As the battle see-saws between the George W Bush and Al Gore and the US holds its collective breath, Akrita Reyar finds out what the two men – fighting to become the most powerful man on earth – stand for. Gore agenda : Economy


  • Will institute $500 billion targeted tax cuts over 10 years
  • Will strengthen Social Security and Medicare with over $2.5 trillion set aside from 2001-2010
  • Will eliminate national debt by 2013 Global Warming
  • Believes there is a link between greenhouse gases and climate change.
  • Pro Kyoto Protocol, which commits industralized countries to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Gore played a major role in engineering the Protocol in capacity of Vice President. Immigration
  • Maintain the single immigration agency, but reform the organisation to create separation and balance between service and enforcement operations.
  • Reduce backlog of applications. Will allow families to stay together during immigrant application process.
  • Increase the number of skilled-worker visas while promoting the training of US workers. Defence
  • Supports “forward engagement” that would not threaten anti-ballistic missile treaty with Russia.
  • Supports the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  • Prefers status quo in terms of military presence abroad International Relations
  • Supports extending permanent normal trade relations to China.
  • Supports payment of dues to the UN in full
  • Supports US participation in Nato-led mission in Kosovo
  • Supports continued sanctions against Iraq Bush agenda : Economy
  • Will cut taxes by $1.3 trillion over 10 years
  • Will use $2 trillion Social Security surplus to invest in the system and give individuals the option to voluntarily invest a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes in personal retirement accounts
  • Would eliminate national debt by 2016 Global Warming
  • Questions causal role of greenhouse gases in climate change
  • Opposes the Kyoto Protocol, which commits industrialised countries to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, on the ground that this would devastate US economy Immigration
  • Divide the Immigration and Naturalization Service(INS) into two agencies : One to provide services, the other to enforce immigration law.
  • Streamline immigrant application procedure to a six-month standard. Promote re-unification of families of legal permanent residents.
  • Increase the number of work-related visas, for both skilled and unskilled workers. Defence
  • Supports deployment of national and theatre missile defences even if it scuttles the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
  • Doesn’t support the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  • Will undertake a review of overseas “with the aim of replacing uncertain missions with well-defined objectives”. International Relations
  • Supports extending permanent normal trade relations to China.
  • Supports payment of dues to the UN only if the UN bureaucracy is reduced
  • Opposes further IMF loans to Russia
  • Will develop a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Kosovo
  • Supports continued sanctions against Iraq