amongst the current Democratic contenders
I clicked, but didn't stay to get the current count.
Balanced Budget - My Republican party believed that running a budget deficit was immoral. Deficits make future generations pay for the services we use today. Forcing the children of tomorrow to foot the bill for our government today is akin to sending them to debtors’ prison. This is bad stewardship.
Free Market - A free market is the best way to create jobs for all Americans and the strongest vehicle for promoting employment and economic growth. A budget deficit massively distorts the free market, costing all Americans money and jobs. We need to have faith that our economy will continue to flourish without this kind of government interference.
National Security - Thanks to our brave young men and women in uniform, we have the strongest professional military in the world. But our first and best line of national defense has always been democratic capitalism. Free trade makes good friends, and good friends don’t make war. Moreover, people in all countries want freedom and will continue to strive towards it until it is finally achieved by themselves, for themselves.
Environment - Have we really forgotten that 30 years ago, we had rivers that caught on fire and lakes filled with toxic fish? Tremendous strides have been made in the clean-up of great waterways such as the Hudson and Cuyahoga Rivers. The rugged natural beauty of New Hampshire’s mountains and rivers should be preserved for future generations. My Republican party considers protecting the environment one of its most critical tasks. Our concern for the environment builds on the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt, who founded our national parks system. Let’s not abandon that legacy.
Education - Keeping our competitive economic advantage depends entirely on how well we provide a first-class education to our children. The shortcomings of our current system and the conditions of many of our public schools will require resources and leadership from the federal government. However, final decisions about our children’s education are best left to local government and communities -- with help, not dictates, from Washington, D.C.
Abortion - The decision whether or not to have an abortion is a moral issue that women in our society face all too often. This decision, however difficult, is between a woman and her doctor, with the advice of family, clergy, the father and counselors if she so chooses. This list should not include the federal government under any circumstances.
Tax Policy - Our current tax system penalizes companies for being successful, while protecting non-productive companies from the realities of the market, thus raising the tax burdens for all Americans. Our country needs a tax policy that encourages growth and employment instead of discouraging economic activity.
Medical Marijuana - If a doctor believes that his or her patient would benefit from the responsible use of medicinal marijuana, then that doctor should be allowed to legally prescribe it. For Americans suffering from debilitating diseases such as cancer, glaucoma, or HIV/AIDS, this is simply a basic form of compassion.
Unfunded Mandates - An unfunded mandate – such as the current “no child left behind” rhetoric -- unfairly forces state and local governments to come up with money for programs dictated by federal lawmakers. A startling example: Police departments nationwide, expecting federal aid for homeland security, deployed extra forces in response to terror alerts. Then the federal government did not make good on its promises. As a result, many local police departments now lack the funds to effectively patrol their neighborhoods. An unfunded mandate is nothing more than drive-by government.
http://www.ashby2004.com/issues.htm
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