schools that do or do not meet certain requirements. Gore also wants to put a national test into effect that rewards states on student performance. Not only does Gore feel obligated to help grades K-12, but he also plans to push money into preschools and colleges.

On the other side, George W. he has his own plans for education and feels there is a lot that needs fixing.

Governor Bush will reform the nation's public schools, as he has in Texas, which is one of two states that have made the greatest recent progress