The nonpartisan, nonprofit Public Agenda, which two weeks ago called on the McCain and Obama campaigns to focus on the big issues as it released its online “Voter’s Survival Kit,” is today calling on citizens to do their part and make sure they are up to speed on the big issues before the debates.
“Government accountability is a two way street, and it’s time for all Americans to start walking the walk and making sure they really understand the big issues,” said Public Agenda Vice President Michael Hamill Remaley. “As long as we let them, most politicians will try to get by with slogans and easy answers to America’s big challenges. We can only force them to be honest about the real trade-offs of their policy positions if we understand the issues ourselves.”
The Voter’s Survival Kit issue guides are designed to help typical voters sort through the campaign rhetoric and make up their own minds about which candidates have the best ideas. The issue guides highlight fundamental facts voters need to know and explains more about the choices the country faces in down-to-earth, easily understandable terms, on the following topics:
- The Economy
- Iraq and Beyond
- Climate Change
- Health Care
- Immigration
- Taxes, Spending and Debt
Each issue guide includes a brief overview of the topic, an evenhanded review of possible solutions and the pros and cons of each approach, both on an interactive web platform and in a downloadable PDF format. The Voter’s Survival Kit also includes online discussion, links to candidate positions on issues and other sites with extensive information on issues, blogging opportunities, links to voting information sites, widgets and more.