What does John Kerry stand for? [forum post from the left]

The dems are asking yet again for Ralph Nader to step down from the race. Why? Better yet, why don't the Dems step down? Hell, at least I know what Ralph Nader intends to do when he's President. At least he has a plan for America. It's been months since Kerry has effectively been the Democratic candidate and I don't know any plan he has for America. All he's running on is undoing Bush's policies. How does that help? His only plan is to send us back four years? Are you kidding? His whole agenda is based on undoing rather than doing. And everything else is just empty rhetoric. Here, I'll show you what I mean: (Taken from Johnkerry.com - on the issues)

1. On the economy: "John Kerry is unveiling a comprehensive economic agenda that will unleash the productive potential of America's economy to help it create 10 million jobs in his first term as President."
-Thanks John, let me know when it's actually unveiled okay?

2. Winning the Peace in Iraq: "What’s needed now is leadership – to finish the job in Iraq the right way – because America can and must do better."
-I know it's fun to guess and all, but could you be a little more specific about what the right way is? Oh wait, here it is: "the establishment of a high commissioner for governance and reconstruction, and the creation of a NATO mission for Iraq."
-Ahhh, more beauracracy - thanks Kerry, that's exactly what we need more red tape and paper pushers. Let me know how that works out for you. Sure seems to be working pretty well for the environment.

3. Access to Affordable Health Care: "John Kerry believes that your family’s health is just as important as any politician's in Washington. Our nation needs a leader who has the courage to take on the big insurance and drug companies to make that same health care plan affordable for every American."
-Agreed, but if only we had, oh I don't know, a specific plan to achieve that.

4. Education: "By supporting teachers, reducing class sizes, rebuilding crumbling schools, and standing up for high standards in our public education system, John Kerry has the courage to fight for our children’s future every day."
-Is this a policy or an answer from a Ms. America pageant? And where does this money come from during a war?

5. "John Kerry is for the children of America."
-Thank God! With all those Anti-children candidates out there I think it's great that Kerry sets himself apart

....and it goes on like that. I'm not trying to bash Kerry, but why should I vote for a guy with hollow policy ideas who tells our country that for four years we've been wrong. His only specific policies are in direct opposition to Bush's policies. I can't stand Bush, but he least he has a specific plan and vision...so did Dean, but I guess that doesn't matter to the Democrats. I just feel betrayed. I know we need to get rid of Bush, but if this is the best they can come up with I'd rather spend my vote elsewhere. You want me to vote for a Democrat give me someone I can believe in. I'm not voting for Kerry simply because I don't like Bush - that's not enough of a reason for me. I'm a voter not an anti-voter.

Actually one can buy ethanol fuel here in Oklahoma today, and there are several vehicles already on the market that can use it.

As the current instability in oil-producing regions intensifies and oil prices fluctuate wildly with terrorist-related supply disruptions that are becoming more common in Saudi Arabia, more Americans will use ethanol, and more vehicles will burn it.

Ethanol used to be found more often as a fuel additive, a so-called oxygenating agent, basically a futile attempt to reduce pollution that should be dumped. Same goes for MTBE, which prevailed due to lower cost.

Professor decries use of ethanol in gasoline
by Jessica Keltz
Ithaca Journal
Saturday, August 2, 2003
Posted by Behind Liberal Lines
David Pimentel, an emeritus professor of ecology, has been studying ethanol for about 25 years, leading a Department of Energy study on the subject in 1980... "It takes more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than you get out of it," Pimentel said. "The reason they're producing it is taxpayer money has been increasing. This is what makes it profitable."
Spirit of the road
by Eli Kintisch
New Scientist
20 January 2001
Once seen as a potential fuel in its own right, ethanol proved too expensive to compete with petrol. There are exceptions, such as Brazil, where fuel is up to 24 per cent ethanol made from sugar cane--but only with the help of government subsidies... The fledgling ethanol industry... lost out to cheaper MTBE. Then MTBE began to turn up in wells, lakes and aquifers around the country... Apart from the US, few countries make much use of MTBE. But in Europe its future could be boosted by plans to remove benzene from petrol.

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