A Thought for the Day After the Election

Published November 7, 2016November 7, 2016 by Voice in the Desert

For over a year, we’ve all been waiting for this day. The day that couldn’t come quickly enough to put us out of our misery. The day has finally arrived — tomorrow is Election Day!

We’ve been subjected to endless Facebook posts, the mud-slinging, the lies, the political pitches and the desperation. But now, the circus can finally come to an end! Tomorrow we will elect our next President of the United States of America.

But this past year has left many ready to just get this election over with, and not with excitement and anticipation for a new chapter in our nation’s history. Many, including myself, feel this election is a lose-lose situation for the American people. And in many ways, it is.

One the left side of the aisle, we have a corrupt liar who is under FBI investigation who craves power more than any other person on the planet. On the right side of the aisle, we have a narcissistic dingbat who doesn’t even have enough common sense and self-control to stay off Twitter at 2 a.m. Not to mention all the other scandals this year has brought us: emails, lewd comments, sexual objectification of women, covering up the accounts of sexual assault and rape victims, pay for play, corruption, slush funds and just plain old sheer idiocy.

It’s easy to see why so many Americans feel hopeless and are ready for this whole election cycle to be over.

But it’s important to remind ourselves, not just for this election but for anything we may face in our lives, of this timeless truth: God is in control.

Oftentimes, it’s easy to see the mess we’ve made or the chaos which surrounds us and begin to feel hopeless or scared. But in the midst of chaos, God has a plan. No matter what the results of the election are tomorrow or who our next president will be, none of that will change the eternal truth that God remains in control.

No man or woman can ruin God’s plan. No person is able to destroy the designs of YHVH. God does not need a Republican or a Democrat or in the White House for His purposes to prevail. He is Almighty and is able to triumph no matter who has control of congress, who is appointed to the Supreme Court or who sits in the Oval Office.

Let me clear, I’m not saying your vote doesn’t matter or you shouldn’t get out there and vote. I’m saying that He is unshakable and unchanging. After fulfilling your civic duty and voting, we must leave the election in His hands and trust that man, with all his flaws and shortcomings, will never overturn the eternal plan of the Father.

While we might be surprised, disappointed or even angry about the outcome of tomorrow’s election, He isn’t. He has a plan and a purpose for every twist and turn of life.

So as you get ready to vote, keep this truth in mind.

“A man plans his ways in his heart, but YHVH establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Happy voting!

September 11: Fifteen Years Later

Published September 11, 2016 by Voice in the Desert

Fifteen years have passed since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Fifteen years have gone by since our nation, and the world, stood by helplessly and watched as planes hit the two World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and the fourth plane, destined for the White House, crashed in a Pennsylvanian field.

Our world has changed since that moment in time. None of us were ever the same after that day. The world as we knew it was gone forever, never to return.

This year is the first time since the events on 9/11 that high school students will learn about the attacks as a historical event they were not alive to witness. These children have no idea what life was like before the attacks; no idea how much has changed and how much has been lost. A post-9/11 world is all they know.

And what do they see?

Athletes sitting for the national anthem. College students demanding “safe spaces.” Gender neutral language so as not to offend anyone. Protestors in the streets, burning down businesses and destroying cities all in the name of “Black Lives Matter.” People in the streets burning the American flag and disrespecting those who give their lives for our freedom.

What has become of our nation? What has become of our people?

Every year on the anniversary of September 11, I take the time to re-watch the documentaries and listen to the stories all over again. I believe it’s an important part to never forgetting. This year, as I watched “15 Septembers Later,” I saw a clip of President Bush visiting Ground Zero. As he stood on top of the wreckage of a fire truck and rallied the spirits of first responders and rescue crews, he bellowed into his bullhorn, “I hear you! And the people who did this will soon hear all of us!”

As he said this, the people at Ground Zero erupted into thunderous chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”

In the days following 9/11, people all around the nation were proud to be American. I remember that an unquenchable spirit of patriotism swept the nation. I even remember french fries being called “patriot fries” for a time. Everywhere you looked our rallying cry was “God bless America” and we were proud to be American.

But I fear those days have passed.

Young people today are growing more and more apathetic towards our nation; towards anything that doesn’t directly involve them. They don’t know or don’t remember what it was like on that day — when the world went from being a safe place of innocence to one where terrorism is daily threat.

They don’t want to vote. They don’t want to be informed about our nation or the world. Or they only want to vote to get free stuff and get a free ride from the government. Many of them don’t even identify themselves as Americans; they don’t want to be American anymore.

We, as a nation, have lost sight of how incredibly blessed we are to be American. To have the freedoms we have and to live in a nation where you can be anything you want to be. And as we lost sight of and began to take our freedoms and blessings for granted, we lost sight of our Creator who gave us these blessings. And in turn, we taught our children that mindset. That is what we have made our legacy.

If there’s anything the attacks on September 11, 2001, showed us, its that life is precious. Today, as we reflect on the sacrifice and horrors of that day, take time to reflect on your own life. What is your legacy? What will you be remembered for? What will you do to make the world a better place? What will you pass on to the next generation? What will your message to the world be?

We can’t do a disservice to all who gave their lives that day and in the days that followed by giving up our freedoms. By not protecting and defending the rights we have. By becoming apathetic or embarrassed to be American, we allow all those who wish to destroy and eradicate freedom around the world the upper hand. We make it easy for them because we destroy our own freedoms ourselves.

We vowed on that day to never forget. I pray we never do.

Presidential Primary Voting Dates

Published January 24, 2016January 29, 2016 by Voice in the Desert

Looking for when your state votes in the primaries? Look no further than this handy chart! You’re welcome.

