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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels August 9, 2004 Time for a more civil presidential discussion What would be a breath of fresh air is a break from the constant stream of newspaper opinion pieces that primarily focus on ugly candidate bashing. Calling President Bush a liar or John Kerry a flip-flopper doesn't help anyone. All it does is create cynicism. What we need is some straight talk about the positions of each of the candidates. To do this we need to treat both candidates with respect and listen and review their records carefully. We might accept or reject their positions, but an honest and charitable review of the record of each of the candidates would help clarify differences and even show their similarities on public policy issues. In academics we are taught to avoid personal attacks and to give your opponent the most charitable interpretation of their argument as a way of protecting the discussion from red herring and straw men statements; such civil behavior seems to be antithetical in the world of politics today, but we can always try and here is my effort. There are varieties of issues that can be discussed, but I would like to focus on one that has become an important issue in this campaign - the future needs of the United States military. Since I don't have the knowledge to comment on Bush's or Ralph Nader's position on this important issue, I will focus on Senator Kerry's. My comments are based on his speeches and statements since his foreign affairs talk at Georgetown University, Feb. 2003. o Senator Kerry is concerned that our troops are overextended. Given the dangers we face in the world today and our commitment to achieve stability in Iraq, America needs more active troops. He has asked for an additional 40,000 troops. o In addition to these troops, Senator Kerry wants to double the number of special forces personnel for overseas operations. He also recognizes the need to increase the number of active-duty civil affairs personnel in our arm services i.e., doctors, dentists, judges, etc. o Investments in defense need to reflect a changing world. This means investing in technologies for advanced communications and information, and better precision weapons. Finally, we need to educate and train our military personnel with the best skills and knowledge possible. Given the economic reality of huge projected deficits, we need to develop new spending priorities and cut waste and duplication. o Our national guard has been forced to take on too much of the burden in Iraq. Senator Kerry would like the guard to redefine its mission centering on domestic homeland security. o Finally, Senator Kerry recognizes it is not just our soldiers who are on the battlefield, but also their families. He will push to have military pay competitive, provide good housing, health care and education for all military families and make sure that our vets have the services they deserve. His position leaves him open to attack from both the left and right. Those on the left are critical because Kerry accepts Bush's resolve that we need to stabilize Iraq now that we are there. He is criticized by the right for his questioning of Bush's competency, motivation and disregard of our allies before and during the Iraq war. Kerry's position represents a tension where he sees reality being polarized by different strong external forces, many that are contradictory to one another. Some people feel uncomfortable with this type of relative thinking as compared to an absolute position that says either we should be in Iraq or out. The approaches of the two candidates are different but more subtle than we might imagine. Good luck voters. Richard Holt Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams