Many see this election as a crossroads in determining the direction of America's future. On November 2, Americans will vote to determine the U.S.'s domestic and foreign policies. The following is a non-partisan compilation of viewpoints of the candidates, Senator John Kerry and President George Bush, for the 2004 presidential election. This is meant to inform, not to persuade.
| Issues | Bush | Kerry |
| Abortion | opposes except in cases of rape, incest or when mother's life is in danger | opposes partial birth abortion |
| Same-sex marriage | supports constitutional amendment that defines marriage as heterosexual | opposes Bush's constitutional amendment defining marriage as between man and woman |
| Death penalty | supports | opposes except for post-September 11 terrorists |
| No Child Left Behind Act | supports idea that state and local governments are responsibile for funding schools, wants to help with Title I students and Reading First programs | supports funding of act, wants to raise an average of $10 billion yearly to hire teachers and decrease class size |
| Oil drilling | supports drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | opposes Bush's plan to drill in Refuge |
| Patriot Act | supports extension of act | supports 95 percent of act, wants to strengthen remaining sections |
| Prescription drugs | supports Medicare prescription drug benefits | supports prescription drugs from Canada |
| Privatization of social security | supports | opposes, voted no on allowing personal retirement accounts |
| Military service | served on Air National Guard | served in U.S. Navy, received three Purple Hearts, Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat V |
| Foreign policy | withdrew support from International Criminal Court, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Kyoto Protocol, Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty and Biological Weapons Convention Protocol | supports increased U.S. involvement in international treaties and organizations |
| War in Iraq | supports transfer of power back to Iraqis, wants to rebuild Iraq and keep troops in region | supports eventual withdrawal of troops, voted no for $86.5 billion for military action in Iraq |
| School vouchers | supports | opposes |
| Creating job opportunities | signed Jobs and Growth Act of 2003 to provide tax relief for workers, families, seniors and small businesses to increase the demand for goods and services | supports elimination of tax breaks for companies that create jobs overseas |
| Tax relief | supports making tax cuts during the last four years permanent | supports tax cuts for middle-class Americans and repealing tax cuts for the upper class |
| Deficit | will push Congress to carry out a budget that funds the War on Terrorism and homeland security while also limiting growth of discretionary spending to four percent | supports plan to cut deficit in half, will push for McCain-Kerry Corporate Welfare Commission to eliminate unnecessary corporate welfare to then use savings towards decreasing deficit |
| Gun control | supports fewer restrictions | supports more restrictions |
| Drug penalties | supports stiffer penalties | supports fewer penalties |
| HMOs | supports placing a cap on HMO settlements | supports full collection of punitive damages |
The above information was compiled from the Bush website, the Kerry website, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center website, the Congressional Budget Office, and the National Priorities Project.
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