St. John's Episcopal Church

Health08.org — Election News, Analysis and Events

Kaiser Family Foundation

McCain Health Care Proposal

On the main page under ElectionStuff ’08, click on Kaiser—McCain Health Care, or paste the URL below into your browser.

http://www.health08.org/candidates/mccain.cfm#mccainplan

(Note:  On this page find links for McCain on Health Care, including: On Health Care, Health Care Proposal Details, “Jobs for America: Health Care Reforms”, Economic Plan, On Autism, On Cancer, as well as videos, ads, press releases and speeches.)

Obama Health Care Proposal

On the main page under ElectionStuff ’08, click on Kaiser—Obama Health Care, or paste the URL below into your browser.

http://www.health08.org/candidates/obama.cfm#obamaplan

(Note: On this page find links for Obama on Health Care, including: On Health Care, Plan for a Healthy America (Overview, Details, and FAQ), On Increasing Transparency in the Health Care System, On Supporting Latino Families, On Fighting HIV/AIDS Worldwide, On Helping America’s Seniors, On Combating Cancer, as well as videos, ads, press releases and speeches.)

Source:  Kaiser Family Foundation — Health08.org

“A leader in health policy and communications, the Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S., with a growing role in global health. Unlike grant-making foundations, Kaiser develops and runs its own research and communications programs, sometimes in partnership with other non-profit research organizations or major media companies.  We serve as a non-partisan source of facts, information, and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the public. Our product is information, always provided free of charge – from the most sophisticated policy research, to basic facts and numbers, to information young people can use to improve their health or elderly people can use to understand their Medicare benefits.  The Kaiser Family Foundation is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries.”  (From Who We Are, on the KFF web site)

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Consumer Reports

November 2008

(Note: The November issue of Consumer Reports, which arrived just a couple days ago, includes a feature article entitled “Two Prescriptions for America’s Ills: McCain and Obama offer conflicting health plans.  Here’s how you’d fare.”  The article analyzes the candidates’ proposals by focusing on five households — 1) Over 60 and struggling; 2) Well-insured; 3) Young and uninsured; 4) No safety net; and 5) Ill and underinsured.  In each case the editors indicate how you, as a member of one of these cohorts, would fare under McCain’s plan and Obama’s plan.  I have not found this article on the internet, but will keep looking.  In the meantime, you can find the November issue in the library or through a friend who subscribes.)

Source: Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union, the world’s largest independent consumer-product-testing organization.  We also survey millions of consumers about their experiences with products and services.  We’re based in Yonkers, N.Y., and are a nonprofit organization.”  (From Who we are, in the magazine)

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USA TODAY Issue Comparisons

Fairly current

Paste into your browser:  http://content.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/issues.aspx

Or on the main page click on the USA Today Issues link under Election ’08, on the right.

(Note: USA Today explains the candidates’ positions on Iraq, immigration, health care, education, gay civil rights, and abortion.  Use the links at the top for “Candidates” and “Issues.”  You can also play a “candidate match” game.  Express your opinion on various issues, and the game will match you with one of the candidates!  If the game tells you to vote for General Grant, perhaps you can do a write-in.)

Source: USA Today

“USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company… The paper has the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United states (averaging over 2.25 million copies every weekday), and among English-language broadsheets, it comes second world-wide, behind only the 2.6 million daily paid copies of The Times of India.”  (from “USA Today” Wikipedia article)

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The Center for Michigan: A Forum for Our State’s Future

Updated frequently

(Note: This is newspaperman Phil Powers’ web site for discussion of issues relating to the State of Michigan: economic development, employment, tax policy, etc.)

Paste into your browser:   http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/

Or on the main page click on the Center for MI link under Election ’08, on the right.

Source: Center for Michigan

“The Center for Michigan is a “think-and-do tank” founded by Phil Power in early 2006. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Center’s objective is to assist our state through its current period of wrenching economic trouble and to lay the foundation of informed hope for a better future Michigan. It will help develop and execute comprehensive, long-range and, in some cases, radical policy solutions to transform Michigan’s business, economic, political and cultural climate. In so doing, it will work to help reform the structure and workings of Michigan’s political system.” (From About the Center, on the Center web site)

I’ve discovered something about blogging — it’s more interesting when a number of people chime in with their opinions.  And I’ve discovered something about new blogs — it takes awhile to round up a group of people willing to share their opinions.  So I’m going to start this new topic — ElectionStuff ’08 — The Conversation — as a place where comments about the upcoming election can be focused.  Perhaps this will make it easier for people to toss the conversational beach ball back and forth.

