Should states be allowed to display the Confederate flag on government property? Yes, it symbolizes rebellion not racism. Yes, but only at historical monuments where it was originally flown. Yes, each state should have the right to display any flag they choose.
No, and ban any public display of the flag. No, it is a symbol of racism, separatism and treason. No, it should be put in a museum where it was originally flown. Should the federal government require racial sensitivity training for employees? Yes, and extend the requirement to private companies as well. Yes, as long as it covers all protected groups age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion and is not based on critical race theory. No, just ensure there are clear guidelines, action, and accountability for acts of discrimination.
Should businesses be required to have women on their board of directors? Yes, but only for large international corporations. Yes, and the government should do more to require diversity in the workplace. No, board members should be the most qualified regardless of gender. No, the government should never require the diversity of private businesses. Do you support the death penalty? Yes, but only for horrific crimes with undeniable evidence. No, too many people are innocently convicted.
No, spending life in prison is a harsher sentence. Should the government support a separation of church and state by removing references to God on money, federal buildings, and national monuments? Yes, but do not waste money removing existing references. Yes, it creates a bias against religions that do not believe in God. No, as long as it does not reference a specific religion. Should the military allow women to serve in combat roles?
Yes, as long as they can pass the same physical tests as men. Yes, preventing women from serving in combat roles is discriminatory. No, women are not as physically capable as men for combat. No, combat roles place women in a high risk situation for sexual assault.
No, men are more likely to risk the success of a mission in order to protect a women from danger. Should people under the age of 18 years old be able to receive gender-transition treatments? Yes, but with parental permission. Yes, but only if they are at least 16 years old. Yes, as long as treatment is not subsidized by the government. Yes, but only for non-surgical treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy. No, and ban all gender transitioning treatments.
No, children should not be allowed to make irreversible life decisions. Yes, we should respect all cultural traditions. Yes, but their identity must be privately verified by a female staff member. Should terminally ill patients be allowed to end their lives via assisted suicide?
Yes, but only if there is no chance they will survive their illness. Yes, but only after a psychological examination to show they fully understand this choice.
No, but they should be allowed to refuse artificial life support. Immigration Issues. Should illegal immigrants have access to government-subsidized healthcare? Yes, if they pay taxes. Yes, and grant them citizenship. Yes, but they should be deported after treatment.
Yes, but only for life threatening emergencies or infectious diseases. No, but their children should have access. No, and we should deport all illegal immigrants.
No, and the government should never subsidize healthcare. No, but they should be allowed to purchase private healthcare. Should the U. Yes, and Mexico should pay for it. Yes, but make it a high-tech surveillance barrier instead of a physical one. No, this would be too costly and ineffective. No, and we should adopt an open border policy. No, keep the current wall but do not build more of it.
No, but increase our military presence along the southern border. Should undocumented immigrants be offered in-state tuition rates at public colleges within their residing state? Yes, as long as they pay taxes. Yes, but deny eligibility for financial assistance and scholarships.
Yes, and they should also be eligible for financial assistance and scholarships. No, and all illegal immigrants should be deported. No, they should pay the same rate as out-of-state students. Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?
No, and we should ban the use of sanctuary cities. Should local law enforcement be allowed to detain illegal immigrants for minor crimes and transfer them to federal immigration authorities? Yes, all illegal immigrants should be turned over to federal authorities and deported. No, only if they are convicted of a violent crime.
No, too many non-violent immigrants are being deported. Should children of illegal immigrants be granted legal citizenship? Yes, if they were born here. Yes, and abolish all national borders.
Yes, but it should not grant their parents citizenship. Yes, but only after performing 4 years of military service or graduating college.
No, all illegal immigrants should be deported. No, they must formally apply like every other new citizen. Should Muslim immigrants be banned from entering the country until the government improves its ability to screen out potential terrorists? Yes, until terrorist attacks decrease. Yes, and ban all immigration until the government improves its screening process.
No, banning immigrants based on their religion is unconstitutional. Should there be a temporary ban on all immigration into the United States?
