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[Click on a diamond in the grid for full quotations. Key for diamonds]:
 | Libertarian view; typically focusing on non-governmental solutions and private decision-making.
|  | Liberal or leftist view; typically focusing on helping needy members of society, and using government to achieve societal good.
|  | Populist or progressive view; typically focusing on local solutions instead of federal action, on decentralizing power, and on religion as the basis for societal good.
|  | Conservative or rightist view; typically focusing on fiscal frugality, strength abroad, and moral integrity.
|  | Centrist or mixed view; typically focusing on reforming or amending existing institutions rather than replacing them.
|  | No view; the candidate does not have a sufficient record on the issue to judge his stance.
| | This scheme, known as the "Political Diamond", relies on an analysis in two dimensions, social and economic, rather than the typical one-dimensional right-left axis.
A complete description can be found on the Self-Government web site.
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Abortion
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Pro-life; no litmus test |
Cheney: Pro-life; few exceptions |
Browne: Pro-choice |
McCain: Pro-life |
| Gore: Strongly Pro-choice |
Lieberman: Pro-choice; parental consent OK |
Phillips: Ending innocent death come first |
Bradley: Strongly Pro-choice |
| Buchanan: Strongly pro-life |
Foster: Pro-life |
Hagelin: Feds out; no litmus test |
Keyes: Strongly pro-life |
| Nader: Let women decide |
LaDuke: Strongly pro-choice |
McReynolds: Strongly Pro-choice |
Dole: Pro-life; no litmus test |
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Budget & Economy
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Simplify & cut taxes |
Cheney: Balance budget; invest in Defense |
Browne: Cut budget by 50% |
McCain: Balance budget; Lockbox. |
| Gore: Fiscal discipline; cut waste |
Lieberman: Reduce debt; fund private R&D |
Phillips: Shrink budget; no compromises |
Bradley: Open markets; cut taxes |
| Buchanan: Balance budget; cut taxes |
Foster: Boom hasn't helped blacks |
Hagelin: Creativity fosters growth; recast GDP |
Keyes: Limit spending |
| Nader: Human economy is not booming |
LaDuke: Community over consumption |
McReynolds: Move beyond consumerism |
Dole: More exports & private enterprise |
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China
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Compete with China; WTO OK |
Cheney: Arms to Taiwan; link MFN to rights |
Browne: De-link human rights |
McCain: Engage China; WTO OK |
| Gore: For MFN & WTO entry |
Lieberman: Monitor China within WTO |
Phillips: No MFN; China cheats |
Bradley: One China; defend Taiwan |
| Buchanan: Blockade China; no WTO |
 Foster |
Hagelin: Full diplomatic relations |
Keyes: Safeguard Taiwan; abhor China |
| Nader: Link human rights |
LaDuke: Link human rights |
McReynolds: No WTO; but treat well |
Dole: Reform China; WTO OK |
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Civil Rights
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Anti-quota; anti-gay marriage |
Cheney: Some gay rights; fewer women's rights |
Browne: Anti-fed. intervention |
McCain: Anti-quota; for Flag protection |
| Gore: Pro-ADA & women’s rights |
Lieberman: For some gay rights & aff. Action |
Phillips: End affirmative action; follow God on gays |
Bradley: Pro-aff.action & racial unity |
| Buchanan: Anti-aff. action; anti-NEA |
Foster: Anti-gay; pro-Confederate flag |
Hagelin: No quotas; feds out of gay issues |
Keyes: Anti-gay rights & aff.action |
| Nader: Pro-gay; pro-privacy; pro-women |
LaDuke: Pro-equal rights;pro-aff. Action |
McReynolds: Speak out against racism & for gays |
Dole: Pro-women’s rights; anti-web-porn |
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Crime
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Death; 2 Strikes; less parole |
Cheney: Stricter penalties; death penalty |
Browne: End Drug War; no Death |
McCain: Death; more prisons; less parole |
| Gore: 3 Strikes; death; COPS |
Lieberman: More jails; victim's rights; death penalty |
Phillips: Fight crime locally; incl. Death penalty |
Bradley: Death; anti-terrorism |
| Buchanan: Less clemency; prompt death penalty |
Foster: Defend police |
