What's Your Issue, Man?

As the primary and caucus season rolls on, I continue to evaluate the candidates. I'm no fool to believe that the next president will see every plank in their current platform come to fruition, so I'm trying to determine what my issue is. What the issue will be when I step into the booth in November, and who'll be the best candidate for advancing that issue.

Kentucky's primary date is so late in the year, that the each party's candidate we'll be more than likely already be cemented in place. For the time being I'm reading as much as I can about the major candidates from both parties. My gut reaction to the last eight years is to say I'll vote Democratic no matter the candidate, and while the Blue team seem largely a more sane group than the Red team, I'm trying to keep an open mind.

I can say that as sad as it may seem, the war is not a top issue for me anymore. What upsets me about the war are the lies and manipulations that took place leading up to the war. The key players in those tactics will vanish with the inauguration of whoever wins the election, hopefully. The Republican candidates mostly argue that we stay the course while the Democratic candidates each have slightly differing plans for withdrawal from Iraq. I could go either way, and would like to believe that whoever is eventually in charge of that decision will listen closely to expert voices before acting.

Many of the issues I feel strongly about are based on two sources: The Millennium Development Goals and the issues of poverty, politics, drugs and education that David Simon has chosen to address in his television show The Wire. These may seem like vastly different sources but are actually quite similar.

The Millennium Development Goals are:

1. Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote Gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat AIDS/HIV, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

I also want a president who will support scientific research in all fields, not restrict the ability of scientists to conduct that research. My ideal candidate will be one who supports the mission statement of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which is advancing science throughout the world for the benefit of all people.

In order to make an informed decision in November I'm constantly seeking evidence of the candidates' stance on these issues.