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The economy means different things to different people – job and business creation, trade, competitiveness, investment in technology and people, saving scared cow industries, even the budget deficit.  A bad economy has been known to sink a sitting president, but a strong one has generally been no guarantee for re-election.  This time, around, the economy is somewhere in the middle with growth slowing and inflation seemingly under control. And unlike other democracies, no economist or Treasury Secretary has ever made it to the White House.

 

ECONOMY

 

  • Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)

      Primary goals are to expand and strengthen the middle class through job creation and higher wages. Would eliminate tax incentives for American companies that off-shore jobs and relocate overseas. Plans to further increase employment by creating 5 million “green collar jobs” and restoring national infrastructure.

  • John McCain (R)

      Wants to end pork barrel spending by adhering to strict budgetary priorities.  Would increase transparency in Congress in order to increase accountability. To fight unemployment, supports a buffer account against a sudden loss of income using  unemployment-insurance taxes. Plans to draw on the strengths of America's community colleges, applying the funds from federal training accounts to give displaced workers an educational opportunity.

  • Barack Obama (D)

      Supports increased minimum wage as well as job creation and training programs for low-income workers; would increase access to venture capital in underserved communities and help fund a national network of public-private business incubators; create millions of new “green" jobs and invest in rebuilding national infrastructure; strengthen unions and pass the Patriot Employer Act which gives tax breaks to American companies that create jobs and wages at home rather than abroad; supports greater investment in education and basic scientific research to maintain competitive edge; pass comprehensive immigration reform to “attract the best and the brightest."





ADDITIONAL POLITICAL COVERAGE


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