Presidential Primary Dates by State, Date

State	Date	Filing deadline	Primary/caucus	Primary type
Iowa	February 1, 2016		Caucus	Closed
New Hampshire	February 9, 2016	November 11, 2015	Primary	Mixed
Nevada	February 20, 2016	January 1, 2016	Democratic Caucus	Closed
South Carolina	February 20, 2016	September 30, 2015	Republican Primary	Open
Nevada	February 23, 2016	January 9, 2016	Republican Caucus	Closed
South Carolina	February 27, 2016	November 16, 2015	Democratic Primary	Open
Alabama	March 1, 2016	November 6, 2015	Primary	Open
Alaska	March 1, 2016	January 28, 2016	Republican Caucus	Closed
American Samoa	March 1, 2016		Democratic Caucus	Open
Arkansas	March 1, 2016	November 9, 2015	Primary	Open
Colorado	March 1, 2016	January 25, 2016	Caucus	Closed
Georgia	March 1, 2016	December 1, 2015	Primary	Open
Massachusetts	March 1, 2016	January 4, 2016	Primary	Mixed
Minnesota	March 1, 2016	January 4, 2016	Caucus	Open
North Dakota	March 1, 2016		Republican Caucus	Closed
Oklahoma	March 1, 2016	December 9, 2015	Primary	Closed
Tennessee	March 1, 2016	December 1, 2015	Primary	Open
Texas	March 1, 2016	December 14, 2015	Primary	Open
Vermont	March 1, 2016	January 11, 2016	Primary	Open
Virginia	March 1, 2016	December 10, 2015	Primary	Open
Wyoming	March 1, 2016		Republican Caucus	Closed
Kentucky	March 5, 2016	January 7, 2016	Republican Caucus	Closed
Kansas	March 5, 2016	January 20, 2016	Caucus	Closed
Kansas	March 5, 2016	March 1, 2016	Caucus	Closed
Louisiana	March 5, 2016	December 4, 2015	Primary	Closed
Maine	March 5, 2016	December 15, 2015	Republican Caucus	Closed
Nebraska	March 5, 2016	March 11, 2016	Democratic Caucus	Closed
Maine	March 6, 2016	December 15, 2015	Democratic Caucus	Closed
American Samoa	March 8, 2016		Republican Caucus	Open
Hawaii	March 8, 2016	February 16, 2016	Republican Caucus	Closed
Idaho	March 8, 2016	December 9, 2015	Republican Primary	Closed
Michigan	March 8, 2016	December 11, 2015	Primary	Open
Mississippi	March 8, 2016	January 15, 2016	Primary	Open
District of Columbia	March 12, 2016	January 4, 2016	Caucus	Closed
Guam	March 12, 2016		Republican Caucus	Closed
Northern Marianas	March 12, 2016		Democratic Caucus	Closed
Virgin Islands	March 12, 2016		Republican Caucus	Open
Puerto Rico	March 13, 2016		Primary	Open
Florida	March 15, 2016	November 30, 2015	Primary	Closed
Illinois	March 15, 2016	January 6, 2016	Primary	Open
Missouri	March 15, 2016	December 29, 2015	Primary	Open
North Carolina	March 15, 2016	December 21, 2015	Primary	Mixed
Northern Marianas	March 15, 2016		Republican Caucus	Closed
Ohio	March 15, 2016	December 16, 2015	Primary	Mixed
Arizona	March 22, 2016	December 14, 2015	Primary	Open
Idaho	March 22, 2016	February 5, 2016	Democratic Caucus	Closed
Utah	March 22, 2016		Caucus	Closed
Alaska	March 26, 2016	January 29, 2016	Democratic Caucus	Closed
Hawaii	March 26, 2016	January 8, 2016	Democratic Caucus	Closed
Washington	March 26, 2016	February 26, 2016	Democratic Caucus	Closed
Wisconsin	April 5, 2016	January 26, 2016	Primary	Open
Wyoming	April 9, 2016	March 10, 2016	Democratic Caucus	Closed
New York	April 19, 2016	February 4, 2016	Primary	Closed
Connecticut	April 26, 2016	March 4, 2016	Primary	Closed
Delaware	April 26, 2016	February 26, 2016	Primary	Closed
Maryland	April 26, 2016	February 3, 2016	Primary	Closed
Pennsylvania	April 26, 2016	February 16, 2016	Primary	Closed
Rhode Island	April 26, 2016	February 23, 2016	Primary	Mixed
Indiana	May 3, 2016	February 5, 2016	Primary	Open
Guam	May 7, 2016		Democratic Caucus	Closed
Nebraska	May 10, 2016	February 25, 2016	Republican Primary	Closed
West Virginia	May 10, 2016	January 30, 2016	Primary	Mixed
Kentucky	May 17, 2016	January 26, 2016	Primary	Closed
Oregon	May 17, 2016	March 8, 2016	Primary	Closed
Washington	May 24, 2016	March 10, 2016	Republican Caucus	Closed
Puerto Rico	June 5, 2016		Democratic Caucus	Open
Virgin Islands	June 5, 2016		Democratic Caucus	Open
California	June 7, 2016	March 26, 2016	Primary	Closed
Montana	June 7, 2016	March 14, 2016	Primary	Open
New Jersey	June 7, 2016	April 4, 2016	Primary	Mixed
New Mexico	June 7, 2016	February 2, 2016	Primary	Closed
North Dakota	June 7, 2016	May 2, 2016	Democratic Caucus	Closed
South Dakota	June 7, 2016	March 29, 2016	Primary	Closed
District of Columbia	June 14, 2016	March 16, 2016	Primary	Closed

Presidential primary dates are still being determined. The dates listed are subject to change.

Presidential Candidates: Where Do They Stand, Where Do You Stand?

Published January 24, 2016January 25, 2016 by Voice in the Desert

With the Presidential Primaries quickly approaching, it’s time to decide who you will vote for! But I know how overwhelming it can feel to sort through each candidate and their stance on all the issues. So I’ve put together a few charts outlining some of the top Republican and Democrat candidates and their stance on 19 different issues. There was a lot of info to sort through (a lot — I hope you appreciate all this because I almost gave up several times) but here’s a quick rundown of how to navigate the charts.

Each of the charts falls into one of five main categories: Individual Rights, Domestic Issues, Economic Issues, Defense and International Issues, and Foreign Policy. At the end of each chart is a key-code with a broad definition of what the candidates’ stance translates to. At the bottom of each chart is a “NEXT” or “PREVIOUS” button that allows you to scroll through all the issues included in this section.

A few things I learned while going through the candidates:

You will not agree with each candidate 100%, so don’t discount anyone just because you don’t agree on one or two issues. It will be important to prioritize which issues are most important for you and then find the candidate who you most agree with.
These are complicated issues, so each candidate (for the most part) has elements of both sides of the coin. To help you understand how the candidate really feels about an issue, I’ve also included “What the Candidate Has Said” about this issue on most of the charts. This will help you get a better understanding of where the candidate stands on a particular issue.
Just hearing bullet points is not enough; you must do your own research and dig further into the details of what the candidates really stand for (ex: gay marriage: “oppose gay marriage but not homosexuality)
Once I started doing research into each of the candidates — and seeing what they had actually said on each issue — I was surprised to find that I agreed with some candidates more or less than I had previously thought.
Here are two websites that have been very helpful to me as I researched the candidates.

This first website was probably the most useful for me and the one I’d recommend the most. It allows you to answer a series of questions which you can also rate on the level of importance to you and then tells you which candidate you tend to vote most like. It also breaks down your similarity percentage for each major candidate — including the ones`you disagreed with. https://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz

This second one allows the user to go issue-by-issue and see each candidate’s view on the issue. http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm

For all the voters out there who think all politicians are corrupt and are looking for a Third Party candidate, I’ve included Roseanne Barr of the Peace and Freedom Party for your consideration <I hope you realize that I’m being sarcastic and have only included her to lighten this very dense subject. But she really is running as a Third Party candidate for President.>

Happy Hunting!

