What Issues Matter Most to You?

[Voobrazheniye]

As the U.S. elections loom, what major issues are most important to you? What are the THREE most important issues in your view, and why? What is your position on each?

This is intended mainly for Americans to discuss issues facing the U.S. in this elections, but it might be interesting to hear from others about the most important issues they see in THEIR OWN countries too. But, please... can we refrain from non-Americans trying to tell Americans what issues they think should be important to Americans? Just this once? Let's all focus on the issues we see within our OWN countries.

[alpine-frolic]

Sorry i am not an American citizen (don't dream to become but never lived there) and cannot reply to your post.
But i had answered : justice. Not on meaning of justice by law but social justice.

[Sveta's Hero]

Economy. Then other issues. About relations with Russia, it is important for our governments to have good relations, but it seems good relations with Russian citizens are not wanted when you read some of the posts made in this forum and over at the LL forum. I don't mean all Russians by any strecth of the imagination, but there are quite a few that seem to believ that they are so much better than us and could care less about any relations at all. Don't believe me? Go read for yourselves.

[Voobrazheniye]

My top three issues are:

1. Size and reach of government. I believe that the federal government has grown way, WAY out of control and intrudes on citizens' lives far too much. This is one area in which the Republicans have disappointed me greatly. I belive that less government is better government and that government should be strongest at the local level. If I had my way, the U.S. would immediately revert back to the Constitution and STRIP the federal government of all the powers it has taken, but which the Constitution does not grant to it. I would put much more power back into the hands of the states.

2. Immigration. When there are 20 million people living illegally in the U.S., something is terribly wrong. Most of these are the poorest of the poor from Mexico, and they create terrible burdens on the hostpitals, schools, law enforcement and so forth. The way that the federal and state governments, as well as businesses, have bent over backwards to provide everything to them in Spanish is a complete insult to Americans.

A HEAVY military presence should be stationed along the entire southern border, and a fence should be built. Businesses that encourage illegals by giving below-minimum-wage jobs should be heavily fined, and the CEOs and other responsible should face jail time. There should be NO sanctuary cities, and illegals should be deported when and where ever found. A FAIR guest-worker program should be initiated that identifies the real needs for such workers and grants legal entry for those selected to participate.

At the same time, the U.S. needs a SANE policy regarding immigration from Eastern Europe and other countries where there are highly educated and capable people who want to come to the U.S. and add their intelligence and talents to the mix. It is insane to make it so hard for Ukrainians, Russians and others to come to the U.S. while turning a blind eye to the Mexican border.

This is one of two areas in which the Republicans have greatly disappointed me (of course, there were eight years of a Democrat here too). I have always admired Ronald Reagan, but his amnesty for illegals in 1986 was a travesty, and the policies since then have only made things much worse. This is also my BIGGEST criticism of the Bush administration.

3. Energy Policy. There has been NO energy policy to speak of. At least, nothing rational. This is another failing of both parties, but again I must fault the Reagan administration more than others (although I really admire Reagan overall). After the gas shortage during the disaster that was the Carter administration, it should have been CLEAR to the government that a strong energy policy, with an emphasis on domestic sources of energy and a movement away from oil, was necessary. This did not happen in Reagan's eight years, four years of the first Bush, eight years of Clinton, or eight years of the second Bush. In NO OTHER AREA has the U.S. government been so short-sighted and negligent.

I believe the U.S. needs to drill Anwar AND explore offshore areas in the southeast and off California. But they also need to open up a number of sites in the lower 48 that were capped but that still host good reserves. America needs to expedite construction of new nuclear plants, and the U.S. needs to use new technologies to get the most out of coal.

But... MORE than ANYTHING, American ingenuity must be applied to the search for viable ALTERNATIVES to oil. Solar, wind and hydroelectric offer only limited options, but they should still be exploited to the greatest extent possible. Hydrogen fuel cells can be done, and must be done. And there are must be other ways - apart from fossil fuels - to create the energy needed to power America.

Some might say that the economy is critical, and it is. But energy drives the economy like no other factor. So America's energy policy is, in my opinion, actually an economic policy as well. It is also an environmental policy. So... it really is important.

[Voobrazheniye]

Sorry i am not an American citizen (don't dream to become but never lived there) and cannot reply to your post.
But i had answered : justice. Not on meaning of justice by law but social justice.

Alpy... what are your THREE biggest issues in France?? I would really be interested to know what is important to you there.

[Hoopy]

No beer,football and women options? :(

[Voobrazheniye]

No beer,football and women options? :(

So... I take that these would be the three biggest "issues" in Scotland?

[Voobrazheniye]

You know... it would really be interesting (to me, at least) to hear from Russians about what issues matter the most to them in their own country.

