I'm neither asking: 1. Are you a 1 issue voter (since most people aren't, except over abortion, and that discussion is tired...) If you are a 1 issue voter, feel free to say so... but that's not what the thread is exclusively about.P or 2. What do you feel about every freakin' issue. I mean, what issues, collectively, are so important to you that you'd switch sides on the basis of them if the Rep/Dems either flip-flopped or adopted an position that neither currently advocates. Mine are: 1. Education, especially early childhood development programs. Both sides neglect this, but imo, addressing early childhood development is the only way to truly make capitalism substantially fair. 2. The environment. I'm not one of the crazy greens, but I do think it's important for a wide variety of reasons (foreign policy, economic, and health) to start developing a renewable energy infrastructure. I think we also need to create more viable mass transit systems and curb urban air pollution. 3. Proportional representation. Yes, I know it'll never happen due to how damn hard it is to change the Constitution. But the leviathan, creativity-suppressing, 2 party structure is choking American politics. We need a system where, say, if your party receives above 5% of the vote, they get representation of some form. I know it would let some of the real nuts in - but at least it would more accurately reflect the American people's views while also injecting new ideas and helping to crack the duopoly. 4. Civil liberties. I'm not really the hugest civil libertarian... and to be honest, if the Republicans had maintained their Bush I stances on the issue, I probably would never have cared so much. But Ashcroft and some of the provisions of the PATRIOT Act scare the **** out of me. 5. National health care. Want to rein in the medical tort system? Here's your answer! I'm not necessarily opposed to a "privatized" approach to nationalized health care... but I do think it's essential that everyone have some form of health coverage... and that real health problems are never ignored, regardless of money. That's it. Although I care about stuff like foreign policy, I'm not going to vote on it if anybody addresses these core issues of mine.
I can only really think of two and those are gun control and education. If there is a candidate, regardless of party, that is so gung-ho for gun rights, there is no way that I can vote for that individual. As a child of two teachers, I feel education is very important and I agree with you haven that both parties neglect this. Does anyone know when the last time this country was considered the best in the world when it comes to education? It has to be at least in the '80s maybe not even that long ago, but longer. It is true that I am in favor of more Republican ideas than Democrat ones, but these two issues are important enough to me to cause me to vote Democrat. After all, I voted for Gore in the last election.
The issues I care most about (in no particular order): * Cutting corporate welfare and influence * Universal health care * Stronger environmental regulations * Protecting civil liberties * Increasing social services When I step in the voting booth, I vote for the candidate I believe will take the country one step closer to the above ideals.
1. Terrorism and National Security. 2. Economy- free trade, lower taxes, reduced size of government, reduced interference in the economy 3. Education- vouchers and accountabilty 4. Social Security- some sort of reform, maybe privatization
Less Taxes - I can make a wiser spending decision than can Uncle Sam. Anti affirmative action - because it's just plain racist and servces to hurt, not help anyone. A strong military Less government in general
This is going to come as a surprise to most of you, but repealing prohibition is number 4 on my list. 1 - Conservative fiscal policy - In which I include 86ing all pork barrel legislation, reducing the size of the government by at least 33%, and reducing taxes. 2 - Campaign finance reform - I believe that the system is broken and that we may need a constitutional amendment to ban all contributions to specific candidates in favor of federally financed elections. We have legalized bribery, kickbacks, and payola all over the place and the people are suffering for it. 3 - Scrap the current tax code - I personally favor a consumption tax, but a flat tax with no exemptions, deductions, or loopholes whatsoever would be acceptable. The code should allow people to do their taxes in less than an hour every year and should be no longer than 250 pages. 4 - Repeal prohibition - I am certain you all are aware of my views here. 5 - Keep our military the strongest in the world. 6 - Education - We need to find better, more effective ways to educate our people and get them ready to work, pay taxes, and contribute to society.
Ha ha. If you want a thread on it, I would be more than happy to make one. I suspect I will not see you there since you have no intelligent rebuttal to the truth. SMACKED DOWN
Economy - Strong economic stucture that promotes economic growth. Education - everybody should be able to get a good education if they really work for it and want it...it should be available. Taxes - I work darn hard for my money and I'm taxed everywhere. Everything I earn and buy is taxed somehow. I would like to be able to hold on to a little more of what I work for. Gov't Spending control - Waste, waste, waste. I would like gov't run like a business, not like a money pit. Security - I want to feel secure in my own country, whether it be criminals or terrorists. I should be able to go about my daily life without fear. Things that people make a big deal about, but don't much matter to me: Abortion - the most polarizing debate there is. There is no right answer for the politician...they are for it half the people are pissed, they are against it...half the people are pissed. Seems like it cancels things out. Gun Control - I really don't think the gov't would take away your right to own a gun...I also think nobody needs an automatic rifle unless they are police or military...so whatever...I hunt with a shot gun and have a pistol for home protection...I don't think the gov't is going to take those away...and I didn't really care that I had to wait a few days to buy the pistol. God v Gov't - I am a Christian. I support seperation by church and state. However...like it or not, this country and its laws and constitution were written with Christian values in mind. Just look at your cash. Or look at the constitution itself. Anyways...I can understand how the 10 commandments might be church and it should not be out in front of a court house...but what a waste of time and money to try to get the darn thing removed. I think the framers had in mind that there would be no gov't sponsored church (like the Church of England) as well as freedom to worship how you wished...however there is a balance against that this country was built on majority rules...so if the majority of the populace wants to inject a little bit of God into their daily lives...then the minority might have to put up with it as long as the gov't didn't sponsor it or impede anybody else in their worhsip. Anyways...to me it seems like a whole bunch of wasted time and money arguing and fighting over something that really doesn't affect your life one way or another.
