Now is your chance to ask the candidates the questions that are important to you.
Monday, December 10th, we will post the first selected question to the candidates from the Gather community. It’s easy to ask the candidates a question. Just write it in an article, make a short video, or even ask your question in the comment thread on this article. Just make sure your questions are published to the Create Debate group.
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Comments: 107 ( 22 removed by Tom Gerace )
Comment: Please cut the politics-as-usual tactics. Many of the electorate are fed up with it, and just want straight answers instead of the beating-around-the-bush, poll-driven, "what the people want to hear" answers you have been giving. We shall NOT vote for you when we hear it.
The Framers wrote "experience" out of the Constitution, but you candidates continue to suggest yourself as the most "experienced" person for the job of President. Why do you candidates keep talking about your "experience" to be President when none of you have sat in the Oval office as President, and therefore have absolutely NO experience as President? It is my understanding that there are only 4 -- Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and the current President, George W. Bush who may currently make the claim of having the "experience" to be President.
Thank you.
What do you intend to do about stopping the war on Islam (that's all it really is) and recreating a budget that the country can function on?
What do you intend to do about the fact that the workers in this enconomy basically have no rights, and don't even make enough money to survive, while oil profits skyrocket?
What are you going to do about undoing the bankruptcy laws that were created to protect banks instead of people who have large health care bills?
Do you plan to create a national (and needed) healthcare system which won't allow medical care denials?
Would you hire an independent agency to investigate where the miliary spends every dollar so that we can find out how much it wastes? Then we can take that money away and put it where it belongs - back in the education budget.
Do you plan to repeal 'no child left educated?'
Will you make it nationally illegal to treat any American employee as 'at will?'
"If elected, would you implement a tax on greenhouse gas emissions, with proceeds used to support local supply of clean and safe alternatives, and with market mechanisms sorting out what works best where?"
My experience is that they all do it.
I complain about it in a 1993 Federal Election here in Canada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKwxLB6jO54
Health care, Education for illegals, Education for citizens of the USA, The war in Iraq, Social Security, Border Security
ADHD medications cause suicidal tendencies in children but the drug companies don't care and the doctor's keep prescribing these medications to children. That particular side effect is not listed as a side effect because, so far, the studies have not proven it.
Can any candidate comment?
Secondly. To what country does his loyalty belong? Will he act in the best interest of the United States of America or will his sense of duty be towards favoring other nations over America's interest?
Simple Yes or No
Next for Clinton. Will she honor the Constitution and defend the right of the 2nd Amendment and not try to skirt the issue by taking away the right to bear arms by every American? A straight Yes or No would be nice for a change.
Secondly. Bill Clinton stood before the American public, looked us right in the eye and lied. They both lied to the American people about everything from items taken from the White House to documents withheld about her former law firm. When, if ever will the lies stop for political gain? (and please no excuses about supporting the lies of Bill or that was him and not your influence)
It is a sad commentary that only now has the electorate begun to understand that the most effective way to deal with illegal immigration is to punish those who employ, accomodate, or transport illegal aliens, rather than punish illegal aliens. !Viva Arizona!
2. The American dollar is a joke. It has become so devalued, I actually think foreign countries are using it instead of toilet paper since it is actually cheaper. How will you turn around the devaluing of our currency? Will North America ever move to something similar to the Euro, with Canada and Mexico?
2. Our country and its politicians like the Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq is very polarized. Polarization of peoples has led to stalemates and much worse. Hostile polarization may keep societies from reaching their potential and may even destroy them. How would you bridge this polarization, yet recognize diversity of individuals and groups?
2. So much time, money and energy has been focused on issues to do with other countries and those of the U.S. have gone sorely neglected. How do you plan to resolve this?
3. Child abuse and neglect are rampant in this country, both inside and outside of our houses. What do you plan to do to put a stop to them and protect and nurture our children?
4. Are you aware of the serious aftereffects of sexual abuse and rape? Where do you stand on stronger punishment for rapists and pedophiles?
5. Please comment on your plans for bettering the healthcare situation. Do you plan to try to implement a universal healthcare program that serves all U.S. residents? If so, why? If not, why? And how will you instead approach and resolve the issues of skyrocketing healthcare costs and the very large population of people who have no healthcare coverage?
