VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (7 points on Social scale)	No govt abortion funding; no litmus test: Neutral on topic 1 No moral authority for govt to make moral decisions: Favors topic 1
Opposes topic 2: Require companies to hire more women & minorities (7 points on Economic scale)	Hiring quotas foster race resentment: Opposes topic 2
Favors topic 3: Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws (7 points on Social scale)	Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is a recipe for discrimination: Favors topic 3 Moral decisions on gay rights rest with the people: Neutral on topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Permit prayer in public schools (5 points on Social scale)	Include physical & mental well-being to improve education: Neutral on topic 4 Focus education on developing consciousness of students: Neutral on topic 4 Better education & development to reduce juvenile crime: Neutral on topic 4
Opposes topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (7 points on Economic scale)	80% reimbursement for Medicare prescriptions: Favors topic 5 100% reimbursement for preventive health care: Opposes topic 5 More prevention, more patient rights, less malpractice: Opposes topic 5 Cut costs via prevention; allow more Medicare choice: Opposes topic 5
Strongly Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (10 points on Economic scale)	More funds for Soc. Sec; invest in stocks; supports Lockbox: Strongly Favors topic 6 Government is looting our investment trust: Strongly Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (10 points on Social scale)	Supports vouchers, charter schools, & block grants: Strongly Favors topic 7 Improved public education might lead to vouchers later: Favors topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Death Penalty (10 points on Social scale)	Replace punishment & jail with rehabilitation & prevention: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (10 points on Social scale)	“Get tough” fails; focus on prevention & rehabilitation: Strongly Opposes topic 9 More prison rehabilitation; address root causes of crime: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (0 points on Social scale)	More restrictions on purchase, possession, & use of guns: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Gun control is reasonable, but won’t solve all crime: Opposes topic 10
Favors topic 11: Decrease overall taxation of the wealthy (7 points on Economic scale)	Deep-but responsible-tax cuts: Neutral on topic 11 18% flat tax, falling to 10% by 2006: Strongly Favors topic 11 Less taxes popular; less spending unpopular: Neutral on topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Immigration helps our economy-encourage it (10 points on Economic scale)	More high-tech immigrants; more control at state level: Strongly Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (2 points on Economic scale)	Balanced trade: safeguarding rights, jobs, & sovereignty: Opposes topic 13 Re-negotiate NAFTA & WTO, or withdraw: Opposes topic 13 For anti-dumping & counter-tariffs; not NAFTA & Fast Track: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Everybody wins when free trade works: Favors topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Link human rights to trade with China (10 points on Social scale)	Full diplomatic relations with China, but not with Taiwan: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 15: More spending on armed forces (10 points on Economic scale)	Shrink defense by $100B while strengthening military: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Present military spending is politically motivated: Opposes topic 15
Favors topic 16: Reduce spending on missile defense (Star Wars) (2 points on Economic scale)	Maintain nuclear non-proliferation and maintain ABM Treaty: Favors topic 16 High-tech weaponry is unstoppable: Favors topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 17: Seek UN approval for military action (0 points on Economic scale)	Decrease military aid; shift to life-supporting policy: Favors topic 17 Shift foreign aid from military basis to know-how basis: Favors topic 17 Pay debt to UN; diplomacy with Cuba: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Reduce use of coal, oil, & nuclear energy (0 points on Economic scale)	Renewable energy is common sense: Strongly Favors topic 18 Promote renewable energy; end fossil-fuel dependence: Strongly Favors topic 18 Promote sustainability; tax cost of fossil fuels: Strongly Favors topic 18 Renewable energy resources ultimately cost-effective: Strongly Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (7 points on Social scale)	Decriminalize non-violent drug offenses: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Legalize medical marijuana; educate for prevention: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Legal drugs won’t save money.: Neutral on topic 19 Legal drugs mean lost human potential.: Favors topic 19 Solution to drugs is lessened demand through education.: Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (2 points on Social scale)	Welfare via block grants; focus on job creation: Favors topic 20