Hagelin: Prevention & rehabilitation |
Keyes: Death; no hate crimes |
| Nader: Focus on prevention; no death penalty |
LaDuke: Focus on prevention; no death penalty |
McReynolds: Against death penalty & prison industry |
Dole: More police $ |
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Defense
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: More engaged; rebuild |
Cheney: More funding; more SDI |
Browne: Less entangled; SDI; cut CIA |
McCain: More pay; SDI; more engaged |
| Gore: Build down nukes |
Lieberman: More $ for R&D; pro-SDI |
Phillips: More $; build SDI; less UN & NATO |
Bradley: Eliminate weapons; less $ |
| Buchanan: More $; more pay; less entangled |
Foster: Sovereignty first |
Hagelin: Decrease military aid; maintain ABM |
Keyes: Less entangled;SDI; strike terrorists |
| Nader: Reduce weapons & overseas troops |
LaDuke: Demobilize |
McReynolds: Cut military by 50% |
Dole: More $; SDI; more pay |
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Drugs
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: More education; more laws; abstinence |
Cheney: More involvement in Drug War |
Browne: Legalize drugs |
McCain: More border; more penalties |
| Gore: Keep Drug War; except medical pot |
Lieberman: More penalties |
Phillips: More border patrols |
Bradley: Less drug war $ |
| Buchanan: Ban pot; close borders to drugs |
Foster: Close the borders |
Hagelin: Legalize for medicine; educate |
Keyes: More penalties |
| Nader: Stop prohibition |
LaDuke: Replace Drug War with treatment |
McReynolds: Decriminalize drugs |
Dole: Reduce demand & supply |
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Education
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Local control; back to basics |
Cheney: Pro-standards; pro-prayer |
Browne: Remove govt from ed.; no school prayer |
McCain: More local; more testing; more prayer |
| Gore: Smaller classes; more programs & pay |
Lieberman: More standards; more funding |
Phillips: No federal education |
Bradley: National Service & Lifetime Education |
| Buchanan: Localize; end multiculturalism |
Foster: Immigrants out; multiculturalism out |
Hagelin: Develop mental potential |
Keyes: Abstinence ed. & school prayer |
| Nader: Invest in education; teach citizenship |
LaDuke: More funding; no English-only |
McReynolds: More public funding |
Dole: More pay; more charity; less rules |
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Environment
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Deregulate; voluntary cleanup |
Cheney: Pro-grazing; pro-hunting; drill ANWR |
Browne: Local; non-govt solutions |
McCain: End farm subsidies; expand CWA |
| Gore: Cut CO2; more parks; less cars |
Lieberman: Keep Kyoto; ANWR; CAA; not CAFE |
Phillips: No Kyoto; pro-property rights |
Bradley: Pro-gasohol; anti-pollution |
| Buchanan: Localize; lessTakings; end BLM |
Foster: Eliminate EPA |
Hagelin: Promote sustainability; no nukes |
Keyes: Exploit ANWR; end Kyoto & CAFE |
| Nader: More funds; more rules; less cars |
LaDuke: Common property for future generations |
McReynolds: More public transit |
Dole: More $ to farmers |
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Families & Children
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Abstinence; V-chip; tough laws |
Cheney: $ for pre-school; character ed. |
Browne: Lower taxes gives parents choices |
McCain: Labeling for parents |
| Gore: Protect kids from smut; drugs &tobacco |
Lieberman: Fight "anything goes" culture |
Phillips: Family first |
Bradley: Parents team with business & govt |
| Buchanan: Stop media pollution; teach values |
Foster: Immigration hurts children |
Hagelin |
Keyes: Moral breakdown of families |
| Nader: Corporate TV hurts kids |
LaDuke: Standard American family is a myth |
McReynolds: No moral decline |
Dole: Protect kids from e-smut |
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Foreign Policy
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Befriend Americas; pressure Russia |
Cheney: Hard-line interventionist; anti-sanctions |
Browne: Anti-intervention; anti-aid |
McCain: Assertive multilateralism |
| Gore: Internationalist & intereventionist |
Lieberman: For NATO & IMF; anti-proliferation |
Phillips: End foreign aid |
Bradley: Lead world |
| Buchanan: End foreign entanglements |
Foster: Use military against immigrants |
Hagelin: Support abroad without arms |