*NOTE: These charts are best viewed on a laptop or home computer, not a cell phone.*

Individual Rights

Abortion, Women & Minorities, Same-Sex Marriage, Religion (Keeping God in Public Sphere), Environment

Candidate	Position	What the Candidate Said
Jeb Bush	Opposes abortion rights.	Abortion ok when LIFE of mother at risk, not just her HEALTH. Defund Planned Parenthood, but not with federal shutdown. I defunded Planned Parenthood in Florida; do same federally. Parental consent; clinic regulation; pro-life counseling. Prevent use of public funds for stem cell research. Restrict abortions to incest, rape, & health.
Ben Carson	Strongly opposes abortion rights.	Drugs OK to prevent conception in instances of rape & incest. Maybe exceptions for life of mother, not for rape or incest. No abortion for convenience.
Chris Christie	Opposes abortion rights.	"Default pro-choice" until hearing 13-week fetal heartbeat. Ban abortions after 20 weeks, with exceptions. I'm pro-life with exceptions; take it or leave it. Put defunding of Planned Parenthood on the president's desk. Successfully defunded Planned Parenthood in New Jersey. 1994: Donated to Planned Parenthood; opposed public donation. 1996: partial birth procedure is reprehensible.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly favors abortion rights.	Expand embryonic stem cell research. Keep abortion safe, legal and rare. Lift ban on stem cell research to cure devastating diseases. Must safeguard constitutional rights, including choice. NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. Sponsored bill for emergency contraception for rape victims. Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women. Supports parental notice & family planning. Voted liberal line on partial birth & harm to fetus. YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines.
Ted Cruz		Strongly opposes abortion rights. Ban taxpayer funding of abortion & partial birth abortion. Companies can deny insuring birth control. Opposes churches providing birth control. Opposes public abortion funding. Protect innocent human life with partial-birth ban.
Carly Fiorina	Opposes abortion rights.	Ban abortions 20 weeks after fertilization. Opposes both federal abortion funding & judicial activism. Opposes prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research. Sanctity of life, except in the case of rape and incest. Supports giving legal protection to unborn children.
Rand Paul	Strongly opposes abortion rights.	Force a Senate vote on defunding Planned Parenthood. Fund community health centers instead of Planned Parenthood. Life begins at conception. Opposes federal abortion funding. Supports "Plan B" morning-after contraception. Supports religious freedom to deny contraceptive coverage.
Marco Rubio	Strongly opposes abortion rights.	Abortion is complex issue; we must reduce the number of them. Pro-life, but understands that woman's right is the law. Abortion is complex issue; we must reduce the number of them. Ban abortion after 20 weeks. Consensus that life begins at conception; so no abortion. Expand birth control exemption for faith-based organizations. Supports prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly favors abortion rights.	Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services. Ensure access to and funding for contraception. Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception. NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life.
Donald Trump	Opposes abortion rights.	Ban late abortions; exceptions for rape, incest or health. Defund Planned Parenthood. Favors abortion rights but respects opposition. I am now pro-life; after years of being pro-choice. I am pro-life; fight ObamaCare abortion funding. I changed my views to pro-life based on personal stories. Planned Parenthood is important, but abortions must stop.
Roseanne Barr	Strongly favors abortion rights.	Abortion is a woman's right.

Abortion Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	The right to abortion empowers women and is an important part of women's health rights and women's reproductive freedom. That right includes the right to a government subsidy for poor women who want an abortion. You believe in the 'Right to Choose' and are strongly pro-choice.
Favors	Restricting 'Partial-Birth Abortions' or other specific procedures is reasonable, but clinic access should be unfettered, since other women may choose differently than you. You are pro-choice, but believe that some restrictions are acceptable.
Opposes	The fetus is a human being who has rights independent of its mother's rights. You are "pro-life." While abortion under certain circumstances might be tolerated, the basic rights belong to the fetus, not the mother.
Strongly Opposes	Abortion is immoral because it kills a human being, and should never be tolerated. 'Roe v. Wade' should be overturned and we should protest abortion clinics as other forms of injustice are protested.

Jeb Bush	Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action.	Gay rights & feminism are "modern victim movements." Provide licensure exams in Spanish, for free. Dismantled Florida's affirmative action program. Replaced affirmative action with "One Florida" initiative.
Ben Carson	Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action.	Underdog status is no longer determined by race. Political correctness undermines Black Lives Matter movement. Arrests for "Driving While Black" is common.
Chris Christie	Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Neutral on affirmative action.	Black Lives Matter encourages cop killing.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly favors legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Strongly favors affirmative action.	Equal pay is not yet equal. Human rights are women’s rights. Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. We’ve come a long way on race, but we have a long way to go.
Ted Cruz	Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action.	Disallow Ku Klux Klan from participating in Adopt-A-Highway. Don't empower more lawsuits by demanding equal pay. Supports ending racial preferences for college admissions. NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.
Carly Fiorina	Favors legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Favors affirmative action.	Hired by AT&T after court ordered them to promote more women. Named "Most Powerful Businesswoman", but lists are bad idea. U.S. will be better off when women have equal opportunity. Women professionals are not treated the same as men.
Rand Paul	Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action.	Women won the "war on women": they're no longer downtrodden. Boycott countries that demonize women, like Saudi Arabia. Be aware of those who are missing out on American Dream.
Marco Rubio	Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action.	Voted against Paycheck Fairness Act. Incentivize foreign language curriculum in elementary school.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly favors legally requiring hiring women and minorities. Strongly favors affirmative action.	Affirmative Action makes up for past injustice. Until blacks, women, and other minorities are proportionately represented in the upper classes of the economy and the workplace, society owes them a hand up. Government should actively enforce Affirmative Action laws in private companies. NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions.
Donald Trump	Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Neutral on affirmative action.	I'm "fine" with affirmative action, for now. Political correctness is country's problem, not my problem.
Roseanne Barr		Require companies to hire more women & minorities.

Affirmative Action Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Affirmative Action makes up for past injustice. Until blacks, women, and other minorities are proportionately represented in the upper classes of the economy and the workplace, society owes them a hand up. Government should actively enforce Affirmative Action laws in private companies.
Favors	Under-represented groups should be favored, but perhaps basing results on formal quotas goes too far. Nevertheless, the government should prosecute companies which discriminate against women and minorities.
Opposes	Affirmative Action is a noble idea, but should not be enforced by government. Government should enforce an end to racial prejudice, period.
Strongly Opposes	Affirmative Action is better described as Reverse Discrimination. Quotas based on race and gender are wrong, whichever race or gender they favor. Under-represented groups should fend for themselves without government intervention.

