The big issue is whether schools will be held accountable for results. Bush favors giving a choice to parents whose children attend schools that do not improve enough to meet state student test standards. Parents in these cases could transfer their child to another public school or receive government funding directly, to use for another option. The vice president, in contrast, sides with teachers unions, which oppose school choice. We are convinced by the evidence from several studies that school choice would improve education overall.
Competition raises the quality and performance of schools.
The differences between Bush and Gore over Social Security have probably received as much attention as any other issue. Young Americans understand how relevant this issue is. Surveys show they have little faith in Social Security and react favorably to the kind of proposal Bush has put forward. The candidates also differ in their proposed use of projected federal budget surpluses. Bush would reduce tax rates for all taxpayers and eliminate the income tax for millions of low-income Americans.