What will you do as President to restore the balance of power between legislative and executive? What existing legislation will you modify and/or repeal that has ceded power to the President? What legislation will you propose that strengthens oversight and accountability?
Will you propose legislation restricting "signing statements?" Will you redefine "war powers?" What will you do as President to reel in the power of the President?
P.S. I dont "like" any of these candidates, i'm not supposed to "like" them, Democrat, Republican, they all sound like car salesmen! I'm ready for a woman president, somebody ressurect Ann Richards, that woman had brass ones and wasnt scared of anybody. I'm ready for a Black man to be President but not this one, nice guy, phenominal speaker, but he can't "orate" us out of the mess we are in and lacks any true foreign policy experience! Hell I just want the "B.S. to stop, somebody, somebody come forward that will do what they are damn well told, that has not just a resume, but a track record, and Biden aint the guy, cuz you cant be intimidated by a bunch of professional B.S'rs that are Congress and the Senate! McCain aint the guy cuz he comes from a piss poor state that has as a state singlehanded ly done more to create classism than any other, he is dry, unimaginative however I respect his service to his country but even that...doesnt make a President! Romney...are you kiddin me... this guy cant hold a point of view beyond a state line! The jerk from New York! Are you shittin me? A damned Mayor!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
What is the first thing that you notice about people?
Red or Pink? ????????
WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO DO THIS TOO?
IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
When and how will you create a health care plan that will encompass everyone who does not have access to heath care due to job status or affordability? Will you put a cap on what Doctors and hospitals can charge?
Wiill you cut back on the perks for yourself and other government officals, for the betterment of all of America?
Will you regulate the drug companies for their abuse of price gouging in the US?
Since this is supposed to be a democratic republic, where not only does the majority hold sway, but also the minority is supposed to be protected from the majority, I ask this:
When are we going to follow the constitution (and not religion) and permit gay marriage? No, separate but equal won't do. It didn't do for blacks, and it won't do for us today. I, for one, am sick and tired of politicians throwing my rights under the bus.
Why don't you take care of Americans at home in need and in crisis before trying to save the rest of the world?
How can you uphold Justice for all when the really poor in need of legal help CANNOT get it isn't that injustice for the poor. Where the equal rights and justice there?
Why not legalize marijana it will create lots of jobs it can be used for many things and why doesn't the Federal government allow medical marijana, Isn't that a violation of states rights of states who legalized it? That is unethical and unjust.
Get of the Politically correct bandwagon. Freedom of Speech meant what it said just that. How can you save the life an criminal and allow murder of an innocent unborn child?
Why does the federal government uphold one religion and day off over another. They take of Sunday, but not Saturday. They take off Christmas making it a National Holiday which is offensive to others but not Chanakah or Kwanza isn't that choosing one religious belief over another? Why not work those days too since your not supposed to choose one religous belief over another for any reason.
When are you going to stop taking money from small special interest groups and instead hear the voices of the majority of the people
Why allow an election to be called a half hour after west coast polls close when those votes are not even beginning to be all counted yet that is like telling people your vote is worthless and doesn't matter. We don't NEED the electorial college anymore why don't you get rid of it?
If your going to have mandantory auto insurance why not have a national auto insurance one flat fee for everyone across the board?
They should not rule on Gay marriages or what churches can preach. As to Gays they have a right to their freedom of beliefs too and if they want to "Get Married" Let them it is not our judgement call. Or the Governments. The Government needs to stick to govenoring of and by and for the people not of and by and for the moneyed, the politicians, the rich and famous.
As evidenced by many of the comments and questions on this thread, a growing number of Americans feel marginalized and even disenfranchised by the current political system. Do you feel any responsibility to those citizens concerns? How will your administration be more inclusive to the entire body politic, or alternatively, what purpose is served by ignoring the increasing cynicism toward public servants and the concerns of all Americans, even those you may disagree with?
What role has the media played in the current election process so far? Has the media helped or hurt you as a candidate? Do you think this coverage has been inherently fair or inherently unfair? Do you support public financing of campaigns or do you prefer the current system of campaign funding?