I’m still looking for “compare and contrast” treatments of the positions of the two presidential candidates from sources that most folks would consider reasonably unbiased.  If you find something that fits the bill, please let me know.  I’ll add it to our data bank.

The easiest way to add a comment is to click on the headline (in this case, “ElectionStuff ’08 — The Conversation”).  This takes you to a copy of the post, followed by comments made to date.  At the bottom is a box where you can write your own comment.  Then click on “submit” and the deed is done!  You are not limited to one comment per person.  Chime in as often as you wish.

— Fr. John Laycock +

Gallup Poll

Updated daily

Paste into your browser:   http://www.gallup.com/poll/tag/Americas.aspx

Or, on the main page, click the link “Galup Political Polling” under Election ’08 on the right.

(Note: When the Talking Heads talk about polling numbers, they are often referring to the opinion surveys conducted by Gallup.  Curious about how upper income consumers or young voters are feeling about the election?  You can find it here, along with more information about “the pulse of the nation” than you ever wanted!  Like ice cream, too many polls consumed too quickly brings on brain freeze.)

Source: Gallup Poll

“For more than 70 years, Gallup has built its reputation on delivering relevant, timely, and visionary research on what humans around the world think and feel. Using impeccable data, our advisers assist leaders in identifying and monitoring critical economic and behavioral indicators that are vital to their strategic plans.  No other organization captures the human need to share opinions and the breadth of the human spirit like The Gallup Poll. Since 1935, The Gallup Poll has chronicled reactions to the events that have changed our world — and in turn, those reactions have shaped who and what we are today. Today, The Gallup Poll continues to be a reliable source of intelligence for a changing world. Our data often answer the questions that are “top of mind” with leaders around the globe. Through its offices worldwide, Gallup measures public opinion and attitudes on virtually every political, social, and economic issue. Its data reach the highest levels of government, the judiciary, business, and academia.”  (From “Gallup Poll” on the Gallup web site.)

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RealClearPolitics

Paste into your browser:   http://www.realclearpolitics.com/

Or, on the main page, click the link “Real Clear Politics” under Election ’08 on the right.

(Note: The link is to the Real Clear Politics home page.  It carries lots of current articles on the campaign.  Click on the “Polls” link to see polling results from a variety of sources.)

Source: RealClearPolitics

RealClearPolitics is a Chicago-based aggregator of political news and polling data.  It was founded in 2000 by John McIntyre, a former options trader, and Tom Bevan, a former advertising account executive.  (From the Wikipedia article on RealClearPolitics)

Financial Markets

September 23, 2008

Paste into your browser:  http://blog.kiplinger.com/wheretheystand/2008/09/wall-st-crisis.html

Or on the main page click on the Kiplinger Stand link under Election ’08, on the right.

(Note: This compares the candidates on the issue of regulation of financial markets.  It is part of the “Where They Stand” blog on the Kiplinger web site.  See below, too.)  

Where They Stand: Detailed Positions of Obama & McCain 

July 9, 2008 to Present

Paste into your browser:  http://blog.kiplinger.com/wheretheystand/

Or on the main page click on the Kiplinger Stand link under Election ’08, on the right.

(Note: This blog, part of the Kiplinger web site, provides comparisons on Financial Markets, Taxes, Energy Policy, Iraq, Trade, Mortgage Crisis, Immigration, Gay Rights, Abortion, and Judicial Appointments.  These articles date from early July to the present.)  

Source: Kiplinger.com “For eight decades, the Kiplinger organization has led the way in personal finance and business forecasting. Founded in 1920 by W.M. Kiplinger, the company developed one of the nation’s first successful newsletters in modern times. The Kiplinger Letter, launched in 1923, remains the longest continually published newsletter in the United States. In 1947, Kiplinger’s created the nation’s first personal finance magazine. Located in the heart of our nation’s capital, the Kiplinger editors remain dedicated to delivering sound, unbiased advice for your family and your business in clear, concise language.” (From “About Kiplinger” at Kiplinger.com)

Renewing American Leadership, by Barack Obama

Foreign Affairs, July/August 2007

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86401/barack-obama/renewing-american-leadership.html

An Enduring Peace Built on Freedom, by John McCain

Foreign Affairs, November/December 2007

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20071101faessay86602/john-mccain/an-enduring-peace-built-on-freedom.html

(Note: These two articles were part of a 2007-08 Foreign Affairs magazine series highlighting the foreign policy agendas of the several candidates.  Other articles were by Michael Huckabee, Bill Richardson, Hillary Clinton, Rudolph Giuliani, John Edwards, and Mitt Romney.)

