Other Candidates, Other Voices

Bill Clinton and Bob Dole may be running ahead of the pack, but there are other people running for president, too.

Because of that, we decided to sponsor alt.debate '96, but with a twist. We solicited questions from our readers, got hundreds, selected the best 12 and gave the third-party candidates excluded from this month's presidential debates a chance to answer. Harry Browne, John Hagelin, Ross Perot and Howard Phillips agreed to participate; Ralph Nader declined.

Over the next two weeks, we will be posting the candidates' answers. We're also making room for rebuttals, if the participating candidates want to comment on each other's responses. And we're looking for your comments, too, via Voter's Voice, the Dialogue boards and our chat room.

The Questions...

• Question 1 (10/11)
  Unless you won the election, what good would come of a modest or even good showing at the polls? How would we benefit from the presence of minority parties?

• Question 2 (10/14)
  I am 37 years old. Do you believe that Social Security, unless reformed, will be available for me at a retirement age 65, 70 or even 75? If so, do you see it at a greatly reduced amount or percentage compared to recipients today?...

• Question 3 (10/15)
  As a 16-year-old, I am concerned about the national debt. Do any of the third-party candidates have a real plan so we, the young people, will not be left holding the bag, just paying the interest on this gigantic monster?

• Question 4 (10/16)
  Since immigrants are both new employees and customers for American business, state your reasons for tighter control of the border. Why shouldn't America say, "The more, the merrier!" to anyone who wants to be an American?

• Question 5 (10/17)
  Why should a voter vote for you rather than decide between Clinton and Dole?

• Question 6 (10/18)
  As President, what SPECIFICALLY would you do to stimulate creation of high-paying jobs for well-educated, professional, middle-age Americans who are now unemployed, or underemployed, as a result of American firms' loss of world competitiveness and corporate downsizing?

• Question 7 (10/21)
  We don't trust our government, and given its record, why should we? What would you do to restore our faith in government? Please be specific; vagueness contributes to the distrust.

• Question 8 (10/22)
  What would be your top three priorities or objectives as president? How would you achieve them? PLEASE, be specific.

• Question 9 (10/23)
  Given the aftermath of the O.J. trial, the rash of black church burnings, etc., what would each candidate do SPECIFICALLY to deal with the racial divisions that are evident in this country?

• Question 10 (10/24)
  How do you best think the drug war in America can be won? Considering very little has changed in over 70 years to cause a decline in drug use, what new ideas do you have on stopping illegal drug flow into this country? Would you send American troops to another country without their permission to capture the drug lords? (i.e. would you go into Colombia? etc. )

• Question 11 (10/25)
  If you were currently the president of the United States, what would you do about Saddam Hussein and Bosnia?

• Question 12 (10/28)
  As is apparent, the U.S. budget contains a deficit. In order to balance the books, are you going to raise taxes or cut spending? And how? (Be very specific).