Jeb Bush	Opposes same-sex marriage.	Don't create gays as another category of victims. Don't-ask-don't-tell ok if it doesn't affect policy. Let businesses express religious freedom against gays. Respect civil unions & same-sex lifetime commitments.
Ben Carson	Opposes same-sex marriage.	Constitution protects gays equally, but not marriage. Give gays rights, but not marriage, because it's a choice. Legal binding relationship for gays to enjoy property rights.
Chris Christie	Comfortable with homosexuality but opposes same-sex marriage.	Disagree with Supreme Court, but gay marriage is law of land. Homosexuality is not a sin; people are born that way. If my kids were gay, I'd give them a hug; but no marriage. Marriage is an institution between one man & one woman.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly favors same-sex marriage.	Gays deserve domestic partnership benefits. I support gay marriage personally and as law.
Ted Cruz	Strongly opposes same-sex marriage.	Most states can ignore Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage. One-man-one-woman marriage is building block of society. Opposes gay pride parades and opposes gay marriage.
Carly Fiorina	Comfortable with homosexuality but opposes same-sex marriage.	Supreme Court overstepped by legalizing same-sex marriage. Supports Amendment to prevent same sex marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman; but civil unions ok.
Rand Paul	Comfortable with homosexuality but opposes same-sex marriage.	Gay contracts ok, but gay marriage is offensive. Let states decide same-sex marriage; don't federalize it. Make federal benefits equal for gay couples. Opposes same-sex marriage. Redefining marriage leads to economic and moral problems.
Marco Rubio	Strongly opposes gay marriage.	Strongly opposes gay marriage.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly agrees with same-sex marriage.	Neither governments nor corporations have any right to decide about sexual preferences. Give same-sex partners the same status as heterosexual partners, and give same-sex marriages the same status as traditional marriage.
Donald Trump	Opposes same-sex marriage.	After Supreme Court vote, gay marriage is a reality. No gay marriage; no same-sex partner benefits. Same-sex marriage is a state issue. Tolerate diversity; prosecute hate crimes against gays.
Roseanne Barr	Strongly favors same-sex marriage.	Support same-sex domestic partnership benefits.

Same-Sex Marriage Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Neither governments nor corporations have any right to decide about sexual preferences. Give same-sex partners the same status as heterosexual partners, and give same-sex marriages the same status as traditional marriage.
Favors	Homosexuals should be treated with equal respect as other members of society, not treated as criminals. You acknowledge the diversity of our society by including same-sex partners in most or all benefits of heterosexual marriage partners, but civil unions are preferable to using the term 'marriage.'
Opposes	Homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, and therefore those who choose it should live by the consequences of their choice. Marriage between a man and a woman is the central institution of American society - we shouldn't do anything that perverts that concept or threatens that ideal.
Strongly Opposes	Homosexuality is immoral. You believe that the 'Gay Agenda' seeks to normalize homosexual activity and make it part of the mainstream as 'just another lifestyle.' We must draw the line so that homosexual values are not imposed upon our children.

Jeb Bush	Strongly favors keeping God in the public sphere.	Don't restrict creationism discussion, but don't require it. Focus on abstinence. More government money to religious groups. School prayer OK if prayers are voluntary and student-led.
Ben Carson	Strongly favors keeping God in the public sphere.	All religions provide beliefs that make us reasonable. End the "war on God." Islam is inconsistent with the Constitution. National Day of Prayer is a suggestion, not a requirement. PC police make us afraid to say "Merry Christmas"
Chris Christie	Opposes keeping God in the public sphere.	Catholicism informs who I am; but not my political decisions. No federal department to promote Judeo-Christian values.
Hillary Clinton	Opposes keeping God in the public sphere.	Allow student prayer, but no religious instruction. Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record. Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation. Teach Bible as history & literature; not science or religion. *NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration
Ted Cruz	Strongly favors keeping God in the public sphere.	Defend Judeo-Christian values against liberal fascism. Defend Ten Commandments and "under God" in the Pledge. Rated 100% by the AU, indicating opposition to separation of church & state. Stop IRS from asking: 'tell me the content of your prayers'.
Carly Fiorina	No Data	No Data
Rand Paul	Favors keeping God in the public sphere.	Rated 100% by the AU, indicating opposition to separation of church & state. Resist government imposing religious views of marriage.
Marco Rubio	Strongly favors keeping God in the public sphere.	Acknowledge God in everything we do & everywhere we go. Rated 100% by the AU, indicating opposition to separation of church & state. Silent on voluntary school prayer.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly opposes keeping God in the public sphere.	NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks. NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations. NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. Rated 0% by the AU, indicating support of separation of church & state.
Donald Trump	Neutral/No Opinion	Neutral/No Opinion
Roseanne Barr	Strongly opposes keeping God in the public sphere.	Oppose teacher-led prayer in public schools.

Religion (Keeping God in Public Sphere) Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Judeo-Christian values are American values. Belief in God is what America was founded upon, so tax-funding religious organizations, or praying in school, does not violate the separation of church and state. Displaying the Ten Commandments is appropriate because they are the moral basis for Western law. The Pledge of Allegiance should continue to include the phrase "Under God."
Favors	We need to teach values in our schools and account for our religious values in providing social services. The more our children are exposed to prayer, the Ten Commandments, and other traditional values, the better off they are.
Opposes	Faith-based organizations and prayer in schools are inappropriate because they fail to recognize American pluralism and religious diversity.
Strongly Opposes	Separation of church and state precludes allowing school prayer, or providing funding for religious organizations. It also precludes other aspects of religion in government buildings, such as posting the Ten Commandments in public places. We should not violate the Constitutional principle in this case.

Jeb Bush	Opposes less environmental regulation.
Ben Carson	Favors less environmental regulation.
Chris Christie	Favors less environmental regulation.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly opposes less environmental regulation.
Ted Cruz	Favors less environmental regulation.
Carly Fiorina	Favors less environmental regulation.
Rand Paul	Strongly favors less environmental regulation.
Marco Rubio	Strongly favors less environmental regulation.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly supports more environment regulation.
Donald Trump	Strongly favors less environmental regulation.
Roseanne Barr	Corporations befoul our food and water supply.

Domestic Issues

Crime (Criminal Sentencing), Guns, Healthcare/ObamaCare, School Vouchers, Energy, Drugs

Candidate	Position	What the Candidate Has Said
Jeb Bush	Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing.	Stricter penalties for drug, sex, & gun offenses. Supports death penalty.
Ben Carson	Opposes stricter criminal sentencing.	Develop inner city resources to build alternatives to crime. Equip police with body cameras to avoid abusiveness.
Chris Christie	Favors stricter criminal sentencing.	Bail reform: Keep dangerous criminals in jail until trial. Police officers are afraid to enforce the law.
Hillary Clinton	Opposes stricter criminal sentencing.	Address the unacceptable increase in incarceration. Get body cameras on police; tackle mass incarceration. Give kids after-school activities to prevent gangs. Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance.
Ted Cruz	Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing.	Supports the death penalty. Fully monitor sexual predators & bring them to justice.
Carly Fiorina	Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing.	Supports capital punishment for certain crimes
Rand Paul	Strongly opposes stricter criminal sentencing.	REDEEM Act: seal non-violent criminal records to allow jobs. Justice cannot occur without a trial, especially minorities. Drones have executed people wrongfully, like death penalty.
Marco Rubio	Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing.	Endless death row appeals hinder justice. Mandatory life sentence for repeat sex offenders.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly opposes stricter criminal sentencing.	Judicial discretion should not be diminished by formulaic sentencing like 'Three Strikes.' Let judges and juries decide what penalties to apply in each case. The death penalty should be abolished as "cruel and unusual punishment".
Donald Trump	Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing.	Black lives matter, but we need strong police presence. Capital punishment isn’t uncivilized; murderers living is.
Roseanne Barr		Prison-military-industrial complex uses slave labor.