Some would say that modern American election coverage focuses on who is most likely to emerge as the nominee rather than who is most likely to perform best as President (or Senator, Congressperson, Governor, Board Member,etc.). What qualities do you personally possess that make you the most likely to be successful as the next President (senator, congressperson, governor, board member,etc)? Which of these qualities have you already demonstrated? What important quality have you not yet had many chances to demonstrate but are confident you possess?
Have you or an immediate family member ever served in the armed forces? How does this personal experience affect your stance on an issue like the Iraq War? Can an American who has not seen combat appreciate the true costs of an armed conflict? If you have no such personal background, how have you approached decisions regarding military action? To what extent should the public support our veterans of armed service? Should they be admitted into Congressional or Gubernatorial health and retirement plans, or is the current Veterans Administration adequate to meet veterans' needs?
Should President Bush and Vice President Cheney be stripped of their federal benefits and pensions? Should they be held accountable in any way, such as censure, impeachment, etc? Given the deep resentment of the majority of the country toward their behavior in office, why or why not?
Regarding your own public service (if any) -- Do you have any personal regrets? What has been your biggest (career) mistake, if any? What has been your proudest moment?
And finally, what will you do if you are not elected to the office you are seeking?
Thanks again to Gather for the opportunity to ask these questions of the candidates.
I am sure we will hear alot about this in the upcoming debates on TV, but I want to know how you plan to completely rewire this country's environmental policies on conservation. As this topic is tied in thread to so many other topics such as oil, even our own welfare, and possible new ways for this country to raise money. We are only as good as the things we take care of. I think and support a president that puts the environment on his priority list. Thank you,
2. How will you address the need for a national health plan. Some european nations and also Canada seen to be able to create a national health plan, but not the US. Is it because of the big bucks that the hospitals, doctors, etc make on health care and you do not want to step on toes?
3. How are you going to stop the problem of illegal immigrants. It seems the state and federal governments keep giving our tax dollars to health care, education, social securtiy, etc. for immigrants and we pay the tax burdon. We cannot afford to pay their welfare costs. Other countries do not do this.
It's gotten too complicated with too many loopholes for the uncrupulous to take advantage of & leaves the rest of us to take up the slack. Come tax time, an individual practically has to have a Ph.D to understand the forms & the reasons WHY any particular line item has to be completed that way.
I'm part of the lower middle income "class" & am feeling like that so called "disposable" income my family should have is non-existant! It's going to be a tight Christmas this year (if at all), mainly because we can't afford it. It's starting to get too expensive to go to work due to the fuel prices. What are your feelings towards 1) Mandating greener vehicles, 2) freezing gasoline & fuel prices, & 3)Making the roads safer to travel?
What are you planning on doing about all of these so-called "Free Trade Agreements" that end up being "free" for the other countries, but costing American citizens jobs and creating trade deficits that are going to break us as a nation?
Currently, according to a very reliable source, our own State Department and others in the current (and past) Administrations, have expended many back-door efforts to prevent, obstruct, or otherwise discourage the deportation of criminal illegal aliens by the "old" INS and "new" ICE. What will you do, as President, to put an end to this outrageous behavior?
As President, what will you do to penalize cities, counties and even entire states for declaring their specific geographic entities to be "Sanctuaries for illegal aliens" in violation of Federal law?
As President, what would you do to prohibit Federal Funds (taxpayer monies) from being granted to anti-American and subversive special interest groups such as LaRaza, Mecha, MALDEF, LULAC and the ACLU?
It's been six years since 9/11 and our borders and ports are still not secure, less than 2% of all goods imported into this country are being inspected and personnel in our Immigration and Customs Enforcement are being sent to other countries to "secure" those foreign countries borders from illegal incursions. In the meantime, our country is being invaded by as many as 1 million illegal aliens a year, with many of them coming from terrorist sponsoring nations. What are you, as President, going to do to protect our own American borders and citizens?