Keyes: “Anti-China, Anti-UN” |
| Nader: Interventionist with support, not arms |
LaDuke: Social justice; not military aid |
McReynolds: End foreign aid; exit IMF |
Dole: Lead world & push for reforms |
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Free Trade & Immigration
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: More trade; imm. maybe |
Cheney: Trade comes second to security |
Browne: Open trade; open imm. |
McCain: Open trade; open imm. |
| Gore: Open trade; open imm. |
Lieberman: For Fast Track; pro-immigration |
Phillips: Focus on sovereignty & tight borders |
Bradley: More trade orgs. |
| Buchanan: More tariffs; blockade imm. |
Foster: Restrict immigration |
Hagelin: More immigrants; balanced trade |
Keyes: More tariffs; imm. OK |
| Nader: Pro-immgrant; anti-globalization |
LaDuke: Opposes NAFTA & WTO |
McReynolds: Closed trade; open imm. |
Dole: Open trade; more exports |
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Government Reform
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Limit terms & judges & lawsuits |
Cheney: Line Item Veto; BBA; more openness |
Browne: Abide by Constitution; close most agencies |
McCain: Anti-influence peddling |
| Gore: Reinvent Government |
Lieberman: No term limits; yes campaign reform |
Phillips: Close many agencies; including IRS |
Bradley: End PACs; reduce role of $ |
| Buchanan: Limit feds & campaign $; pro-10th Am. |
Foster: Stop meddling; more parties |
Hagelin: Ban PACs; distribute power |
Keyes: Decrease campaign $; more disclosure |
| Nader: Remove corporate influences |
LaDuke: Pro-voter; anti-big-business |
McReynolds: Include Socialists |
Dole: Pro-privatization; pro-10th Am. |
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Gun Control
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|
| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: More gun laws; more gun rights |
Cheney: Few restrictions if any |
Browne: Less gun laws |
McCain: More gun laws; more gun rights |
| Gore: More gun laws |
Lieberman: More gun restrictions |
Phillips: No restrictions |
Bradley: Many more gun laws |
| Buchanan: No more laws; more enforced |
Foster: Pro-2nd amendment |
Hagelin: More restrictions |
Keyes: No more laws; more morals |
| Nader: More restrictions; some bans |
LaDuke: Supports gun control |
McReynolds: No individual gun rights |
Dole: Gun laws OK |
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Health Care
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Reform HMOs & Medicare |
Cheney: Limit federal role; Medicare Rx $ |
Browne: Govt our of health care |
McCain: Patient rights; limit HMOs |
| Gore: Incrementally insure 15 million |
Lieberman: Insurance for all; limit lawsuits |
Phillips: Feds out |
Bradley: Universal coverage; more Medicare $ |
| Buchanan: Pay privately; abolish euthanasia |
Foster: Privatize Medicare |
Hagelin: Focus on prevention |
Keyes: No right-to-die; no health I.D. |
| Nader: Cradle-to-grave non-profit system |
LaDuke: Fund affordable heathcare |
McReynolds: Single-payer system |
Dole: Self-employed 100% tax deduction |
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Juvenile Crime
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Boot camps; tougher laws |
Cheney: Fight gangs; creative punishment |
Browne: Ending Drug War helps schools |
McCain: Blame the media |
| Gore: Tough laws with Second Chance |
Lieberman: Investigate causes; blame media |
Phillips: Stricter prosecution |
Bradley: No blaming parents; no Commandments |
| Buchanan: Blame Hollywood; bring back God |
Foster |
Hagelin: Focus on education |
Keyes: More God & morals in schools |
| Nader: Teach dispute resolution; blame media |
LaDuke: Teach dispute resolution |
McReynolds: Focus on prevention |
Dole: More school discipline |
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Kosovo
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Distrust Serbia |
Cheney: Opposed Bosnia intervention |
Browne: Intervention is unconstitutional |
McCain: War OK to establish US power |
| Gore: War OK to stop ethnic cleansing |
Lieberman: Support use of force |
Phillips: Out of Kosovo |
Bradley: No intervention; need exit strategy |
| Buchanan: No intervention; no vital interests |
Foster |
Hagelin: Troops out |
Keyes: Bad precedent; no intervention |
| Nader: Should have seen it; but force OK |
LaDuke |