[Hoopy]

So... I take that these would be the three biggest "issues" in Scotland?
For sure :becky:

[alpine-frolic]

Alpy... what are your THREE biggest issues in France?? I would really be interested to know what is important to you there.

Ist big wish:kick out this sad little mad clown.
2nd pray Lionel Jospin to accept to come back political stage.

Our problems are racism, unculture, economy based only on consumption, individualism...
We don't mind enough about these 3 words engraved (mostly the 2 last) on all our coins:
liberté, égalité, fraternité.
So are missing international level high quality pop-rock band, there are some but mostly unknown.:)

[huney]

My top three issues are:

1. Size and reach of government. I believe that the federal government has grown way, WAY out of control and intrudes on citizens' lives far too much. This is one area in which the Republicans have disappointed me greatly. I belive that less government is better government and that government should be strongest at the local level. If I had my way, the U.S. would immediately revert back to the Constitution and STRIP the federal government of all the powers it has taken, but which the Constitution does not grant to it. I would put much more power back into the hands of the states.

2. Immigration. When there are 20 million people living illegally in the U.S., something is terribly wrong. Most of these are the poorest of the poor from Mexico, and they create terrible burdens on the hostpitals, schools, law enforcement and so forth. The way that the federal and state governments, as well as businesses, have bent over backwards to provide everything to them in Spanish is a complete insult to Americans.

A HEAVY military presence should be stationed along the entire southern border, and a fence should be built. Businesses that encourage illegals by giving below-minimum-wage jobs should be heavily fined, and the CEOs and other responsible should face jail time. There should be NO sanctuary cities, and illegals should be deported when and where ever found. A FAIR guest-worker program should be initiated that identifies the real needs for such workers and grants legal entry for those selected to participate.

At the same time, the U.S. needs a SANE policy regarding immigration from Eastern Europe and other countries where there are highly educated and capable people who want to come to the U.S. and add their intelligence and talents to the mix. It is insane to make it so hard for Ukrainians, Russians and others to come to the U.S. while turning a blind eye to the Mexican border.

This is one of two areas in which the Republicans have greatly disappointed me (of course, there were eight years of a Democrat here too). I have always admired Ronald Reagan, but his amnesty for illegals in 1986 was a travesty, and the policies since then have only made things much worse. This is also my BIGGEST criticism of the Bush administration.

3. Energy Policy. There has been NO energy policy to speak of. At least, nothing rational. This is another failing of both parties, but again I must fault the Reagan administration more than others (although I really admire Reagan overall). After the gas shortage during the disaster that was the Carter administration, it should have been CLEAR to the government that a strong energy policy, with an emphasis on domestic sources of energy and a movement away from oil, was necessary. This did not happen in Reagan's eight years, four years of the first Bush, eight years of Clinton, or eight years of the second Bush. In NO OTHER AREA has the U.S. government been so short-sighted and negligent.

I believe the U.S. needs to drill Anwar AND explore offshore areas in the southeast and off California. But they also need to open up a number of sites in the lower 48 that were capped but that still host good reserves. America needs to expedite construction of new nuclear plants, and the U.S. needs to use new technologies to get the most out of coal.

But... MORE than ANYTHING, American ingenuity must be applied to the search for viable ALTERNATIVES to oil. Solar, wind and hydroelectric offer only limited options, but they should still be exploited to the greatest extent possible. Hydrogen fuel cells can be done, and must be done. And there are must be other ways - apart from fossil fuels - to create the energy needed to power America.

Some might say that the economy is critical, and it is. But energy drives the economy like no other factor. So America's energy policy is, in my opinion, actually an economic policy as well. It is also an environmental policy. So... it really is important.

You are so right. But about the Spanish insult...I would have phrased it as 'a complete insult to the millions of immigrants who adapted to their adopted country rather than having expected the reverse'. Further, the state and federal governments' accomodation is nothing short of obscene. If accomodation must be made, better the money should be spent on compulsory English lessons for any and all immigrants; a working knowledge of the language should be a requirement for citizenship.

[alpine-frolic]

You are so right. But about the Spanish insult...I would have phrased it as 'a complete insult to the millions of immigrants who adapted to their adopted country rather than having expected the reverse'. Further, the state and federal governments' accomodation is nothing short of obscene. If accomodation must be made, better the money should be spent on compulsory English lessons for any and all immigrants; a working knowledge of the language should be a requirement for citizenship.

How many white immigrants have learned Commanchee language at their arrival in their new country?

[Voobrazheniye]

How many white immigrants have learned Commanchee language at their arrival in their new country?

Ahh... but when you are "stealing" the land, you don't have to learn the language. You just make the people who you are taking it from learn YOUR language.

Hey... wait a minute... maybe THAT'S why they are trying to make everyone in the U.S. learn Spanish now. :eek:

[huney]

How many white immigrants have learned Commanchee language at their arrival in their new country?