Why are we letting these corrupt people continue on with this sherade they are calling an election campaign? We are a large nation, heavily populated. DO YOU PEOPLE NOT HAVE THE GUTS TO STAND UP AND SAY, "NO, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO APPOINT YOUR NEXT LEADER OF YOUR GREED FOR THE NEXT ELECTION TERM"? DO YOU PEOPLE NOT HAVE THE GUTS TO STAND UP AND SAY, "WE DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU CORRUPT PATHETIC BASTARDS HAVE WRITTEN INTO LAWS ON PAPER, OR IN MAGNETIC INK, OR IN ANY WAY, OTHERWISE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET YOU RULE THIS COUNTRY WITH YOUR CORRUPTION ANY FURTHER"?
DO YOU PEOPLE NOT HAVE THE GUTS TO PROPERLY AND TRULY JUSTLY REFORM OUR GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES, AND TELL ALL OF THOSE PATHETICALLY CORRUPT CANDIDATES,"NO, WE ARE NOT GOING ALONG WITH YOU ANYMORE, AND NONE OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO SERVE THAT NEXT TERM?"
Because, if you people are not going to demonstrate the guts and courage to do this, then you are your own worst enemy, and you have vicitmized me all I am going to allow it to continue. I AM GOING TO STAND UP AND WAGE WAR AGAINST YOU ALL? THAT IS A PROMISE YOU BETTER BELIEVE I AM GOING TO KEEP, SO YOU BETTER GO START TELLING THAT ON THE MOUNTAIN TOPS, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE. THIS IS IT! IT'S SHOWTIME.IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME OR THE BIBLICAL PROPHECY THAT DIRECTS THIS ACTION, READ YOUR BIBLE, SEE WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT IT. SEE WHAT JESUS ADVISED, WARNED OF, AND DIRECTED, AND TRY AND TELL ME I AM WRONG ABOUT WHAT JESUS SAID TO DO TO THEM, MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN, FOR GOD'S SAKE.
YOUR BLINDNESS (THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND) IS NO LEGITIMATE EXCUSE FOR YOUR PATHETIC BEHAVIORS YOU HAVE SOUGHT TO IMPOSE ON ME. AND YOU PEOPLE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
YOU PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING YOUR POLITICIANS' CORRUPTION FOR YEARS AND YEARS NOW, AND NOW YOU WANT TO ALL START ACTING LIKE YOU ARE ALL INNOCENT, AND YOU WANT TO PUNISH THE POLITICAL FIGURES. WHAT ABOUT YOUR ACTIONS AND GUILT? i AM NOT JUST WARNING THE POLITICIANS, BY GOD, I AM WARNING ALL OF YOU SORRY PATHETIC AMERICAN SON-OF-A-BITCHES, YOU PUT ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE CORRUPT PATHETIC BASTARDS UP THERE TO TRY TO HELP YOU SORY THINGS TRY TO CONTROL MY LIFE TO NOTHING BUT SHIT, AND i AM GOING TO START ACTIONS AGAINST ALL OF YOUR SORRY PATHETIC ASSES.
Andrew Carnegie believed that the ultra rich bear a responsibility to the working public; What will you do to create a FAIR tax system?
My high school government students want to know why we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan; What should I tell them?
My Economics students want to know how they can survive in a capitalist system o less than $33,000 per year; an excellent question.
My US history students want to know what the MAJOR difference between the current socioeconomic system in the US, and that of Andrew Carnegie's era is; DO YOU KNOW?
My High school's science students want to know why we can't develop clean, renewable energy sources, when only 40 years ago our nation achieved the daunting task of putting men on the Moon in less than a decade; What do YOU think?
My government students want to know why they should vote, because it doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference WHICH CANDIDATE is in the White House; WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?
Why isn't the money we are spending on war in the Federal budget? We need more civilian awareness and involvement in our economic position in the world. We won't get that with two budgets. Without an honest attempt to balance our income with our expenditures (all of them) the US will fall in the world's esteem, our dollar will plummet and our economy crash. Oh wait - that's happening already. Why aren't we doing something about it?
Next, and final, many countries are hideously guilty of this just as we are. Women in history of this country (among many other countries) initially where no more than property. Worse yet, if they where left for what ever reason without a man than they where left with nothing for they could not own property. This left them in a position of great distress leaving prostitution as there only means of survival. This has never been formally addressed nor appologized. How can we as a nation move forward having prostituted our mothers and sisters while making no appology for this? Will you be the President that will publically and formally acknowledge this wrong doing and appologize to the women of this country past, present, and future?