McReynolds: Bombing breaches UN Charter |
Dole: War OK for national values |
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Principles & Values
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Compassionate conservatism |
Cheney: Hard-line conservative; but cooperative |
Browne: Individual liberty & personal responsiblity |
McCain: Set an example |
| Gore: Reinvent Govt |
Lieberman: Centrist "New Democrat" |
Phillips: Sitck to Biblical standards |
Bradley: Respect people of all races |
| Buchanan: Traditional Morality |
Foster: Defend family values |
Hagelin: Develop human potential |
Keyes: Unalienable rights under God |
| Nader: New Populism: power corrupts |
LaDuke: Spirituality guides political activism |
McReynolds: Widen the range of views |
Dole: Rebirth of values |
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School Choice
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Try vouchers & charters |
Cheney: Parental choice |
Browne: Govt out of schools |
McCain: Vouchers for private & charters |
| Gore: No vouchers; keep public |
Lieberman: For charters; try vouchers |
Phillips: Parental control |
Bradley: Vouchers & school choice |
| Buchanan: Pro-voucher; charters; homeschool |
Foster: Government out of education |
Hagelin: Vouchers & charters |
Keyes: End public monopoly |
| Nader: Preserve public schools |
LaDuke: Choice within public schools |
McReynolds: No vouchers; keep public |
Dole: Vouchers for failing schools |
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Social Security
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Lockbox & privatize |
Cheney: Some privatization; end Earnings Test |
Browne: Privatize all aspects |
McCain: Lockbox & privatize |
| Gore: Protect Trust Fund & Medicare |
Lieberman: Some privatization; some reform |
Phillips: Privatize; restore Trust Fund |
Bradley: Separate Trust Fund |
| Buchanan: Privatize Medicare |
Foster: Transition to IRAs |
Hagelin: Invest some; Lock-box rest |
Keyes: Privatize; Lock-box |
| Nader: Against privatization |
LaDuke: Don't privatize |
McReynolds: More public funding |
Dole: More vesting |
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Tax Reform
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Simplify & reduce taxes |
Cheney: No tax increases; especially on oil |
Browne: Abolish IRS & income tax |
McCain: Simplify & reduce taxes |
| Gore: Reinvention & some cuts |
Lieberman: Cut taxes, but not too much |
Phillips: End income tax; estate tax; corp. tax |
Bradley: Pay debt before cuts |
| Buchanan: 16% flat tax; dump tax code |
Foster: End taxes on income, cap. gains, & death taxes |
Hagelin: 18% flat tax |
Keyes: Abolish IRS & income tax |
| Nader: Keep progressivity; raise corporate taxes |
LaDuke: Benefit poor over rich |
McReynolds: More progressive taxation |
Dole: Cut taxes & unfunded mandates |
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Technology
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: No Y2K lawsuits |
Cheney: More R&D; less telecomm rules |
Browne: Govt out of Y2K; out of Microsoft |
McCain: No Internet tax; yes porn filters |
| Gore: Pro-V-Chip; Triana; Genome; Internet |
Lieberman: V-chip; e-government |
Phillips: Keep Internet free; keep tech in US |
Bradley: Deregulation & self-censorship |
| Buchanan: Microsoft went too far |
Foster |
Hagelin: Restrict media; maintain privacy |
Keyes |
| Nader: More open tech; anti-Microsoft |
LaDuke |
McReynolds: Private deregulated Internet |
Dole: No Internet tax; yes porn filters |
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Welfare & Labor
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| For President |
For V.P. |
Third Party |
Withdrawn |
| Bush: Faith-based Armies of Compassion |
Cheney: Private provision; less WIC |
Browne: Replace welfare with private charity |
McCain: Pro workfare; pro block grants |
| Gore: Faith-based volunteerism |
Lieberman: Raise min.wage; more Enterprise Zones |
Phillips: End the welfare state |
Bradley: No workfare; no block grants |
| Buchanan: Pro-union; welfare by states |
Foster: Welfare destroys self-worth |
Hagelin: Empowerment Zones & black grants |
Keyes: Focus on family |
| Nader: Pro-union; anti-big business |
LaDuke: Focus on poor over corporations |
McReynolds: More welfare; raise min. wage |
Dole: Negotiate with Labor |
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