AUGUSTA — Bill Clarke of Greene and John Rensenbrink of Topsham approach the issues from opposite ends of the political spectrum. Clarke is the most conservative of the four candidates running for U.S. Senate, while Rensenbrink is the most liberal.

Despite their differing political stripes, Rensenbrink and Clarke still find a few things they can agree on. And they bring some of the more interesting ideas to the Senate campaign, charging that Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Joseph Brennan are too predictable and too much alike.

While they are both independents, Clarke is affiliated with the U.S. Taxpayers Party and Rensenbrink is affiliated with the Green Party.

Here is a look at their positions on a number of key issues:

GUNS

Neither Clarke nor Rensenbrink owns a gun himself. Yet Clarke can be characterized as very much a pro-gun candidate, while Rensenbrink advocates gun control.

Clarke would repeal the federal ban on assault weapons, while Rensenbrink wants to keep it. Clarke also would repeal the Brady law, which requires a seven-day waiting period to purchase a handgun. Rensenbrink supports the measure.

Rensenbrink wants taggants, or tracers, to be placed in explosives and gunpowder so their sources can be located. Clarke does not favor taggants.

SOCIAL POLICY

Clarke says he is “pro-life, with no exceptions,” meaning he does not favor abortion under any circumstances. Rensenbrink is pro-choice, but says he would like to see fewer abortions. “Women need to make that decision,” he said.

Clarke favors a total ban on partial-birth abortions. “It’s horrific because the baby is born except for the head,” he said. Rensenbrink said he’s undecided on the issue of late-term abortions. “I am studying that issue,” he said.

Rensenbrink says a law guaranteeing the civil rights of homosexuals is long overdue, but Clarke opposes such a law. He says all Americans should be treated equally under existing laws.

Rensenbrink opposes instituting a national ban on same-sex marriages. Clarke also opposes such a ban, but for different reasons. He says a ban is unnecessary because he thinks states on their own can reject such marriages.

Rensenbrink supports affirmative action laws designed to ensure equal opportunities for minorities. Clarke would abolish such laws.

Clarke would amend the Constitution to prohibit flag burning, but Rensenbrink thinks such an amendment is unnecessary.

BUDGET AND TAXES

Clarke favors Bob Dole’s proposed 15 percent income tax cut, but Clarke ultimately would like to abolish all income taxes.

Rensenbrink thinks the 15 percent tax cut would be “a terrible mistake” because “upper incomes would get a windfall.” He wants to change the tax structure, eliminating deductions and exemptions. He also would reduce taxes on income but increase taxes on pollution, waste and depletion of natural resources.

To balance the budget, Clarke has a long list of government programs he would eliminate, including welfare for the poor (to be gradually phased out), corporate welfare and foreign aid. He also would eliminate the Department of Education, National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as well as the departments of Commerce and Energy.

“If their role is not clearly defined in the Constitution, I would move to return those functions to the states,” said Clarke.

Rensenbrink also would eliminate corporate welfare, and trim the defense and intelligence-gathering budgets.

Neither candidate thinks cuts in Medicare benefits are necessary.

Neither candidate favors cutting off Social Security benefits for wealthy people. “They should certainly receive what they put in,” said Rensenbrink.

Rensenbrink says the tax rate for Social Security could be lowered from 7.6 percent to 5 percent if all income were taxed for Social Security. Currently, income above $62,000 is not taxed. Clarke doesn’t favor taxing higher incomes for Social Security.

Clarke would have opposed the 90-cent increase in the minimum wage. “I believe prices should be determined by the free market,” he said.

Rensenbrink supports the increase in the minimum wage, but says it is not enough. “It doesn’t do much for the poor. We need to have a livable wage,” he said.

Neither candidate favors a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Rensenbrink favors congressional term limits, but Clarke opposes them.

EDUCATION

Clarke favors abolishing the Department of Education, but Rensenbrink would retain the agency. He also would increase student loans, but Clarke would not.

Both candidates oppose vouchers that would let students attend any school, public or private. “Strings are attached to any government program,” said Clarke.

“I think it undermines public education,” said Rensenbrink.

FOREIGN POLICY

Clarke says the United States should pull out of Bosnia now. Rensenbrink says we should not leave Bosnia now, but at some point in the future. “We got in there too late to begin with,” he said.

Rensenbrink supported the airstrikes against Iraq, but thinks they were ineffective, partly because Saddam Hussein is still in power. “There’s got to be better strategy,” he said.

Clarke supported the airstrikes as well, but, like Rensenbrink, thinks the United States should have ousted Saddam Hussein during the Persian Gulf War.

Rensenbrink said the use of U.S. troops in Somalia to help feed a starving population was appropriate. Clarke “absolutely” opposed the mission. “We must not use our military to be the world’s policeman,” he said. “Private programs have done a good job of feeding the hungry.”

Clarke also opposed the mission to Haiti. “There really is no strategic interest there,” he said. “We should not be in the business of installing governments.”

Rensenbrink said of the Haiti mission, “I thought that was a good thing to do.”

Asked if he supports the North American Free Trade Agreement, Clarke replied, “Absolutely not.” Rensenbrink also opposes the treaty. “We need to stop this abdication of our sovereignty,” he said.

MAINE

Rensenbrink strongly supports Option 2A, the initiative to ban clear-cutting in unorganized territories. His second choice would be 2C, leaving forestry laws as they are, and his last choice is the negotiated compromise, 2B.

For Clarke, the favored option is 2C. ” 2B and 2A both infringe on property rights and have no provision for compensation,” he said.

Clarke thinks Gov. Angus King should go ahead and build the long-delayed Sears Island cargo port without federal approval. Rensenbrink thinks the project should be finally dropped. “I think it’s totally unnecessary,” he said.