Where Obama and Romney stand on the issues

Barack Obama

Education:

Supports student choice in the form of charter schools but not school vouchers, which he believes take money away from public schools.

Enacted “Race to the Top” which ties federal grants to the achievement of certain benchmarks and reforms. Advocates for merit pay that takes into consideration professional development.

Freeze interest rates on student loans, preventing them from doubling. Expanded access to college loans through the federal government.

Set goal of leading the world in college graduates by 2020 and cutting college tuition growth in half over the next 10 years.

Will push an $8 billion (Dh29 billion) programme to train community college students for high-growth, high-tech sectors.

Health:

Enacted the Affordable Care Act, which requires that those who can afford to buy health insurance do so.

Supports include contraceptive care as part of health care reform and health care packages. Does not believe employers should withhold coverage for contraceptive or reproductive health.

Wants to expand Medicaid to add around 17 million people over the next 10 years.

Has cut subsidies to insurance companies. Believes that Medicare will be solvent till 2024.

Economy:

Implemented a stimulus package to retain the recession and bailed out the auto industry and major financial firms.

Wants to re-evaluate banking regulations and believes that excessive deregulation led to the 2008 recession.

Will allow Bush tax cuts to expire and set a tax rate of 30 per cent on those with incomes over $1 million.

Foreign Policy and the Middle East:

Issued an executive order to close Guantanamo, but was blocked by Congress.

Has used drones extensively to target terrorists in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen.

Began withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in 2012, with complete withdrawal scheduled for 2014.

Aims to double exports by 2015, starting with South Korea. Filed an unfair trade complaint against China.

Is against nuclear proliferation. Believes a diplomatic approach can work with Iran, although the administration has supported sanctions against the country.

Has reaffirmed America’s commitment to Israeli security. Believes in a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on 1967 borders. Opposes colonies.

Social Security:

Is against cuts to Social Security or privatizing the system.

Is against policies that would cut benefits for future recipients of Social Security.

Mitt Romney

Education:

Supports student choice and advocates vouchers as a method of increasing that choice. Also believes that the public schools will do better because there will be fewer students.

Supports Obama’s policies on merit pay for teachers.

Would reverse loan law. Believes in private sector-based approach to dealing with student loans. Wants to simplify the financial aid system.

Agrees that America should produce more college graduates, especially in fields like engineering and science.

Believes America should focus on higher education in engineering and sciences to compete with countries like India and China.

Health:

Would issue Obamacare waivers to all states and would work to have the Affordable Care Act repealed. Although he enacted similar legislation as governor of Massachusetts, he wants states to be in charge of enacting health care for their citizens. Supports private sector insurance.

Wants to reduce or eliminate federal funding for contraceptive/reproductive care service providers such as Planned Parenthood.

Would implement Paul Ryan’s cuts to Medicaid.

Believes Medicare should compete with private insurance companies and that this will drive health care costs down.

Economy:

Opposes the stimulus package and the bailout. Believes in an approach centred on the private sector to improve the economy.

Believes deregulation will encourage economic growth.

Believes lower tax rates will stimulate growth. Wants to remove taxes on inheritance and taxes on interest and dividends for those with incomes under $200,000.

Foreign Policy and the Middle East:

Would continue to use Guantanamo to hold and interrogate terrorism suspects.

Says he would be more aggressive in use of drones.

Believes the withdrawal from Afghanistan was premature and advocates re-evaluating the situation in Afghanistan and the American involvement there.

Wants to open markets more to compete with growing Asian economies.

Believes that Iran should not be allowed to build nuclear weapons at any cost, and that the military option should be left open on this.

Aims to maintain Israel’s military superiority in the region. Will reduce assistance to Palestinians if the continue with unilateral approaches to statehood via the UN.

Social Security:

Wants to increase retirement age to reflect increases in longevity.

For future seniors, believes that inflation benefits should continue to grow but at a lower rate for the wealthier.