Yes, but I would prefer a permanent ban. No, but we should spend more to increase our border security. No, and we should increase the amount of immigrants we currently allow into the country. Should working illegal immigrants be given temporary amnesty?
Yes, but only if they pay taxes. Yes, create a simple path to citizenship for immigrants with no criminal record. No, but allow them to stay. No, remove them from the U. No, fine companies that employ illegal immigrants. Should the US increase or decrease the amount of temporary work visas given to high-skilled immigrant workers? Increase, our economy relies on businesses hiring the highest skilled workers at the lowest cost.
Decrease, companies are currently taking advantage of this program to decrease wages. Decrease, and the government should provide more incentives to prepare our citizens for these jobs. I am satisfied with the current amount. Should immigrants be required to learn English? Yes, but the government should provide free language learning courses. Yes, and remove multilingual translations from government documents and services. No, we should embrace the diversity that immigrants add to our country.
No, but remove multilingual translations from government documents and services. Yes, but it should only cover very basic and simple topics. Yes, and it should test more than just a basic level of understanding.
Should immigrants to the United States be allowed to hold dual citizenship status? Yes, unless they have committed a crime. Yes, unless they have committed an act of terrorism. Yes, but they should not be able to claim citizenship status of more than two nations. No, and revoke the status for those currently holding dual citizenship.
No, and we should not allow any new immigrants into the country at this time. Should immigrants be deported if they commit a serious crime? Yes, but after they have finished serving their sentence. Yes, as long as it is safe for them to return to their country. No, only if they have entered the country illegally. Yes, and allow border states to manage their own security policy. No, just enforce the current border policy. No, and we should implement an open border policy.
No, make it easier for immigrants to access temporary work visas. Education Issues. Do you support increasing taxes for the rich in order to reduce interest rates for student loans?
Yes, and increase government funding so every student receives a free college education. No, but we should still reduce interest rates for student loans.
No, and transition all current government student loans into privately managed accounts. Should critical race theory be taught in K education? Yes, but not until they are teenagers. Yes, and also add Intersectionality and the Project to the curriculum. Yes, we cannot end racism until we acknowledge that our institutions, laws, and history are inherently racist. No, kids should be raised to be racially color blind instead of being taught they are inherently racist or disadvantaged based on the color of their skin.
Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities? Yes, but only for partial tuition. No, but provide lower interest rates for student loans.
No, but provide more scholarship opportunities for low-income students. Should the federal government fund Universal preschool? Yes, but funding should come from states instead of the federal government. Yes, as long as parents also have the option to send their child to private school.
No, use a voucher system instead. No, and all education should be privatized. Do you support charter schools? Yes, but only if they are non-profit. Yes, but not at the expense of funding public schools. Yes, and our entire education system should be privatized. No, and education should not be privatized. No, we should focus on improving our public schools and increasing teacher wages instead.
Do you support Common Core national standards? Yes, I support the concept but not the current implementation. Yes, national standards will help improve our national average and better prepare students for college. Yes, I support a national base standard but allow states and local districts to customize their implementation.
No, teach to each student's potential instead of uniform testing. No, education should be handled at the state and local level instead of the national level. Should the government decriminalize school truancy? Should the government offer students a voucher that they can use to attend private schools? Yes, but only for low income families. Yes, but I would rather privatize all education.
Yes, but only for students with exceptional athletic, academic, or service achievements. No, and ban private schools. No, we should focus on improving our public schools instead. Transportation Issues. Should the government increase spending on public transportation? Yes, and provide more free public transportation. Yes, but only if the spending goes towards environmentally friendly solutions.
No, and we should reduce current spending. No, we have more important issues that need funding. No, I am satisfied with the current amount of spending. No, and we should privatize more public transportation services. Electoral Issues. Should the electoral college be abolished? Yes, and switch to a ranked voting system. Yes, and switch to a representative democracy popular vote system. No, but the balance of votes by population should be updated.