Just how do propose to accomplish all this? Or do you?
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
If Tobacco meets and exceeds each and every criteria to be classified as a Schedule I drug, why does it remain legal to purchase and consume ?
Could it be because it is a CASH COW ?
Senate Panel Approves Huge Tobacco Tax To Fund Child Healthcare ~ 20 Jul 2007
Paid for by selling a dangerous drug ?
" The committee approved bill calls for a considerable rise in tobacco tax to pay for it.
The tax would go up from the current 39 cents to 1.00 dollar on a pack of cigarettes.
Cigars would attract an ever greater increase, with premium cigars that are currently taxed at 5 cents being taxed at 10 dollars each. "
Imagine the hypocrisy that Tobacco is not considered a Drug under the DEA schedualing criteria yet, Industrial Hemp (non-THC producing plant) is considered a schedual one drug and forbidden to even possess a seed.
I am asking each and every one of you who read this article to contact members of Congress and demand that Tobacco be designated as a Schedule I drug
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977179395
I will put an end to the "crackhoods" and the vast poverty. I will apologize to the mid-eastern countries that my nation's former leaders have inflicted those regions with their Anerican branded (syndicated) corruption, and seek to have them join us in working together for the sake of righteosness, and adequately acceptable socialization. I will work with the internal conditions that are currently creating animosity and unrest. I will do these things and many more without threatening the people and intimidating them at gunpoint to achieve these goals. But, my questions is this:
1. Is that what you people really want?
2.Are any of you cadidates willing to do these things, or even understand the meanings?
3. Since none of you have done anything but stay the course, or typically make things even worse, up to this point in your political careers, why should we seek to try and depend on you now, especially since this is such a critical era in time?
4. Bible prophecies, and current events, coincide. So, is it not fair to say that George W. Bush misled this nation, according to Bible prohecy, and essentially, placed one big foot of the Big Beast right on the battlefield in preparation for the final conflict, the War of Armeggeddon, where the evil forces come together to battle over who will control the buying and selling of the world? Isn't that exactly what it is all about? And, is that not sufficient evidense for you all that the government and the people of this great nation is blessed only with the power of evil, not true righteousness, as such people as George Bush, and Ronald Reagan, and Billary Clintons, and all those other corrupt, polyester-bloodsucking ticks falsely prophecize?
And I'll be back for more, I'm just getting started.
Assuming you can eventually safely withdraw American troops from Iraq, what will you do to make sure they have good lives to return to?
Why do you think this is happening? What can you do about the Pentagon charging soldiers money for damaged equipment, torn vests, etc.? Can you control the Pentagon?
Can you please do something about child sex offenders? How can we preach to the Saudis about the revolting way they treat rape victims when we can't keep our own slime away from our children?
I am, believe it or not, a liberal Democrat who would like to see child rapists and murderers face the death penalty. Please respond.
Thank you.
What SPECIFICALLY if anything do you intend to do to improve the "quality of life" for Americans? Americans quality of life has been on the US Government's "back burner" for quite a long time. I think it's high time we (American's) come first in our government's eyes.
Examples of Americans reduced quality of life:
1. Outrageous energy prices. US Government seems to allow oil companies to charge unfair prices and allow the open management of this destructive monopoly. (Solution time frame: now! Not in two years)
2. Natural disasters in this nation are handled in a less then desirable manner. "Katrina" is still a household word. The US Government leadership should be ashamed how they handled this natural disaster. If Katrina happened overseas or in Washington DC our leadership would be right there with millions of dollars in aid and funds to help. When do WE (AMERICANS) come first in our leaders eyes? We need the help! What's your plan to help AMERICANS NOT FORIGNERS? (Solution time frame: 6 months)
3. Health Care for ALL AMERICANS (Solution time frame: 1 year till all are covered, not just planning it, DO IT!)
4. National FUNDED Educational Standards and Enforcement for ALL! (Solution time frame: 1 year, no child left behind is an unfunded FAILURE!)
