See Voting Intelligently, which deals with the capability and qualifications that are necessary in order to be effective in office. This is first, as a goal without capability is either a zero or a net minus (harm and/or setback).
Then you'll want to do the assessment on the remaining issues that are influenceable, noting that we took a few issues off the table as they would be non-issues due to overwhelming public polls suggesting they are protected. (At Making Your Decision As To Which Candidate.)
My assessment, for myself, follows after this form for you to complete. If you have fact-based, not emotion or hostility based, points that you wish to make to "correct" or "improve" my assessment please email them to me. (If they are reasonably well-presented, I will include a copy of them, without your name, on this site.)
Make the assessment and then write in the logic after it, so that you are clear about making a sound decision that is fact-based.
O R
__ __ Moral character
__ __ Likely effectiveness (including not only ability, but whether the candidate will let politics override
what is the right thing to do, whether the candidate works well with the other side of the aisle)
Issues
__ __ Economics, prosperity, jobs, training:
__ __ Basic protection for health purposes, and when unemployed, and for those unable to care for
themselves:
__ __ Preserving absolutely the "paid-in" programs of Social Security and Medicare:
__ __ Protect the safety nets, increasing effectiveness and how well they are run
__ __ Independence on oil production, effect of that on jobs and trade deficits and the dollar:
__ __ Illegal immigration
__ __ Environment, energy, climate warming (balanced approach that is prioritized based on actual
effectiveness)
__ __ Security of the country
__ __ Provide best overall benefit to me and those I care about, considering also the likely effect on
future generations.
Overall statement about what I expect my choice to achieve:
________________________________________________________________________________
MY ASSESSMENT OF THESE:
These are not "the final judgment", but what is suggested by my evaluation. They are only here for you as food for thought and then adjustment by you based on what you finally determine is relevant and factual.
O R
++ ++ Moral character (I exclude from this any political behavior, which I think should be assessed
also, as they can get in the way of doing the job if politics overall doing what is right; Obama would
score poorly there, but it is implicit in results below.) Romney has the moral values and behavior
of "the greatest generation", of the '40's and '50's
C A Likely effectiveness (including not only ability, but whether the candidate will let politics override
what is the right thing to do, whether the candidate works well with the other side of the aisle) -
Romney worked with an 85% Democratic legislature, yet got many things through; worked well
with experts and colleagues in business, Olympics, etc.; his effectiveness is unquestionable.
Issues
B+ A Basic protection for health purposes, and when unemployed, and for those unable to care for
themselves (Obama score lowered due to lower practicality based ability to implement; Romney
absolutely committed and capable of improving delivery system, without allowing dependency and
with requirement of responsibility.
D A Preserving absolutely the "paid-in" programs of Social Security and Medicare (Obama has avoided
the issue in specifics because of being politically dangerous; Romney's forte to balance the
economics but absolutely preserve the sound basis and guarantee features)
C A Protect the safety nets, increasing effectiveness and how well they are run
D A Independence on oil production, effect of that on jobs and trade deficits and the dollar (Obama
opposed pipeline for poetical purposes [acknowledged by both parties], federal land permits down
40%, see Obama Oil; Romney sees the imperative financial need and will aggressively push it,
keeping proper basic safety, in a practical, realistic way)
D A Illegal immigration (Obama has avoided the issue politically despite promise to prioritize, unknown if
he will change; Romney will use clear criteria and experts to finalize a design that is fair and
realistic)
B+ A- Environment, energy, climate warming (balanced approach that is prioritized based on actual
effectiveness) - Obama has a clear goal but the grade is reduced because of impracticality and
cost, or in his own words "electricity costs would skyrocket" if he got his way to increase costs so
regularly used fuels; Romney will prioritize and do what is most effective, being careful to not harm
individuals and the economy, while doing more effective research and development and assessing
companies' viability much, much better.)
B+ A Security of the country (mostly no difference in homeland security, as it is more of an absolute,
perhaps some advantage to Romney in maintaining strength, which will cost slightly more but which
he'll have applied effectiveness and cost controls to get alot of extra benefits for very little, or
possibly no, extra,cost.)
C- A Provide best overall benefit to me and those I care about, considering also the likely effect on
future generations. (I am in a low tax bracket, with enough assets to last, retired, but my concern is
for the good of those in this country and the effect of great debt and overspending and continued
lack of good management, especially on the easily projectable effect on future generations - which
would have to have very high taxes, which would lower growth and well-being substantially..
C- A Composite scores (no matter how a person scores each item, there will be a large discrepancy in
favor of having Romney be President)
Romney will be a future defining President, where we will go over to rational, well-constructed and well-considered decisions to establish economic prosperity and an American culture of industriousness and responsibility, and balance. He will bring about the new direction to fiscal responsibility, where there is no moral option other than to balance spending and revenue, and fiscal soundness and effectiveness of government, Social Security, Medicare, medical, and caring for the unable. It will be a new era of Americans having more and better education and doing more of what works. He will be a "practical, realistic" President who will produce beyond what we previously would have thought would ever happen in workability that benefits all Americans.
Question: Why haven't you included the social issues of the right to choose and same-sex marriage?
Good question.
I haven't included those since there will be virtually nothing any President can do, since there is overwhelming public support for these.
The right to choose will persist no matter what; under current law, no federal funds can be used to pay for abortions, so private moneys must be contributed for those who support abortion for the poor; there is plenty of support from the public for that. (See Pro-life vs. Pro-choice.) The right and the left will argue about it, but it will be "much ado about nothing", as there will be no results changed.
Same-sex marriages are a state issue and will vary by state. The public overwhelming supports equal rights, though in the form of "civil unions", so if the M word is insisted on this will take longer to come about. (See