Crime Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Three Strikes' laws put dangerous repeat offenders where they belong - behind bars, for life. And the Death Penalty gets rid of them once and for all. Mandatory sentencing and strict enforcement make sure that judges don't let off criminals too easily.
Favors	Keep death penalty and 'Three Strikes' laws on the books because they seem to be effective, but consider ways to deal with special circumstances so we can avoid horror stories of inappropriate imprisonment.
Opposes	Strict enforcement of pre-determined sentencing threatens civil rights and should be used cautiously. Police, courts and prisons should focus on effective enforcement rather than strict enforcement. The death penalty should be used with extreme caution, if at all.
Strongly Opposes	Judicial discretion should not be diminished by formulaic sentencing like 'Three Strikes.' Let judges and juries decide what penalties to apply in each case. The death penalty should be abolished as "cruel and unusual punishment".

Jeb Bush	Favors gun rights.	Concealed carry OK; supports instant background check. Reduce gun violence and protect 2nd Amendment. Signed first-in-the-nation Stand-Your-Ground law.
Ben Carson	Strongly favors gun rights.	2nd amendment critical in guarding against tyranny. Law-abiding citizens have right to guns without registration. No limits to gun ownership, except in cases of insanity. Semi-automatic weapons ok in countryside, but not cities.
Chris Christie	Limited gun rights.	Favors gun control measures from law-enforcement perspective. Gun laws ineffective; focus on mental health. Gun restrictions based on terror watch lists is a state issue. We already have too many firearms in our community.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly opposes gun rights.	Background check system could prevent Virginia Tech massacre. Get assault weapons & guns off the street. Get weapons off the streets; zero tolerance for weapons. Gun control advocates see Clinton as an ally.
Ted Cruz	Strongly favors gun rights.	2nd Amendment is ultimate check against government tyranny. NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets.
Carly Fiorina	Strongly favors gun rights.	Let people on no-fly list purchase guns; it's poorly managed. Strong supporter of Second Amendment gun rights.
Rand Paul	Strongly favors gun rights.	NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. Oppose laws which would limit the right to gun ownership.
Marco Rubio	Strongly favors gun rights.	2nd Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy. Deal with gun violence, but do it constitutionally.
Bernie Sanders	Opposes gun rights.	YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets.
Donald Trump	Strongly favors gun rights.	A very strong person on the Second Amendment. Dems and Reps are both wrong on guns. Gun ownership makes US safer, not more dangerous. Gun violence is inevitable; regulations won't help.
Roseanne Barr	Strongly favors gun rights.	Supports absolute right to gun ownership.

Gun Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	The right to bear arms is a basic Constitutional right and expresses the democratic principle of self-defense against tyrannical government. Leave gun rights as they are.
Favors	It's not the instrument, it's the morality. Gun ownership should not be restricted - most gun owners use them safely and responsibly. To reduce gun-related crimes, address the moral problems of society and other issues.
Opposes	The only "gun right" is to self-defense against criminals and the right to a secure home and a secure person. Tighten registration rules and keep guns away from kids.
Strongly Opposes	More guns mean more killing. Limit availability of guns by whatever means are effective. The 2nd amendment does not mean an unlimited right to any and all firearms.

Jeb Bush	Opposes ObamaCare.	ObamaCare is focused on access; should be focused on quality. Compromised on limiting medical malpractice awards.
Ben Carson	Opposes ObamaCare.	Obamacare is about restriction and control. ObamaCare robs you of your ability to control your own life. Free medical care to fix primary care deficit.
Chris Christie	Opposes ObamaCare.	Opposes ObamaCare.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly favors ObamaCare.	Strongly favors ObamaCare.
Ted Cruz	Strongly Opposes ObamaCare	Strongly Opposes ObamaCare
Carly Fiorina	Strongly Opposes ObamaCare	Strongly Opposes ObamaCare
Rand Paul	Strongly Opposes ObamaCare	Strongly Opposes ObamaCare
Marco Rubio	Opposes ObamaCare.	Opposes ObamaCare.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly favors ObamaCare and its expansion.	Too few Americans have adequate health insurance. The government should make funds available for more complete coverage, or should expand existing government-run coverage to all citizens. A single-payer system would solve most healthcare problems.
Donald Trump	Strongly Opposes ObamaCare	Strongly Opposes ObamaCare
Roseanne Barr		More federal funding for health coverage.

Healthcare/ObamaCare Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Too few Americans have adequate health insurance. The government should make funds available for more complete coverage, or should expand existing government-run coverage to all citizens. A single-payer system would solve most healthcare problems.
Favors	The government should provide coverage or subsidize health insurance for at-risk groups such as children and the elderly. Society benefits when more people are covered. Universal health insurance is a good goal, although some market methods can work as well as government systems.
Opposes	While more thorough health coverage is a noble idea, further health coverage should be promoted through non-government means.
Strongly Opposes	Nationalized health care would entail a government takeover of a large portion of the economy and undue intrusions into our personal medical histories. Remove the federal government from the health care industry.

Jeb Bush	Strongly favors school vouchers.
Ben Carson	Strongly favors school vouchers.
Chris Christie	Strongly favors school vouchers.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly opposes school vouchers.
Ted Cruz	Strongly favors school vouchers.
Carly Fiorina	Strongly favors school vouchers.
Rand Paul	Strongly favors school vouchers.
Marco Rubio	Strongly favors school vouchers.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly opposes school vouchers.
Donald Trump	Strongly favors school vouchers.
Roseanne Barr	Supports parents choosing schools via vouchers.

School Vouchers Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	The government should not be in the business of running schools. State-funded vouchers should pay for privately-run education at private schools, parochial schools, charter schools, home-schooling, or whatever schools parents choose. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act sets the stage for terminating failing schools.
Favors	School choice helps the poor who would otherwise be stuck in failing schools. Why should only the elite be able to afford private school? Subsidize parents' school choices to foster equality, as long as the school respects separation of church and state, and meets basic state standards. Charter schools are a good compromise.
Opposes	Continue experimenting with charter schools, and with public school choice, but only as a limited experiment, and no vouchers. We should create pressure to improve our public schools, not abandon them. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act is an unfunded mandate.
Strongly Opposes	Public schools are an important component of American society. Improve public schools rather than destroying them with vouchers. More teachers, smaller classes, more funding - then parents will choose public schools.

