Reply #2: Ok now I have to check out Dean's website

[Liberal Classic]

Let's see:

- increased farm subsidies and loans
- socialized medicine
- pro abortion
- end "don't ask don't tell"
- mandate health coverage for civil unions
- oppose expansion of so-called Patriot Act
- repeal certian portion of said act
- expanded DNA testing
- restore ex-con voting rights
- increase taxes
- "fairer" tax reform
- expand Social Security and Medicare
- end military recruiting at government schools
- increased federal funding of county school districts
- child's home life predictor in school success, must insisit parents participate
- lots of grand statements about environmental policy but no bullet points
- force businesses to accept unionization
- prevent businesses from holding meetings opposed to unionization
- prevent businesses from speaking man to man opposed to unionization
- end almost all NLRB appeals
- increase penalties for violations of the above labor reforms
- increase protectionist policies
- defeat terrorism
- strenghten allies
- stabilize Russia and China


I will say that I like his position on the Patriot Act, but in my position he does not go far enough.

I also like his policy on DNA testing.

I am mixed on restoring ex-felon's voting rights. I think this should depend on the nature of the crime.

I certianly believe that tax reform is strongly needed. However, reading his platform I think he contradicts himself a bit. On one hand he promises to simplify taxes, and on the other he promises new tax breaks or incentives. I think that these are mutually exclusive. We cannot simplify taxes and create more exemptions and rules at the same time, at least not without almost scrapping all of it beforehand.

I don't see what's wrong with military recruiters in schools. It is only natural that some young men and women are going to enlist. If college recruiters are allowed there's no reason military recruiters shouldn't be allowed. If taxes collected by the government pays for the school, I don't see why the government should be prohibited from recruiting. Big whoop.

Abortion stance is no suprise. Does he also favor subsidy here?

It sounds like he would make every right to work state a union state. Federalism anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

His envionmental page had very few concrete planks and instead waxed eloquent on the virtues of being an envionmentalist.

We must "insist" parents participate in schools? Quote: "we must insist that they participate in their children's education" How far does he intend this to go? Force parents to participate in public school functions? We now have compulsory attendance for students, now for adults also? What is his position on homeschooling?

When he writes: "First, defeat the threat posed by terrorists, tyrants, and technologies of mass destruction." this seems to me easier said than done. Good luck to any president on this no matter what party.

Overall, not particularly libertarian leaning, he seems to me to be the garden variety authoritarian Democrat. If your friend likes him, that's fine. I didn't vote for GW Bush so I don't feel guilty about it. All I would tell him is to read as much as he can get his hands on this time around.

And if only the Libertarians could run someone who was not a complete and total kneebiter I would be happy throwing my vote away. If it's Browne again I swear I'm going Natural Law. :)