No, the electoral college ensures representation of the whole country instead of just major cities. No, but reform so that votes are distributed proportionally instead of the current winner take all system. Should foreigners, currently residing in the United States, have the right to vote? Yes, but only after living in the country for 5 years. Yes, but only after living in the country for 10 years. Yes, anyone who pays taxes should have the right to vote. Yes, but they should not be allowed to vote in local elections.
Yes, but they should only be allowed to vote in local elections. No, only legal citizens should be allowed to vote. Should a photo ID be required to vote? Yes, this will prevent voter fraud. No, and there is little evidence that voter fraud even exists.
No, and automatically register every citizen to vote when they turn No, this will disadvantage those who do not have the resources to obtain one. Was the US presidential election conducted fairly? Yes, there is not enough evidence to support widespread fraud. Yes, and because COVID required different procedures, this led to many unfounded conspiracy theories. No, there was too much social media bias and censorship.
Should the minimum voting age be lowered? Yes, any citizen that pays taxes should be allowed to vote. No, it should be raised. No, and voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote.
Should there be a limit to the amount of money a candidate can receive from a donor? Yes, politicians should not be bought by wealthy donors. Yes, and ban all political donations and publicly fund elections. No, this is a violation of free speech.
No, as long as all donations are public knowledge. Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public? Yes, and also required to release their medical records. Yes, and require a public audit each year they are in office.
No, their income is none of our business. No, tax returns have nothing to do with their ability to perform their duties. Should a politician, who has been formerly convicted of a crime, be allowed to run for office?
Yes, as long as they have finished serving their sentence. Yes, as long as the crime was not committed while in office. Yes, as long as it was not a felony, violent, financial, or sexual crime. No, and disallow politicians that are under investigation for a crime. Should corporations, unions, and non-profit organizations be allowed to donate to political parties? Yes, but limit the amount they can donate.
No, these types of donations just turn into bribes. No, but allow donations from unions and non-profits. No, and political campaigns should be publicly funded. Should foreign lobbyists be allowed to raise money for American elections? Yes, as long as all donations are public knowledge to ensure there is no conflict of interest. No, foreign interests should not be able to buy the influence of our politicians. Should there be a 5-year ban on White House and Congressional officials from becoming lobbyists after they leave the government?
Yes, and make it a lifetime ban. Yes, and ban all forms of lobbying. No, the current two-year ban is sufficient. Environmental Issues. Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change?
Yes, and provide more incentives for alternative energy production. No, tax carbon emissions instead. No, and global warming is a natural occurrence.
No, provide more incentives for alternative energy production instead. Yes, until other countries are held to the same standards. Should the government stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline? Yes, and the government should never be allowed to acquire land by eminent domain. No, but reroute the pipeline away from Native American land. No, but drastically increase the amount of fines the company must pay in the event of an accident. Should drilling be allowed in the Alaska Wildlife Refuge?
Yes, but with very strict environmental regulations. No, not until we have depleted all other oil reserves. No, and increase alternative energy subsidies to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels.
No, increase consumer incentives to recycle these products instead. No, but increase tax incentives for companies that make biodegradable products. Do you support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources?
Yes, but increase oversight. Yes, but not in heavily populated areas. No, we should pursue more sustainable energy resources instead. No, more research is needed to measure the long term effects of fracking. Yes, and deregulate the energy sector to let the free market determine the best energy sources.
No, end all offshore oil drilling. No, and nationalize the energy sector. No, but maintain our current offshore oil wells. No, and provide more incentives for alternative energy production. Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry? Yes, wind power is the best alternative to coal and natural gas. Yes, the government should support more sustainable energy technologies. No, end all tax credits and subsidies to the energy industry. Meet Your Mayor includes both Democrats and Republicans.
Since early January, the mayoral hopefuls have been speaking at dozens of candidate forums and other public campaign events, mostly online. We know that pretty much no one has time to watch all of those events.
So in addition to the surveys, we pulled statements from these recorded forums to show each candidate backing up their choice in their own words. We used all of the survey responses, the online forum transcripts and other statements to build Meet Your Mayor, which presents readers with the same exact questions we asked the candidates.