Jeb Bush	Opposes green energy.	Opposes green energy.
Ben Carson	Opposes green energy.	Climate debate is distracting and irrelevant. Petroleum independence would deprive terrorists of funding.
Chris Christie	Favors green energy.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly favors green energy.
Ted Cruz	Strongly opposes green energy.
Carly Fiorina	Opposes green energy.	Pass the Keystone Pipeline even if Obama vetoes it. Supports renewable energy tax credits.
Rand Paul	Strongly opposes green energy.
Marco Rubio	Opposes green energy.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly favors green energy.
Donald Trump	Strongly opposes green energy.
Roseanne Barr		Replace coal & oil with alternatives.

Energy Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Overuse of fossil fuels causes serious problems that we should deal with immediately by raising carbon taxes, raising CAFE standards, federally funding research into alternative and sustainable energy resources, and push to implement the Kyoto Protocol.
Favors	We should establish a market-based solution for excess carbon emissions, and the problem will be solved. The Kyoto Protocol should require developing countries' participation to make the solution work.
Opposes	The cost of dealing with global warming is far higher than the potential damage, so we should do nothing. There's some evidence for global warming, but the effects are not certain. We should perhaps sign on to some international agreements, but make only minimal financial commitments for now.
Strongly Opposes	There's no such thing as global warming - it's all natural climatic variation. And if there is a problem, it won't affect us much, and we can deal with the problems as they arise.

Jeb Bush	Strongly favors stricter drug laws and believes marijuana is a gateway drug.
Ben Carson	Strongly favors stricter drug laws and believes marijuana is a gateway drug.	Strongly favors stricter drug laws and believes marijuana is a gateway drug.
Chris Christie	Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug.	Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug.
Hillary Clinton	Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug.	Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug.
Ted Cruz	Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug.	Does not support the legalization of marijuana.
Carly Fiorina	Opposes stricter drug laws and no opinion if marijuana is a gateway drug.	Believes legalization of marijuana should be left to states.
Rand Paul	Strongly opposes stricter drug laws and strongly disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug.
Marco Rubio	Strongly favors stricter drug laws and believes marijuana is a gateway drug.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly opposes stricter drug laws.
Donald Trump	Neutral on drug laws.	Yes to medical marijuana; otherwise, decide by state
Roseanne Barr	Re-write drug laws to be sane and people based.

Drug Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Drug use is immoral and drugs poison our youth and our society. We should fight the Drug War using all reasonable means - Just Say No!
Favors	The Drug War is winnable if we invest enough resources. We should do whatever we have to do: More police, more border patrols, more intervention abroad, more prison terms, more prisons.
Opposes	We should have regulated decriminalization. Medical marijuana might be legalized, for example, as might clean hypodermic needles. Our drug policy should be reformed, with less criminal penalties and more drug abuse clinics.
Strongly Opposes	The Drug War should be ended. It has failed, condemning a 'Lost Generation' of blacks and Hispanics to prison and criminal records. End it now like we ended alcohol Prohibition, and organized crime and drug-related crime will decrease like it did when Prohibition ended.

Economic Issues

Stimulus, Taxes, Immigration, Social Security

Candidate	Position	What the Candidate Has Said
Jeb Bush	Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best.
Ben Carson	Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best.
Chris Christie	Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly favors stimulus policies and thinks stimulus is better than market-led recovery.
Ted Cruz	Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best.
Carly Fiorina	Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best.
Rand Paul	Opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best.
Marco Rubio	Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly favors stimulus policies and believes stimulus is better than a market-led recovery.
Donald Trump	Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best.
Roseanne Barr	Federal Reserve stole our money and our future.

Stimulus Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	The federal government should inject as much funding as needed to recuperate from the Great Recession, including direct federal job creation. Nationalization of banks and companies is more appropriate than bailouts.
Favors	The federal government should institute incentives for private corporations for more hiring, to recuperate from the Great Recession. Funding to "bail out" private companies should be accompanied by rules for corporate behavior and repayment.
Opposes	Cutting taxes and reducing regulation is the means to recuperate from the Great Recession.
Strongly Opposes	The federal government caused the Great Recession, and keeping out of the economy will end it.

Jeb Bush	Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy.
Ben Carson	Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy.
Chris Christie	Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly favors higher taxes, including on the wealthy.
Ted Cruz	Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy.
Carly Fiorina	Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy.
Rand Paul	Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy.
Marco Rubio	Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly favors higher taxes, including on the wealthy.
Donald Trump	Favor higher taxes for wealthy. End corporate taxes. Lower individual rates. Consider a one-time tax on the wealthy to pay down the debt.
Roseanne Barr	48% tax on high income earners is fair.

Tax Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	A progressive income tax is one of the cornerstones of modern society. Its premise is that the wealthy contribute proportionally more than those with lower incomes. That is the right way to run our tax system, and we should keep it that way.
Favors	Flatter taxes benefit the wealthy more than the lower and middle class. We should focus tax relief on the majority of taxpayers instead of on the richest few percent, while preserving important deductions like mortgage interest and charitable donations.
Opposes	A Flat Tax would simplify the entire tax system. It would get rid of loopholes that drive tax-avoiding behaviors. And it would remove most deductions and the special interests that come with them. In the meantime, tax cuts benefit the economy in both good economic times and bad economic times.
Strongly Opposes	Ideally, the income tax and the IRS should be abolished. Perhaps a national sales tax, like the FairTax, is a good replacement. Lower and flatter taxes are a good first step.

Jeb Bush	Favors immigration reform.	Create a legal status, not a path to citizenship, for undocumented residents. Limit family-related legal immigration.
Ben Carson	Opposes immigration reform.	Allow undocumented residents access to a national guest worker program if they leave the country first.
Chris Christie	Favors immigration reform.	I've never been opposed to tuition equality for illegals
Hillary Clinton	Favors immigration reform.
Ted Cruz	Strongly Opposes immigration reform.	End Obama's illegal amnesty via Congress' checks & balances.
Carly Fiorina	Elements of both.	No comprehensive reform; but yes to DREAM Act. Opposes granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.
Rand Paul	Favors immigration reform.	Legal status, but not citizenship, for illegal immigrants. See immigrants as assets, not liabilities. We will find a place for illegal immigrants in America.
Marco Rubio	Elements of both.	GOP DREAM Act: visas for going to college or military. Green cards after 10 years; secure border; & e-Verify. Legal status, but not citizenship, to migrant's children. No amnesty in any form, not even back-of-the-line.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly favors immigration reform.
Donald Trump	Strongly opposes immigration reform.
Roseanne Barr	Supports illegal immigrants earning citizenship.

Immigration Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Immigration restrictions are basically racist because they keep out Hispanics and other non-whites. We should reform US immigration laws and use them to increase our diversity and cultural tolerance. Social services should be offered to all residents of the United States regardless of immigration status. Illegal aliens should be offered amnesty if they prove themselves as productive members of society.
Favors	The government should make few restrictions on immigration. If the number of immigrants is too high, establish an immigration fee and raise it until the number of immigrants is acceptable. Or change the immigration quotas by some other method.
Opposes	Maintain legal immigration while enforcing against illegal immigration. Tighten our borders - decrease substantially or stop all immigration so we can address domestic problems.
Strongly Opposes	We should strictly enforce our immigration laws by increasing border patrols, and we should crack down on illegal immigrants already in the US by deportation and by removing all their social benefits. In the long run, we should decrease immigration.

