http://www.americanvoice2004.org/ American Voice 2004 is providing balanced analysis of issues facing voters in this year's election. Dr. Dave is here to answer your questions. en-us http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/32askdave.html You're right to be worried. Many are. Several dozen lawsuits have already been filed and decided in the last few weeks before the election. These largely have to do with state rules regarding voter registration and vote counting. For those interested, Electionline.org has a Litigation Update that gives the status of all election-related litigation of the last four years. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/31askdave.html Both candidates are using accurate figures.  But as one would suspect, the data are culled to support their arguments.  To understand the economic situation we need to look at a variety of data. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/30askdave.html The current flu vaccine shortage did catch everyone by surprise, but the underlying problems that led to this crisis have been recognized for many years. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/101304charts.pdf A PDF File illusrating the differences between the parties based on how they voted on 10 key issues. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/101304pr.html Press Release from AmericanVoice2004.org http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/29askdave.html This is a complicated question to answer, for at least two reasons. After 9/11, the definition of "terrorism" has been greatly expanded to include crimes that were previously considered simply criminal activities. After 9/11, the federal government has focused on prevention and disruption and it is very difficult to measure its success in avoiding future terrorist attacks. Another complication is that there are many kinds of anti-terrorist initiatives. Each has its own measuring stick. To me there are at least four distinct situations in which we can evaluate results. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/28askdave.html The idea of building an effective system to intercept missiles has been around as long as long-range missiles have been around. Enthusiasm for the concept has waxed and waned over the decades.  This is true in both political parties. In 1976, for example, the anti-missile program was killed by then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld under President Ford. Today Rumsfeld oversees and supports a much larger effort. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/27askdave.html Let's start with the basics. The Social Security Act of 1965 authorized Medicaid along with Medicare. Unlike Medicare, states administer their own Medicaid programs. They set benefits and determine eligibility levels, although these cannot fall below the federal minimum standards. No one who meets the eligibility requirements set by states can be denied coverage. States establish benefit levels. The federal government provides matching funds. All states receive a minimum of a 50 percent federal match, that is, they get $1 of federal funding for $1 of state spending. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/26askdave.html Let me start by saying I appreciate the way you phrase the question: does the dramatic reduction in the welfare rolls mean that welfare reform is working? Most people assume that the decline itself is sufficient proof that the changes have proven successful. To properly answer you I need to back up for a moment. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/welfare/index.html For 99 percent of human history, life was precarious. For everyone. There were no rich and poor; only poor and not-so-poor. Everyone lived off the land, either by hunting and gathering or by farming. Those unable to care for themselves were nurtured by their blood-clans, or abandoned. Welfare as a social, rather than only a familial, responsibility is a relatively recent innovation, an outgrowth of powerful social, institutional and technological developments. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/25askdave.html Putting aside the possibility that 10,000 other people in his state plan to do the same thing, your friend's strategy is still questionable. As in 2000, this is likely to be a very close presidential election. Four years ago, 537 votes decided the outcome in Florida, but other states were close as well: 7211 votes in New Hampshire, about 4000 in Iowa, 5700 in Wisconsin, 6765 in Oregon and just 366 votes in New Mexico. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/factoids/index.html A collection of useful tidbits across a wide range of topics. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/24askdave.html The Pledge of Allegiance has a fascinating and instructive history. In the late 19th century millions of immigrants flooded onto our shores, to a country already suffering from widespread social unrest. Many believed we needed some unifying symbol that could tie together our increasingly polyglot and multicultural nation. Attention focused on the flag, an especially potent symbol given the then still-fresh memory of a catastrophic Civil War in which opposing armies fought under different flags. In 1885, BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes by the Continental Congress) as 'Flag Birthday'. http://www.americanvoice2004.org/health/contraception.html Should contraceptive devices and abortions be legal and widely available? What are the proposed solutions? http://www.americanvoice2004.org/askdave/23askdave.html Let's be clear. The Founding Fathers did not create a democracy. They worried that the direct involvement of the people in decision-making could result in political instability. To deal with this problem, they chose to create a republican form of government. The people (or at least some of them) would elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.