The United States is one of the world's wealthiest countries. Even so, its economy goes through ups and downs. During the last few years, many Americans have struggled to find jobs. President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry both have ideas about how to keep the country's economy healthy and make it easier for people to find jobs. Here are some of the big questions being addressed in the campaign:
- What should the federal government do to help businesses struggling to compete against companies from other countries?
- How should the government help people who don't have jobs?
- How much in taxes should wealthy people pay, and how should those tax dollars be spent? (Taxes are the money the government collects from people to pay for projects and plans including schools, road improvements, and the military.)
Where They Stand:
John Kerry says that President Bush's government has been helping rich people and big companies while not doing enough to help poor workers. He says the government needs to use the money that it used to collect from the rich to pay for healthcare and school programs. Here are some of his ideas:
- Change tax laws so they don't encourage companies to hire foreign workers instead of Americans.
- Come up with new ways to help small businesses pay less in taxes if they hire new workers.
- Work to keep factories and farms successful in the Midwest and throughout the country.
George W. Bush believes that lowering taxes helps keep the economy healthy. By letting people and companies keep more of the money they earn, Bush hopes companies will hire new workers. Paying less in taxes, he says, also helps people pay for the products and services they use. Here are some of Bush's other plans:
- Let people invest their retirement money in new ways.
- Help small businesses grow by getting rid of some of the rules that affect them.
- Give special benefits to people who have lost their jobs to help them get back to work.