Jeb Bush	Favors privatizing Social Security.
Ben Carson	Strongly favors privatizing Social Security.
Chris Christie	Favors privatizing Social Security – but do away with it for wealthy.
Hillary Clinton	Strongly opposes privatizing Social Security.
Ted Cruz	Strongly favors privatizing Social Security.
Carly Fiorina	Favors privatizing Social Security.
Rand Paul	Favors privatizing Social Security.
Marco Rubio	Opposes privatizing Social Security.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly opposes privatizing Social Security.
Donald Trump	Elements of both.	Let people invest their own retirement funds. Social Security isn't an "entitlement"; it's honoring a deal. Cannot change Medicare or Soc.Sec. and still win elections.
Roseanne Barr	Oppose privatizing Social Security.

Social Security Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Our retirement funds should not be entrusted to the government. The entire Social Security system should be run instead as we currently run IRAs, Keogh plans, 401(k)'s, and other private pension plans.
Favors	The Trust Fund might be invested in the stock market or via some other private investment vehicle. Individuals should be given at least some control over how their retirement funds are invested.
Opposes	Social Security should remain under federal control, but you want reforms on how the Trust Fund is handled. In particular, the 'Lockbox Bill' is a good first reform, since it keeps the system secure while avoiding privatization.
Strongly Opposes	Social Security should remain forever under federal control to ensure that all Americans have a secure retirement. The Trust Fund should not be invested in anything like the stock market, since that would introduce undue risk.

Defense & International Issues

Free Trade, Military, American Exceptionalism

Candidate	Position	What the Candidate Has Said
Jeb Bush	Favors free trade.
Ben Carson	Opposes free trade.	Stop severe trade imbalance via stiff tariffs.
Chris Christie	Neutral.	Supports free trade, but distrusts Obama's TPP agreement. Trade mission to Mexico doubles as foreign policy tour.
Hillary Clinton	Elements of both.	Chief advocate for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Global trading system isn't up to standards of fairness. I absorbed new info and changed my mind to oppose TPP.
Ted Cruz	Strongly favors free trade.	Defended Chinese company on intellectual property theft.
Carly Fiorina	Opposes free trade.	Change rules about outsourcing; current climate forces it.
Rand Paul	Strongly favors free trade.	China trade improves economy AND makes fight less likely.
Marco Rubio	Strongly favors free trade.	Continue reducing barriers to free and fair trade.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly opposes free trade.
Donald Trump	Elements of both.	Embrace globalization and international markets. Foreign companies are taking jobs from US.
Roseanne Barr	Opposes expanding free trade.

Trade Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	Free trade is always in the people's interest. We should have open trade with every country in the world. The government has no right to make restrictions on imports or exports. NAFTA, GATT, and the WTO should be expanded and made less restrictive over time. Globalization is good.
Favors	Free trade is in our national interest because it provides economic growth and jobs. We should only restrict free trade when it poses a security risk. Including environmental and labor safeguards are acceptable if they can be successfully negotiated into trade agreements, but should not be used as a pretext to stop trade agreements.
Opposes	Free trade should be replaced by fair trade. Free trade is not in our national interest when it poses a risk to job security, causes humanitarian problems overseas, or results in environmental damage. Globalization should focus on benefiting people instead of benefiting multinational corporations.
Strongly Opposes	Americans should buy from other Americans because that creates American jobs. We should restrict trade with any country which costs us jobs or which creates a trade deficit. Globalization is just another means of corporate influence over our society.

Jeb Bush	Strongly favors robust military.
Ben Carson	Strongly favors robust military.
Chris Christie	Strongly favors robust military.
Hillary Clinton	Opposes robust military.	Balance lower military & higher diplomacy budget.
Ted Cruz	Strongly favors robust military.
Carly Fiorina	Strongly favors robust military.
Rand Paul	Somewhat favors robust military.	National defense is important, but no blank check. Put defense spending on the table for reducing budget.
Marco Rubio	Strongly favors robust military.
Bernie Sanders	Opposes robust military.	Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill.
Donald Trump	Strongly favors robust military.
Roseanne Barr	US out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Military Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	We have an obligation as the leaders of the world to maintain a strong military. And we have an obligation to our service personnel to pay them adequately.
Favors	We should consider carefully before making more cuts - for example, base closings have hurt local economies, and reducing military personnel has put pressure on employment.
Opposes	Build smart, not necessarily big. Money is often better spent on issues other than defense. We should cut back on troops stationed abroad and focus on quality of our troops instead of quantity.
Strongly Opposes	Defense spending includes huge amounts of pork-barrel spending and should be reduced dramatically. We should change our Defense policy to one of defense, instead of one where we police the world. Pull US troops out of Europe, Japan, Korea, and elsewhere. We are wrong to have a military that is as large as the rest of the world combined.

Jeb Bush	Elements of both.	We are leader among equals in community of nations. Supports economic cooperation between US and China.
Ben Carson	Strongly favors American exceptionalism.
Chris Christie	Strongly favors American exceptionalism.
Hillary Clinton	Opposes American exceptionalism.
Ted Cruz	Strongly favors American exceptionalism.
Carly Fiorina	Favors American exceptionalism.
Rand Paul	Elements of both.	No isolationism; but don't go abroad seeking enemies. Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty.
Marco Rubio	Favors American exceptionalism.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly opposes American exceptionalism.
Donald Trump	Strongly favors American exceptionalism.
Roseanne Barr	We do need a little bit more socialism in America.

American Exceptionalism Position	Belief
Strongly Favors	The United Nations has too much power; the U.S. should withdraw, or restrict their actions. The same applies to other international institutions.
Favors	United States military forces should never serve under other countries' commands; but multinational forces are acceptable under U.S. command. In general, the U.S. should consider her own national interests first, and then act with other nations in accordance with those interests.
Opposes	We can best advance U.S. interests by building alliances and working with other countries on mutual interests. Multilateralism is more effective than unilateralism.
Strongly Opposes	The U.S. is just one country among hundreds; we are an important country but the opinions of others count too. We should not throw our weight around, but should use "soft power" and seek other non-military solutions.

Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy, Israel & Iran, ISIS & Iraq

Candidate	Position	What the Candidate Has Said
Jeb Bush	Opposes noninterventionist foreign policy.
Ben Carson	Opposes noninterventionist foreign policy.
Chris Christie	Opposes noninterventionist foreign policy.
Hillary Clinton	Opposes noninterventionist foreign policy.
Ted Cruz	Strongly opposes noninterventionist foreign policy.
Carly Fiorina	Strongly opposes noninterventionist foreign policy.
Rand Paul	Strongly favors noninterventionist foreign policy.
Marco Rubio	Strongly opposes noninterventionist foreign policy.
Bernie Sanders	Strongly favors noninterventionist foreign policy.
Donald Trump	Elements of both.	Support Israel, our unsinkable Mideast aircraft carrier. Support Russia, but with strings attached. Opposed Iraq war in 2004 & predicted Mideast destabilization. No humanitarian intervention; only to direct threats. Iraq should pick up the tab for their own liberation.
Roseanne Barr	Opposes expanding the armed forces.

