We are getting closer all the time to the upcoming election. I am wondering if we can take some time and list some of the issues that are related to family policy that are brought up in the campaigns? Most importantly, how accurate are the claims made by the candidates and who is checking to see if the claims are true? Can you find the truth about some of the issues?
I think this could be an excellent exercise in defining what is family policy and what is not. It's also an excellent exercise related to your media analysis.
One that I heard of today was an attack ad on Jim Mattheson (sp?) The ad claimed that he changed his vote about getting our spending under control, but he voted to lower the debt ceiling. Is that contradictory? Is that family policy?
What have you heard?
I would say that marriage, education,abortion, and jobs are probably the most prominent family policy issues in the debate, at least from what I've heard. Jobs would actually fall under social policy rather then family policy. People without a family to support also need to have jobs to support themselves.
ReplyDeleteHowever, an argument can be made that it should be family policy. Whether we have a job or not or a decent paying job will determine how we provide for our families.
I'm not sure how accurate the claims are made by either side in regards to these issues. I haven't had much time to watch the debates. However, I caught the last 20 minutes of the debate with Joe Biden, and Paul Ryan. It seemed that Paul Ryan flip-flopped on his stance on abortion. He is still against abortion but his parameters have changed.
When I see things like this happen it makes me wonder what they truly believe in, and what stance they intend to take if they are elected. I don't have a lot of faith in candidates telling the truth, because some of them will say almost anything to get elected. After that's done, it's amazing how things can change.
I agree, Kellie. I don't know if I believe the candidates on anything anymore. Some people I've talked to trust more in the party that the candidates represent, because they figure that the party will hold the candidate to a certain view and position even if the individual candidate has a different personal view on an issue. I'm not sure I would trust that myself, however. What do you think about it?
DeleteInteresting problem! I've faced the same dilemma. I was against abortion all through my undergraduate days, but when I got to graduate school, I started re-thinking my position. I am still against it personally, but as a family policy issue, I'm not sure we have the right to regulate something as morally charged as abortion. Does that make me a flip-flopper?
DeleteOrganizing my beliefs and views around a party system doesn't work for me either. The parties focus on developing their platform every year. I may disagree with one or many of their ideas, and I think the irreverent side of me keeps me from being easily boxed into one or another party system.
Susan, I don't think that Ryan's views necessarily changed. My concern, was that I think he said they changed in a way to fit Romney's stance. It would have been great if he could have given a reason as to why he changed his mind. Does that make sense?
DeleteRachel, I agree that people will vote based on the party versus voting for the actual candidate. Sometimes it is difficult to vote for the candidate because if you really analyze the negative and positive things you like or dislike about all the candidates, it is more difficult to make a choice. I think this goes along with the "Intellectual Laziness" idea.
Some of the leading issues include Economy, taxes, debt & deficit, jobs, health care, immigration, foreign policy, education, abortion, same-sex marriage, social security/medicare, gun control, environment/global warming, terrorism, and role of government. A couple of the issues that I feel are directly related to family policy include: Abortion, same-sex marriage, jobs, taxes, education, and economy.
ReplyDeleteAs for how accurate the claims are that are made by the candidates, well through my research I have found that there are inaccuracies in both campaigns - what they claim and what is fact. I have read several "fact finders" articles and I could not believe how the information is misconstrued or don't tell the entire truth so to speak. I have found truth in a few articles, but have not really had time to reach into all the different issues and check them out.
Right now my head is rolling knowing that I need to get my vote ready to mail. Elections drive me crazy and I think we get to see just the surface of what our candidates are like - what is the part that we don't get to see and know like. They are supposedly putting forth their best foot for the public - argh - I don't know that I want to see what their "bad" foot is like. It would just be refreshing to have an article that was full of facts and statistics and we didn't have to go research what is true and what is not. I guess I am ready for this election to be over and to move on and see what the results are going to be for our nation.
I agree with much of what you're saying, Beverly. This is the first election in which I'm old enough to vote, and I'm taking it very seriously--it's stressing me out trying to figure out the truth and decide who I will vote for to lead our country for the next four years! I also would love to see it all laid out in a neat sheet detailing the stances and numbers without having to search for hours to find a semblance of the truth on many of these issues. Let me know when you find that magic sheet, please.
DeleteSome aspects that are related to family policy is healthcare, taxes, social security, adoption, same sex unions, jobs, income and benefits, and economy. One thing that seems to be on my mind is the policies regarding being employed by a union. I live in a railroad town where Union Pacific Railroad is a huge employer. This town is voicing their opinion and showing frustration with the politics and unions. If unions are affected by the government in terms of taking away pensions and changing benefits, these people that have worked for decades for the Union are going to be in a huge disaster when they retire. Also, I can see that there are issues with income inequality with individuals who work for a union and for those who don't work for a union. It is a difficult subject to talk about, but I feel these benefits are earned and the employees pay into these pension plans and also pay union fees every paycheck to protect their job and retirement. This is a huge topic in the media that I can see directly impacting family and friends right in my own town.
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