Question Number Two: In his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, Sen. John Kerry criticized the Bush administration on domestic policy, being especially critical on issues such as veterans, Medicare, and education. Bush counterattacked by declaring that he had "delivered" in all these areas. Whom do you find more persuasive? Has or hasn't Bush "delivered"?

It is a sad statement about our society that as the wealthiest country on earth we have not found a way to provide health coverage for all of our seniors, quality education for our children, nor even adequate health care and sustenance for our veterans. Unfortunately, the policies of the current administration have moved us further away from these worthy objectives.

Medicare. When you really look into the Medicare prescription drug bill passed last November, you can see that it was written by - and to benefit - big drug companies rather than for our seniors and people with disabilities. It gives hundreds of billions in contracts and tax breaks to drug companies and the insurance industry, yet has enormous gaps in coverage, does nothing to control drug prices, and is already contributing to the worsening finances of the Medicare system, according to independent trustees who monitor Medicare.

* David Halbert, a Texas financial backer of President Bush (who happens to be a drug industry executive), personally crafted the new drug card program. His company was one of the first approved to participate in the program. A provision in the bill actually prohibits Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices - common practice in business when buying in large quantity. Another provision pushed by a coalition of big drug companies, the so-called Employers' Coalition on Medicare, will give taxpayer subsidies to HMOs who want to lure seniors away from traditional Medicare coverage. HMOs will get this subsidy even for reducing retirees' existing drug coverage. So this subsidy effectively provides a financial incentive to reduce retiree benefits, according to the Center for American Progress.

The Bush administration used Medicare funds to produce and distribute covert propaganda disguised as news stories praising the proposed law, according to the General Accounting Office, a neutral investigative arm of Congress. Also with taxpayer money, the Bush administration carried out a $12.6 million advertising campaign promoting the new Medicare drug law.

* Many seniors have sought relief from high prescription-drug prices by buying them illegally from Canada, where the government has been able to negotiate much lower prices. So far, no seniors have been arrested, but the Bush administration has opposed the proposed bill to legalize the purchase of Canadian prescription drugs.

Education. Many public schools in the United States are literally falling down around the children, with leaking roofs and cracking plaster. Maps, books, and other supplies are often pitifully out of date. Many teachers use part of their modest salaries to buy basic supplies for their students with their own money. It is not uncommon for classrooms to have over 30 or 40 students. While, undoubtedly, some exceptional students are able to learn in such environments, who could argue that such conditions make the task more difficult?

Some countries where excellent public education is a reality (such as Sweden) limit class size to 15 students per teacher. As many studies have shown, what's needed is the investment of more public money in the following:

* more teachers for smaller classes
* repair of dilapidated schools
* fuller funding for Head Start, Early Head Start, and other resources so children arrive ready to learn.

The policies put forth by President Bush and his advocates do absolutely nothing to address the main problems plaguing public education in the United States. Instead, the main idea they advance is that schools, teachers, and parents have to be “held accountable.” Then there is always the condemnation of “throwing money” at the schools. But these are code words and phrases designed to keep people from really thinking. No one would argue that anyone should be unaccountable or that money should just be thrown!

So how does the President think that everyone involved is held accountable? The main basis of his No Child Left Behind act is to administer more standardized tests and to slash funding for schools that do not have enough passing scores. The pressure is on everyone to teach and learn “to the test” rather than in learning how to learn or to develop cognitive ability. On top of this extremely narrow view of knowledge acquisition is woefully inadequate funding. Some states are rebelling and declaring that they will not comply with NCLB because it amounts to an unfunded federal mandate that is burdensome and likely to produce questionable results.

I say: Stop throwing the money at the companies that produce, administer, and evaluate the standardized tests and start directing it where it will make a real positive difference.

Veterans. Despite all the rhetoric, President Bush's record shows a blatant disregard for veterans, as well as those currently serving in the military.
Take spending on Veterans Administration health-care costs. VA officials have testified that it would take a 13 to 14 percent hike in the VA health care budget just to maintain the status quo. This is in line with recent inflation nationally in health-care costs. Even so, the President supported only a 5.4 percent increase. In August 2003, the Bush administration announced the closing of seven VA hospitals around the country, despite reports of at least 230,000 veterans being forced to wait more than six months for an initial visit to a physician at VA medical facilities.

In January 2003, the Bush administration announced it would cut access to health benefits for 160,000 middle-income veterans (Associated Press, 1/16/03). Then the President proposed more than doubling prescription co-pays for veterans earning more than $24,000. A Democratic amendment rejected that increase (Washington Post 7/22/03).

In summary, the President's policies have indeed “delivered” - to the giant corporations, insurance companies, drug manufacturers, testing companies, and military contractors — instead of to our seniors, children, veterans, or the welfare of the public at large.