Obama Vs. Romney

Obama vs. Romney

On November 6th, 2012 Americans will go to the polls to decide if Barack Obama should continue serving in office or if Mitt Romney should step in and replace him. Both have their own opinions on how they plan to tackle the different issues our country is facing. Some of these topics include high unemployment and dismal economy, war invasion, terrorism, and the environment. Both candidates also have some similar views on certain matters, as well as a few similar characteristics. In the end most folks will decide which candidate will make a positive difference in their lives and possible the country.

Obama plans to repeal tax cuts for those who make more than $250,000 and wants to lower taxes on manufacturing industry. He wants to continue stimulus spending and focus on areas in rural communities to help businesses access capital and expand rural job search and training (“Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney”). According to Obama, Wall Street Corporations should be held accountable for their irresponsible actions. There should be set, enforced and consistent rules for Wall-Street to help protect American families and their 401K from market manipulation. He supports the bipartisan plan to reduce national debt in America (Strazdins). Romney has different views on the economy, unemployment matters, and the National Budget Plan. He wants to make Bush tax cuts permanent and lower corporate tax rates to 25% as well as make regulations to encourage business. Cutting non-security government spending by 5% to help reduce deficit is also part of his plan if elected president (“Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney”). To help lower unemployment rates, Romney wants to make American businesses competitive in the global economy and open markets abroad for American goods and services. Romney’s National Budget Plan includes cutting federal spending and brining reforms to programs. In that plan he also wants to balance the budget by reducing the size and reach of the federal government. By following this plan, Romney believes it will help in returning fiscal power to states and the people (Strazdins).

From the beginning of his term, Obama has always opposed the invasion of Iraq.  He has made little effort in keeping his promise to withdraw American troops.  Instead, troops were moved to the Afghanistan and Iranian border. Obama has admitted to expanding the Afghan conflict into Pakistan, but he publicly opposes wars (“Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney). Back in May 2011, Obama approved the raid that found and killed Osama Bin Laden. He set a policy in the United States that would no longer use harsh interrogation techniques and carried forward Bush’s antiterrorism policies. That policy included imprisonment of Guantanamo Bay suspects regardless of the promise to shut down the prison (“Now Comparing”). Romney says he would keep the U.S. in Iraq because it’s the best option for minimizing causalities and maintaining a democratic government. He believes the President has the right to do whatever he thinks is best and safest for American citizens and it’s also best to consult with lawyers on legality (“Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney). In 2007, Romney refused to stop the use of waterboarding, which happens when water is being repeatedly poured over one’s face, to interrogate terrorist suspects. Last year his campaign stated how they don’t consider waterboarding to be torture and they should continue using this procedure. He doesn’t think foreign terrorism suspects should be allowed any constitutional rights at all (“Now Comparing”).

Both candidates have completely different ideas on how to tackle global warming issues and our environment. Obama supports a mandatory cap and trade system because it helps to reduce carbon emissions. However, he completely disagrees with installing the Keystone XL pipeline. He has ordered a temporary delay on deep-water drilling after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Over his past four years as president, a significant amount of federal dollars have been spent on “green energy” projects, such as wind turbines and related energy. Obama has achieved the first ever regulations on heat trapping gases, which were blamed for global warming and on toxic mercury pollution from power plants (“Now Comparing”). Romney believes in different practices on how to help save our environment and minimize global warming. Unlike Obama, Romney opposes cap and trade system and supports the Keystone XL pipeline. He believes exporting carbon emissions to China not only hurts the United States, but the entire planet as well. Under his plan, there’s a $20 billion package for energy research and new car technology. He fully supports opening the Atlantic and Pacific shelves, offshore Alaska, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. This would help to reduce obstacles to coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy development. Romney says that green power hasn’t become viable at the moment and it is unknown the causes of climate changes (“Now Comparing”).