Gore Vs Bush Essay, Research Paper
Gore vs. Bush
Foreign Policy
? CHINA
Bush would like to redefine the relationship between China and the United
States to become one of competitors, not partners. Both Bush and Gore feel that
the free market will most likely produce more individual freedom in China and he
also supports increased trade with them. They also agree on defending Taiwan
against aggression from the mainland, supporting the One-China Policy that has
defined our relationship with them for a number of years. Gore believes that
china should be encouraged to be a prosperous society by inducting them into
various international institutions. He also feels that the U.S. should be a
mediator between China and Taiwan.
? RUSSIA
Bush opposes any further monetary assistance to Russia from the International
Monetary Fund because he says he fears that government officials will pocket the
money. Gore says he supports providing financial assistance to the Russian
government so that they can become a free market democracy. He feels that both
Russia?s and China?s threat to the U.S. is in their weaknesses, not their
strength. Richard Nixon also argued this point.
? MIDDLE EAST / ISRAEL
Gore and Bush both agree that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process needs to
be moved forward. Bush says that the U.S. embassy should be moved from Tel-Aviv
to Jerusalem and he wants to work at re-establishing weapons inspection in Iraq.
Gore vows to keep working with U.S. allies so Saddam Hussein isolated and to
eventually get him out of power. He also said he would use military forces
against Iraq if it ever became necessary.
? AFRICA
Both Bush and Gore feel that free trade will aid in building democracy and
economic development in struggling Third World Countries. Gore supports debt
forgiveness to the poorest of these nations and Western aid to help in stopping
the spread of HIV/AIDS in Central and Southern Africa.
? OTHER
Both Bush and Gore support the Good Friday Accord in Northern Ireland, which
calls for both sides to lay down arms. Gore wants to assist dialogue between
North Korea and South Korea, and India and Pakistan. Bush wants to increase
trade and investment with India making it a secure force in Asia and aid
Australia with its peacekeeping efforts in east Timor.
Military
? Both candidates are in favor of increasing the pay for military personal
and also for increasing benefits. Gore wants to enhance military readiness by
maintaining a strong force, which will result from increased training. Bush
feels that morale is low in the military.
Medicare Drug Plans
? COST
Bush?s Medicare Drug Plan will cost him roughly $ 158 billion over the next
ten years. Gore?s plan will cost him $ 253 billion over the next ten years.
? LOW INCOME SENIORS
Both Bush?s and Gore?s plans for low-income seniors will take effect
immediately. Bush?s plan includes free prescription drugs for seniors that
earn up to 135% of the poverty level, or $11300 for a single person. He will
give partial coverage for seniors that earn up to 175% of the poverty level, or
$14600 for a single person. Gore?s plans for free prescription drugs are the
same as Bush?s. However, Gore will give partial coverage for seniors that earn
up to 150% of the poverty level, or $12450 for a single person.
? MAIN MEDICARE PLANS
Bush?s plan would not take effect for several years; it would let seniors
choose from a government and private Medicare plans, all with a prescription
drug option. However, Bush?s plan would create incentives for healthier
seniors to move to cheaper plans, leaving the sick in traditional Medicare and
driving up its costs. Gore?s plan would take effect immediately, adding a
prescription drug program to the two existing Medicare programs for doctors and
hospitals. His plan will, however, offer no options and would use more tax money
that bush?s proposed plan.
Education
? LOCAL CONTROL
Both gore and Bush want the federal government to take a more active role in
education, but Bush would like to put more stress on local control. He wants to
strengthen local control by establishing a $500 million fund to reward states
and schools that improve performance. Gore wants to invest $115 billion in
education over the next ten years.
? SCHOOL CHOICE
Both favor greater choice. The difference is that Gore wants to keep the
options within the public school system, while Bush favors partial
privatization. Bush would like to create a voucher program that would let
families use public money to send their children to private schools. Gore
strongly opposes this saying that vouchers draw recourses from the public
schools. Both candidates would like to increase the number of charter schools.
? TEACHERS
Both Bush and Gore call for higher standards for teachers. Gore will use part
of his proposed $115 billion to provide for raises, he will offer $10 000
bonuses to those who go to college to become teachers and those that switch
careers to teaching. Bush would expand loan forgiveness for math and science
majors who commit to teach in high-need schools for five years. He would also
create a $400 tax deduction for teachers that spend their own money for
schoolroom supplies.