Project Vote Smart: 2011 TFF Political Courage Test
This is a thread spawned from the great mind of TFF's own DragonHeart. For information on Project Vote Smart, click it. Basically it's an organisation that is attempting (in the US only, I think) to challenge politicians to make their views clear for all to see, on a wide range of issues, in a simplistic form, so voters can cut through the chaff and the rhetoric, and vote for candidates that will truly represent them. I think it's fantastic; so here is a version for TFF.
This is based on the 2010 version of the test. I'll see how I go with eliminating some questions. You do not need to answer everything. You are welcome to, and you are welcome to expand on anything, too.
Note that some of the questions are really US-specific. I'm not exactly sure how we should get around these, but most people here don't need to worry.
NOTE: Can somebody else explain what the hell is meant by all the jargon under Education? A translation would be neat.
EDIT: Many thanks to Pete! But I still don't know what K-12 is...
Education Jargon Explained:
a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students? (Yes/No)
Basically, the standards are set at the state level, and not nationwide. Some states have their own equivalence testing, while others just go based on cumulative grades for the year. This also affects passing grades. Certain states maintain that anywhere between a 55% to a 70% can be PASSING. Absurd, but that's America.
b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs? (Yes/No)
Universal Pre-Kindergarten is very similar. It's like a more involved daycare, and oftentimes it's considered optional and not part of a mandated curriculum. Some schools have their own setup within the school, while others are completely independent. Most of the time, it's just for socialization and the very basics of learning.
c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools? (Yes/No)
Charter schools are funded by both tax money and private donations, but run independently of the local jurisdiction, if I remember correctly. Oftentimes they have accelerated programs or just a safer atmosphere. The schools are
d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers? (Yes/No)
Vouchers are generally the giving out of federal or state money to poor families so they can afford private grade/ high schools, in hopes of giving them a better chance at a better education.
e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid? (Yes/No)
The government has various companies established to loan money to college students for their education, provided they or their family falls under certain income standards. The loans are deferred for generally 6 months after graduation, and take up to 10 years to be paid off fully.
Project Vote Smart: 2011 TFF Political Courage Test
Please indicate your positions on the following issues. You will be recognized for your Political Courage, which will be calculated
based on the number of issues you are willing to address out of the 13 issue categories.
If you would like to expand upon an answer, please do so in the “Other or expanded principles” section and indicate which letter question you are referring to. All “Other or expanded principles” must be under 100 words.
Abortion Issues:
a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? (Pro-choice/Pro-life)
b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy (Yes/No)
c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? (Yes/No)
d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? (Yes/No)
e) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures? (Yes/No)
f) Other or expanded principles:
Budget, Spending, and Tax Issues:
1) Spending: Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.
a) Agriculture
b) Arts
c) Defense--
c1) Intelligence operations
c2) Military hardware
c3) National missile defense
c4) Salary and benefits for active duty personnel
c5) Programs to improve troop retention rates
c6) Research and development of new weapons
d) Education
e) Environment
f) Homeland security
g) International aid
h) Medical research
i) Scientific research
j) Space exploration
k) United Nations
l) Welfare
m) Other or expanded categories:
2) Taxes: Using the key, indicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories.
a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
e) Gasoline taxes
f) Income taxes (low-income families)
g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
h) Income taxes (high-income families)
i) Other or expanded categories:
4) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year? (Yes/No)
5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy? (Yes/No)
6) Other or expanded principles:
Business and Employment Issues:
a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security? (Yes/No)
b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? (Yes/No)
c) Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage? (Yes/No)
d) Do you support the ability of workers to unionize? (Yes/No)
e) Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers? (Yes/No)
f) Other or expanded principles:
Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues:
a) Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns? (Yes/No)
b) Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? (Yes/No)
c) Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns? (Yes/No)
d) Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? (Yes/No)
e) Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations? (Yes/No)
f) Do you support limiting the President’s ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements? (Yes/No)
g) Other or expanded principles:
Crime Issues:
a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? (Yes/No)
b) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released? (Yes/No)
c) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment? (Yes/No)
d) Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders? (Yes/No)
e) Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs? (Yes/No)
g) Other or expanded principles:
Education Issues:
a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students? (Yes/No)
b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs? (Yes/No)
c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools? (Yes/No)
d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers? (Yes/No)
e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid? (Yes/No)
Environment and Energy Issues:
a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? (Yes/No)
b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? (Yes/No)
c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a “cap and trade” system? (Yes/No)
d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles? (Yes/No)
e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas? (Yes/No)
f) Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy? (Yes/No)
g) Do you support the development of nuclear reactors? (Yes/No)
h) Other or expanded principles:
Gun Issues:
a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? (Yes/No)
b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns? (Yes/No)
c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? (Yes/No)
d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles? (Yes/No)
e) Other or expanded principles:
Health Issues:
a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option? (Yes/No)
b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? (Yes/No)
c) Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts? (Yes/No)
d) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? (Yes/No)
e) Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs? (Yes/No)
f) Other or expanded principles:
Immigration Issues:
a) Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants? (Yes/No)
b) Do you support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country? (Yes/No)
e) Other or expanded principles:
International Policy Issues:
a) Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan? (Yes/No)
b) Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan? (Yes/No)
c) Do you support increasing economic development assistance for Afghanistan? (Yes/No)
d) Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan? (Yes/No)
e) Do you support granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States? (Yes/No)
f) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state? (Yes/No)
g) Do you support increasing sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates? (Yes/No)
h) Do you support the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq? (Yes/No)
i) Do you support the United States’ involvement in free trade agreements? (Yes/No)
j) Other or expanded principles:
Social Issues:
a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? (Yes/No)
b) Do you support allowing openly-gay men and women to serve in the United States military? (Yes/No)
c) Do you support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research? (Yes/No)
d) Should the federal government end affirmative action programs? (Yes/No)
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