5. Safe roads and bridges across this nation are necessary and require evaluation and funding immediately. (Solution time frame: begin active repair in 6 months, not six years)
6. Control spending and taxing: Americans are forced to move our money to higher priorities like medicine, heating oil, gasoline, higher taxes, etc. instead of savings. When will government re-prioritize and begin doing it's part to be responsible to us and reduce wasteful spending, and inconsiderate taxing. The Congress spends our hard earned money without care as to where it comes from.
This must stop! (Time frame: Immediately)
NEVER send our military into a conflict without a complete plan for success! Our military leaders are very intelligent, listen to them do the right thing and think AMERICA FIRST! The price is far to high, as this current leadership has demonstrated!
REMOVE ALL UNFUNDED MANDATES! If you won't fund an idea you have no business making it law! NO MONEY NO COMPLIANCE!
Frankly, I don't care what party your from, your color, your sex, who you sleep with or your past. I do care about your concern for the American people first, the ability to understand what we are going through daily. Our needs and concerns are not addressed by this government. We need someone who cares about our quality of life and the concerns for our future instead of there own or those overseas, or big business. We need a leader who cares more about the common American person instead of the special interest groups. We need someone who respects the American people, and who demonstrate that in there actions not just their words. We need a leader that understands that things need to happen now, not in four years. Americans continuously keep getting the same old treatment; we'll look into it and get back to you. That answer won't do anymore. We need solutions and actions now. For god sakes do something, take a chance, even if it's wrong take a change and try to make things better. We need a strong and thoughtful leader now more then ever before.
DO YOU STILL DESIRE TO APPLY FOR THIS JOB?
What will you do to insure that every American man, woman, and child, has access to the same health care benefits that all federally elected officials enjoy?
What will you do to encourage US industries to assume leadership in environmental stewardship, conservancy, and renewable energy opportunities?
How do you view the Role of Presidential Science Advisors ?
I believe, above all else the Presidential Science Advisors should play a major role in Governmental affairs. From agriculture to emergency planning, energy and space exploration.
So, I would like to know: who you will select as your Presidential Science Advisors, as well as your views on this positions importance ?
http://richardowlmirror.gather.com/
That's a whole 'lotta questions, ... LOL!
And here I was gunna ask if they could help me afford my next meal
I've read material on the Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy (DPAP), and it seems to me that the Department of Defense is becoming our nation's money pit for world domination, and that this "procurement and acquisition" will continue at a break neck pace no matter who is in office. Do you agree with the proposed Department of Defense budget? Would you keep a closer eye on the DoD, or would you be a puppet mouthpiece for military control.
I am most interested in the health care bill. Why should insured people be dropped when they get sick. What does the health care bill completely entail?? How would it help the uninsured/underinsured?? What will the limits be?? How will it be enforced and implemented??
What are you going to do about the economy? The once middle class are now part of the low income. Is there anything that can be done to get the economy booming?
The "No child left behind" is not working. How will you address the problem of our childrens educational needs?
How will you address the issue of abortion?
I would like someone to audit these politians , who like to spend taxpayers monies on stupid and unnecessary projects. I want our taxpaying dollars to be accounted for, so that we can see , where our money is going.
I want the borders tightened up, and the two border partol agents, who went to prison for doing their jobs released and back payed.
Stricter laws to prevent the illegals, from gaining access into the USA. No more handouts to these illegals at taxpayers expense. We do not need to make our welfare rolls bigger. Have the people who can work and is drawing welfare checks, work where the illegals once worked.
Every American taxpayer should have access to free or afforable good health care coverage, not just if you are a child, or on welfare. Some people have to choose to eat other than go to the doctor.
I would like to see housing made affordable, instead of some greedy land developer getting a fat paycheck from people who have to really struggle to be able to afford a home. Why, is the American dream just a dream anymore? I think every American should be able to own a decent home, and have money to survive on.
I think the landlords of some of these rentals , are just as guilty, greedy. and they arent required to have a limit on what price they ask for the dwellilng.There should be a limit on ripping off someone less fortuanate. Some of the prices for rentals are unbelievable, and some of these places are dumps, but yet some people have no choose but to rent them as they are cheaper to rent than the nicer ones.
Why, do some of you candidates, want or feel the need to raise the taxes. I think, we pay over our fair share of taxes as it is. If our money wasnt wasted and budgeted more closely, there wouldnt be the need to raise the taxes.