Not nearly enough. There were, however, quite a few who learned the language and customs of the Wampanoag before European disease decimated them. Actually a blessing in that it spared them the horrors of forced migration, confinement, and starvation. There is very little pride and much shame in US or Canadian dealings with the predecessor nations of North America.

Developing nations today might do well to take note of the fact that had the Native American nations not been quite so preoccupied with fighting amongst themselves, they would have stood a much better chance against that other group of nations now collectively known as the EU. Food for thought.

[vitashenka]

but it seems good relations with Russian citizens are not wanted when you read some of the posts made in this forum and over at the LL forum.

Yes, but some american and england guys also werent very sweet, so please no reason to fault just only russian ppl of forum. Ofcourse u said u dont mean all russians, but u mention only russians

[saprosky]

2. Immigration. When there are 20 million people living illegally in the U.S., something is terribly wrong. Most of these are the poorest of the poor from Mexico, and they create terrible burdens on the hostpitals, schools, law enforcement and so forth. The way that the federal and state governments, as well as businesses, have bent over backwards to provide everything to them in Spanish is a complete insult to Americans.

Thats good for us, we dont need to learn english when travel to USA :p

Just kidding, I would like to go to USA to improve my english and maybe will go to Ireland because in USA I will speak only spanish.

Here we have the similar problem, we have people from many countries and they have even better social conditions than natives. Immigrants have free medical assistance, dont pay taxes if they have a own business, we build religious centers for them, we protect his traditions and customs and even we must respect, simply incredible. And of course, more than half are illegals and jails are full of them.

The problem is when you invite someone to Spain, many documents and very difficult to get visa but only this weekend arrived more than 200 immigrants to Canary Islands. They will have medical attention, clothes and will live in a residence till deported (maybe in 1-2 years).

Immigration is a real problem worldwide but nobody takes care and the future is not so good IMHO.

[Sveta's Hero]

Yes, but some american and england guys also werent very sweet, so please no reason to fault just only russian ppl of forum. Ofcourse u said u dont mean all russians, but u mention only russians

That's fair, Vita, and you are right. It is coming from both sides sometimes.

[Mnguy2007]

Paul first I would like to say great reply to your own poll.
I agree with most of what you write.
I am not sure I put immigration in the order you have it. I agree that it is a huge issue that
absolutely needs revamping. Like many laws in this country all they would have to do enforce the laws in place and the problem would be reduced. There is suppose to be a $10,000.00
fine for hiring an illegal. I would suggest that remains the fine for the home occupation employers, and it should deter the homeowners from hiring if it ever gets enforced.
Business however I think should have a $100,000.00 fine per employee and the money should go towards the welfare programs that these people have drained of their resources.

My first choice was same as yours.
Federal government has created way to much power for itself.
Although I agree with all you wrote I would also suggest that perhaps one of the biggest problems facing us is the special interest and lobby money going into the pockets of the people we vote into office to make law that reflects our interest.
It is impossible to vote what is right when you sold yourself to big business.
National security was and should remain the major roll of federal government.

Economy was number two for me.
The outsourcing of jobs from Americans, the unequal tariff's and trade has got to come to an end. We have all the resources needed to be self supporting nation yet we have become a service industry nation.:rip:
I also agree oil has a huge impact on the economy, but I would say it is one of many factors. By the way the reason you see no efforts on the part of government to step up and do anything in regards to oil is they are by far the biggest profiteers from oil prices.
The tax dollars that pour in from huge oil prices, makes the record profits that oil companies post seem small, and they are in comparison.

[Voobrazheniye]

Economy was number two for me.
The outsourcing of jobs from Americans, the unequal tariff's and trade has got to come to an end. We have all the resources needed to be self supporting nation yet we have become a service industry nation.:rip:


It's amazing (and not in a good way) when you look at what has happened to the American economy - and American jobs - over the last 40 or so years. American manufacturing has practically disappeared. The U.S. makes hardly anything any more. The stories from the steel towns that went bust are just one small part of the total.

So many jobs are moved "offshore" where labor is so cheap that even with transportation costs, it is still more profitable for companies to build in China, Indonesia, South America, etc., and then ship products back to the U.S.

And the other part of job loss is the illegal immigration across the southern border. If you go to almost any construction job site in the U.S. (except perhaps in very strong union states), almost all the workers are Mexican. Construction jobs most certainly are NOT among those jobs that "Americans refuse to do," as Bush and others like to say.

[dzerassa]

Economy. Then other issues. About relations with Russia, it is important for our governments to have good relations, but it seems good relations with Russian citizens are not wanted when you read some of the posts made in this forum and over at the LL forum. I don't mean all Russians by any strecth of the imagination, but there are quite a few that seem to believ that they are so much better than us and could care less about any relations at all. Don't believe me? Go read for yourselves.

u didn't mean us - russian patriots, did u :)