And as you answer each of the questions, the tool will show you who aligns your answers. We asked the candidates four or so questions on various topics. Go here to answer the policing questions, here for the education questions and here for the COVID recovery questions. Over the course of the next couple months, Meet Your Mayor will roll out new topics, including housing, the budget and more. By the end, you should be able to see which candidate or candidates best reflects your stances across a wide spectrum of issues.
But, as with everything with the Civic Newsroom, we want to hear more from you. Send us your questions to civicnewsroom thecity. Lots of different local organizations are hosting virtual candidate forums. Here are a couple:.
Speaking of events: The next round of our Civic Newsroom meetings is coming up. We are returning virtually to Mott Haven, Brownsville and Flushing. Interview three people not family members such as shopkeeper, neighbor, or politically active volunteer, to find out which candidate they support and why. Learn what has shaped their political opinions. Was it an event? An idea or program proposed by a candidate? A particular issue about which they feel strongly? A long-standing party loyalty?
Learn about endorsements. This is a way for interest groups and organizations to five a "stamp of approval" to a candidate. Endorsements provide clues to the issues a candidate supports.
Get a list of endorsements from each candidates' headquarters. Find out what these groups stand for and find out why they are endorsing this candidate. Look into campaign contributions. Where do the candidates get the funds to finance their campaigns?
Do they use their own money or raise funds from a few wealthy donors, from may small contributors, or from Political Action Committees? Many types of information about campaign contributions must be reported to the government and are watched by the press. Check the newspaper for stories on campaign finance. How might these campaign contributions affect the candidates' conduct in office? Throughout the campaign, opinion polls will be taken by a variety of groups to evaluate public support for the different candidates.
Polls reveal who is leading at a certain point in the race. As you read the polls, ask these questions: Who sponsored the poll? Were all the figures released? What kinds of questions were asked? Were they slanted or unbiased? Who were respondents selected - randomly or such a way to include all segments of the population? How many people were included in the poll sample?
Step 7: Sorting it all out. Ask yourself these final questions: Which candidate's view on the issues do you agree with the most? Who ran the fairest campaign? Which candidate demonstrated the most knowledge on the issues?
Decide what changes you feel that your community, state and country need most. What do you want to keep the same? Which of your interests are served by the programs each candidate is proposing?
As you ponder, weigh alternatives. Listen to people on both sides of the issue. Look at cause and effect. Consider what you have to trade off to get what you want. Evading real issues — Many candidates work very hard to avoid giving direct answers to direct questions.
And the candidate who claims to have a secret, easy plan to solve a tough problem is just copping out. Watch out for candidates who talk about benefits and never mention costs or how the nuts and bolts of a program will work. Do the materials give you an overall impression of the candidates? What specific conclusions can you draw about their stands on issues?
Deciding if a candidate will be a good leader is difficult. How can you know if someone will be honest, open and able to act under pressure if elected to office? Here are some ways to read between the lines:. The opinions of others can help clarify your own views, but remember you may be the most careful observer of all. Throughout the campaign, opinion polls will be taken by a variety of groups to evaluate public support for the different candidates.
Polls reveal who is leading at a certain point in the race. As you read the polls, ask yourself these questions:. Before the event, get some background on the debate sponsor and follow any conflicts over the debate itself. They can be powerful. Clearly, the power of images can cause voters to overlook what is being said. Are you influenced by the age, sex, clothes or physical characteristics of the candidates?
Who appeared more relaxed, more sincere, more confident? Who uses television better by looking directly at you, for example? In judging substance, decide who answers or evades the questions. Do the candidates tell you their stands on the issues, or do they respond with emotional appeals or slogans? Do the candidates seem well informed and give answers consistent with previous positions? Are their answers realistic or are they just campaign promises? In general, polls in municipal, state and national elections are open in Massachusetts between am to pm.
The hours may vary for local elections. Sample ballots and instructions are posted at the polls on election day. When you enter the polling place, give your address and name to the election official at the check-in table. If you need help, ask an election official at the check-in table. Democracy truly works only when people exercise their right to participate in the electoral process.
0コメント