Jeb Bush	Pro-Israel. No deal with Iran.	Cancel any nuclear deal President Obama reaches with Iran. Strengthen ties with Israel.
Ben Carson	Supports Israel. Possible deal with Iran.	Congress must be involved in Iran deal. U.S. should listen to and consider Netanyahu’s words.
Chris Christie	Pro-Israel. No deal with Iran.	End current negotiations with Iran. Strengthen ties with Israel.
Hillary Clinton	Pro-Palestinian. Nuclear deal with Iran.	Work toward a two-state solution. Do not necessarily freeze settlement building. Support framework for nuclear deal. Continue diplomacy efforts and some sanctions.
Ted Cruz	Pro-Israel. No deal with Iran.	Strong support for Israel. Increase and toughen sanctions. End current nuclear talks until Congress approves the outlines of a deal.
Carly Fiorina	Pro-Israel. Possible deal with Iran.	Support Israel by breaking off nuclear talks. Verify actions before Iran sanctions are lifted.
Rand Paul	Pro-Israel, for now. Diplomacy with Iran.	Supports aid to Israel but thinks it would be best to phase it out. Sanctions for Iran and diplomacy first.
Marco Rubio	No Iran deal.	Toughen sanctions. Scrap proposed nuclear deal.
Bernie Sanders	Pro-Palestinian. Nuclear deal with Iran.	Supports current talks with Iran. Critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Donald Trump	Pro-Israel. No deal with Iran.	Calls for closer alliance with Israel. Walk away from nuclear talks. Increase sanctions.
Roseanne Barr	"Pro-Israel." Pro-Palestinian. Supports deal with Iran.	Pro-Israel but anti Israel's right wing government. Self-determination and right of return for Palestinians. Stop the endless clamoring for war with Iran.

Jeb Bush	Embed U.S. trainers with Iraqi troops. No decision yet on whether to send more ground troops. Build new U.S. base in Anbar province.
Ben Carson	The U.S. should step up its efforts to destroy the Islamic State militant group. Do not “tie” the military’s hands.
Chris Christie	Willing to send U.S. troops. Invading Iraq was a mistake.
Hillary Clinton	No boots on the ground. Use regional troops.
Ted Cruz	Don’t send U.S. ground troops, yet.
Carly Fiorina	Arm the Kurds.
Rand Paul	Arm the Kurds, declare war. Limited troops.
Marco Rubio	Increase the president’s power to combat.
Bernie Sanders	Opposed the Iraq war. Calls for troop withdrawal as soon as possible.
Donald Trump	Send a limited number of combat troops on the ground.
Roseanne Barr	No data

Election Day!

Published November 3, 2014November 3, 2014 by Voice in the Desert

So in case you haven’t heard, tomorrow (November 4, 2014) is election day! And while you all can take a wild guess as to how I vote, I think that our right to vote is something very important…no matter what your political affiliation. You might be surprised to learn that I do not hate people who vote Democrat or politicians who affiliate with the Democrat party (I may disagree, make fun of, or heckle a bit but never hate.)

Believe it or not, I don’t get upset simply because someone chooses to vote Democrat (although I do typically disagree with them). I get most upset when I see someone voting who is uninformed. And this isn’t just for Democrats. I also don’t like when people vote Republican and are uniformed. I don’t agree with Christians who vote straight Republican simply because they feel they ought to or because they think it’s their moral obligation to vote a certain way.

We are all busy, I get that. I don’t have nearly as much time as I would like to research the entire ballot before I vote, but I can logically explain why I voted the way I did. All of this “I was born (insert chosen party affiliation here) and I will die (insert chosen party affiliation here)” is crap to me. What good is having a voice in the political goings on of your nation if you’re just going to throw it away?

The truth is, I don’t care how you vote…just as long as you vote informed.

In our world, voting is a privilege that we too often take for granted. Even in other nations where citizens can vote, the election process is usually just a corrupted façade. If you need examples, look at Iran, North Korea, Egypt, the West Bank and Gaza, and a myriad of other nations around the world where the voting process is merely a formality in an already rigged election.

But here, in America, our voices are heard. Our opinions matter. That’s one reason so many people are adamant about voter IDs and get worked up over any hint of voter fraud. It’s not that people are racist or mean or that we hate illegal immigrants, it’s that our right to vote is something so crucial to the way our government operates, we don’t want anything to impede justice…or our voice for that matter.

But too often, I see that we don’t fully appreciate our right to vote. Nothing upsets me more than when someone votes a particular way because they feel they have to and not because they truly believe in the candidate. I get so peeved when people throw away their vote on bad reasoning. I’ve heard, “Well they’re both bad, so I’m just not voting.”

Or this jewel of an argument: “Well if we need evil to bring about God’s plan then I’m going to vote for the candidate I disagree with the most to help bring it about.”

Both of these arguments are some of the stupidest arguments I have ever heard. For one thing, God doesn’t need your help! His plan will come about whether you vote or not; whether you side with good or evil; or whether you were Republican or Democrat. But He definitely doesn’t need your help.

But secondly, let me clarify something for you: you will NEVER agree 100% with any one candidate. I don’t care what their party affiliation or what they stand for, you will never agree on every single issue. And that’s ok.

Think about it this way, you won’t ever agree with ANYONE all of the time. Not your spouse, best friend, church pastor, co-worker, your identical twin, your beloved dog, or favorite TV character. You just won’t. Ok, maybe I went a little overboard there, but you get my point.

You wouldn’t divorce your spouse (or not marry them in the first place) simply because you disagreed on one issue. You wouldn’t stop being friends with someone because they didn’t see eye-to-eye with you on what really is THE best episode of 24. If you did, you would never get married, or have friends, and wind up alone and eating Ramen noodles with your 32 cats.

My point is that you can’t just bury your head in the sand and not vote at all simply because you don’t completely agree with one candidate. You also can’t just vote a particular way because you feel you have to or that’s the way you’ve always voted or because you were told that’s how you should vote. Take a step back, evaluate your decision, and if you choose to continue voting the same way, fine. But at least you’ve given it real thought.

You have to do your research, learn which candidates stand for what issues, and then decide which issues are most important to you. THEN, go vote!

Don’t let your family, friends, pastor, traditions, obligations, or favorite news anchor (especially the ones from CNN or MSNBC) tell you how to vote. The way you vote is something only you can decide. Pray about it and let the Holy Spirit guide you on how to vote.

But don’t be so quick to give up your right to vote. When we give up this right, we allow our voice to be silenced. And our job is to be a Voice in the Desert preparing the way of the LORD!

So let’s get to the polls and VOTE!