For national posts: National security / Defense is always the deciding factor for me, as national government's #1 job is in my view the defense of the nation. Immigration is also a major one with me. Democrats want the votes and Repubs want the labor - both equally guilty of selling our country to foreigners in my book. Everyopne who currently works in Homeland Security's INS or whatever they're calling it now should be fired, bnecause they have been criminally negligent in their duties. 10X the budget for this one if we wantr to win the war on terror... This is one area where I think Bush has got it all wrong. Surprise, surprise, he's a Republican... Business wants the labor. Well, I don't want anyone taking jobs that Americans should get first crack at, and I sure as hell don't want any more illegal Abdullahs blowing up any more of our friggen buildings or planes just because Joe Schmoe at INS didn't feel like tracking the guy down... Education is pretty high up there, too. I am, however, concerned about the quality of education we're dealing with, as well as its neutrality. I have seen a definite leftist bias in higher education in particular, and I think that there needs to be some sort of review process to correct that. It is absolutely necessary that that particular field be clean. Neutral. I'm also not a big fan of taxes, though. Curiously, I like large budgets, but low taxes... Generally speaking, I am all for downsizing government, while increasing spending for defense, intelligence, etc agencies, as well as education. Screw socialized medicine and government-forced universal heralth care, we could achieve the same goal by changing immigration laws and increasing regulation of the biotech and medical supply industries. You don't need to raise our taxes to do it, just lower the costs so that everyone can afford it. That and acknowledge that it should be a right, not a privelage. Fewer prisons, more rehabs and counseling centers. High-security counseling centers... Abortion... not a real big issue to me. I'm pro-choice, although being in the process of actually having one is slewing me the other way... But the two biggies: defense and immigration. Fail both and you will not get my vote. Most of the other issues are negotiable, as long as these are covered.
wow this is a pretty radical stance you have on this issue IMO. This is an important issue for me, not a top 5 issue, but important none the less. The Constitution was not made with Christian values and the Christian faith in mind at all. This can be seen by the reaction of Christian ministers at the time the Consitution was formed. The first 2 amendments fly in the face of the Ten Commandments. Protecting the free practice of religion certainly allows people to worship various gods, and it allows people to make and worship graven images. Lastly, injecting a "little God" into government and that the minority would just have to put up with it? That is a very oppressive view. Very unamerican IMO. anyways.. 1. Taxes/Funding of social programs I think these 2 issues go hand in hand. 2. Stronger environmental regulations 3. Health Care for All 4. Gun Control 5. Pro-Choice - I will vote for someone who is Pro-Life, but they better knock my socks off with their views on the other issues...
What I think of the issues are in my posts. Make of them what you will. (sorry... I just don't have the energy for anything else)
That's true. But I actually started this thread because I noticed how passionately I seemed to be arguing some issues about which I care very little (in the grand scheme of things). I used to get very involved in many of the Palestine/Israel debates... and I have definite views. But I don't vote on them, but from my arguments here... nobody would ever know that. Same goes for a wide variety of arguments, especially abortion for many moderate liberals who aren't obsessed with feminist issues.
I posted that at 3 in the morning, haven. I really WAS too tired. If I make up my mind on some things, I'll post 'em here.
I would have to say five things really: 1. Cutting Federal largesse- Any candidate I vote for has to be in favor of massive spending cuts in social spending. Anyone who supports increasing entitlements I couldn't vote for if I had a gun to my head (and that includes Bush with his idiotic prescription drug benefit that will bankrupt us). 2. Gun rights- If you support only allowing the govt. and criminals to have guns by restricting the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, I can't vote for you. 3. Defense- I can't support any candidate who doesn't want to continue to make our military the best in the world. The number one thing our govt has to do is defend us from foreign enemies. 4. Tax cuts- Either give me back more of my money or you don't get my vote. 5. Environment- Any candidate who tows the enviro-whacko line on every issue I can not vote for.
