by Author Name Withheld 96

Created on: February 17, 2008   Last Updated: December 15, 2008

With the recent criticism that the bailouts have brought to the Treasury Department voters have focused more on economics when voting in 2008. Voters should have asked the candidates tougher questions about if the government was going to prop these struggling companies up for the long haul or not. Voters did not ask John McCain whether his foreclosure prevention plan was stolen directly from the Hillary Clinton playbook or not. McCain had a tendency to say something about fiscal restraint and smaller government, but in the next thought would say something completely different.

In a similar vain more voters should have done the math on Obama's tax and spending plans. For all the criticism of "Joe The Plumber" he did make a valid point by questioning the Obama tax plan in the way he did. Voters should have asked how in the world Obama was going to increase spending by tremendous levels, cut taxes for ninety five percent of the people and not make the deficit skyrocket. I think we've come to realize that deficits do matter. This is despite the claim by 1996 Vice Presidential nominee that deficts do not matter and that we can just borrow the money. With all this new spending and yet less revenue coming into the feds it may be a great time for Obama to talk about the budget deficit

Voters should have taken more of an interest in the economic advisers that the candidates surronded themselves with. Was Carly Fiorina a staunch supporter of and adviser to John McCain really that good of a CEO at Hewlett Packard. How about the people on Obama's transition team like Bob Rubin and Laurence Summers. The question should be asked about Mr. Rubin's role at Citigroup and whether he bares any responsibility for their recent failures. Larry Summers could be asked about the lackluster investment regulations of the Clinton Administration and whether things like deregulation of derivatives helped cause some of these market issues. As far as investments go Obama should been pushed farther on the question of whether he was going to raise the capital gains tax for retirees. Another question for the candidates should have been what kind of effect will your healthcare plan have on stocks within the pharmaceutical industry for example? If neither candidate is able to give you a satisfactory answer instead of voting for one of the two major parties you could always look for a third way.

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