Source: Foreign Affairs

“Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations is a non-profit and nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to improving the understanding of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs through the free exchange of ideas. Its 3,400 members include nearly all past and present Presidents, Secretaries of State, Defense and Treasury, other senior U.S. government officials, renowned scholars, and major leaders of business, media, human rights, and other non-governmental groups. Each year the Council sponsors several hundred meetings including televised debates and other media events, and publishes Foreign Affairs, the preeminent journal in the field, as well as dozens of other reports and books by noted experts.

“Since 1922, the Council has published Foreign Affairs, America’s most influential publication on international affairs and foreign policy. It is more than a magazine — it is the international forum of choice for the most important new ideas, analysis, and debate on the most significant issues in the world. Inevitably, articles published in Foreign Affairs shape the political dialogue for months and years to come.”  (from “About,” on the Foreign Affairs home page)

2008 AARP Voters’ Guild

September 2008

http://www.aarp.org/makeadifference/politics/voters-guide/voters_guide_channel.response.362.512/

(Note: The Voters’ Guide which compares the candidates’ positions on priorities, Social Security, enhancing retirement security, making health care more affordable, and long term care.  For some reason the URL isn’t creating a link, so just copy and paste the URL into your browser screen.  Or you can Google on “2008 AARP Voters’ Guide” and get there by a “cushion shot.”)

AARP Issues & Advocacy Site

Updated frequently

http://www.aarp.org/makeadifference/advocacy/elections_2008/

(Note: This part of the AARP site is a grab bag of news items about election issues.)  

Source:  AARP

The American Association of Retired Persons is a non-profit, non-governmental interest group which advocates on behalf of people aged 50 years and older.  AARP clearly has an agenda.  Caveat emptor.

Summary of the Presidential Candidates’ Tax Plans

September 10, 2008

http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/23165.html

(Note: The text displays very small on my computer.  Click on each panel to make it larger.  I wonder why people labor over this stuff, and then make it unreadable!)

Source: Tax Foundation

“The mission of the Tax Foundation is to educate taxpayers about sound tax policy and the size of the tax burden borne by Americans at all levels of government. From its founding in 1937, the Tax Foundation has been grounded in the belief that the dissemination of basic information about government finance is the foundation of sound policy in a free society.”  (http://www.taxfoundation.org/about/)

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Promises, Promises: A Fiscal Voter Guide to the 2008 Election

August 29, 2008

http://www.usbudgetwatch.org/files/crfb/usbw082908promises.pdf

(Note: This is a long paper, but with lots of detail.)

Source:  US Budget Watch

“US Budget Watch is a project created to increase awareness of the important fiscal issues facing the country through and beyond the election. The project seeks to bring attention to the presidential candidates’ tax and spending policies, to help the public become informed about these issues, and to track the new president’s fiscal policies after the election.  This guide is not intended to recommend voting for or against any particular candidate, nor does it reflect an assessment of the overall merits of any specific policy proposal.   

“US Budget Watch is a project of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which is a non-profit organization committed to educating the public about issues that have a significant fiscal policy impact. The Committee is a bipartisan group of leading budget experts including many of the past chairmen of the House and Senate Budget Committees, directors of the Congressional Budget Office and Office of Management and Budget, and members of the Federal Reserve Board.”  (From Promises, Promises)

This part of the St. John’s Blog is intended to help you compare and contrast the positions of the two presidential candidates on various issues.  Sound bites on news programs and political attack ads do not lend themselves to dispassionate analysis.  (Sometimes the news programs and ads even make the Cartoon Network look very grown up!)  So how does a voter inform him- or herself about the issues?

In an effort to fill this information void, we’re going to snoop around the Internet looking for issue comparisons, and we will post the URLs (Web addresses) under various subcategories of this main category, called ElectionStuff ’08.  You can click on the address, look over the data, and then draw your own conclusions.  

Please note: We have no way of knowing if the information posted on these sites is accurate or if the comparisons are fair.  We will identify the source, and if possible something about the source (in their own words).  You have to do the rest.  In the wonderful grocery store of presidential politics, let the buyer beware.   As someone has said, “You can find all sorts of information on the Net.  Some of it might actually be true.” 

— Fr. John +