Leave Social Security alone. This is all the money that some people may have to live on in the future as now, and it is not that much money to survive on now. There are many different factors as to why, not every American can afford to pay into a 401K or an IRA. Maybe, they couldnt afford too, or maybe, they were raising children and there wasnt enough left over to invest.
Why, if you are considered disabled are you allowed to collect a check, and still work? This makes no sense to me , if you are able to work, why are you getting a check? I think some of the cases on disability should be looked at much closer. I know some now on disability that are perfectly able to work. I think each case needs to be looked at, much closer. If you are disabled and CANT work, then you get a check but not be able to do both, this only encourages people to try and go on disability.
Go after dead beat parents, who lets the grandparents keep the children, get onto the Schips program, get free meals at school, but both parents, although, divorced are free to work at good decent jobs, and have nice homes, but yet they can still get their children on these free programs, which should go to some child who truly needs it.
How cheap while contractual teachers get all the benefits, retirement, 12 month of the year salary, holiday and vacation pay and if they want the summer teaching jobs.
Don't say subs can find other work that is unrealistic and does not happen to everyone especially after you turn 40 and especially when all the college kids and high school kids are getting summer jobs. It is worse if you have some sort of disability. This law needs to be changed Subs should get unemployment during lay off times trying to live on nothing and to save for summer months on below minimum wage income on call part time is very hard and famlies of subs suffer especially if he/she is the ONLY income of the family. Why has this unfair, unequal law been allowed to remain. It is unethical too. It should not happen and it is especially unfair to older people who had to retrain for work due to downsizing and lost jobs or who were injured on the job and have to suppliment SSD and are punished if they work too much but yet not enough. required to put in long term subbing for getting a contract but punished if your work too much by SSD even one month though the chances are you won't get hired full time anyplace after 40 full time or make decent money. Then you require in some states anyway for subs to keep their certification to pay out of pocket or more credit or clock hours out of income they don't have so either have to borrow and go further into debt and these people cannot even pay their student loans because the system is corrupt.
Where is the equality here? The justice?
We have no retirement and some of us are baby boomers and near retirement with nothing to retire on especially now your going to give SS to illegal aliens from an already broken over burdern social security system we worked for depleteting it even more.
How dare you give illegal aliens Social Security but tell USA American HOMEMAKERS your only worth 1/2 your spouses retirement income and why don't homemakers have equal rights to all other workers in the USA? Why should we not get paid for childcare and home care? You pay someone else if the homemaker goes to work to care for her/his children and they pay as well only where is the profit in working if it is all eaten up in child care and gas and commuting.
We are a messed up nation and bandaids and promises broken ain't gonna fix it ever. We need a new turn over totally. New parties. I see America going more and more back to the old feudal system of the Rich and Moneyed Gentry vs the Poor and down trodden peons and workers. Greed, big buisness, pharmacudicals, doctors, higher education professionals ;lawyers all getting ahead and the rest going down hill.
What can really be done about public education to improve students learning, safety, and overall experience? I love some of the schools and teachers I have dealt with, but it still seems like there is so much room for improvement. It seems like whenever reform is talked about, people start talking about all these studies, and it kills me that so much money is spent on compiling all this date instead of really looking at each school individually.
What do you think the one most important and needed change to healthcare is? What about medical insurance? Medication costs?
Our healthcare as it is now really stinks and i know there is not one cure that will work for all, but what do you propose to do to get healthcare out there to those that cannot afford health care and do not qualify for state aid at this time....
Our economy is going down fast... I know the same goes for a lot of places, but here in Michigan, the job market has gone away from the state, leaving many without jobs and losing their homes... what can you do to change the fact that there are not enough jobs here in the US.
With people moving so frequently now looking for work, I know there is the no child left behind which is actually a joke, but what are you going to do to make education more uniform across the nation and not based on just by communities?
The illusion of democracy is one of the most clever schemes ever devised by the power hungry. Our (we lesser mortals) only option is, before we're completely turned into slaves, to refuse to participate in this charade until we dismantle this two-party system that allows our rulers complete autonomy.
First, what steps will you take to secure our borders? This is a serious national security issue. I noticed one poster had questioned our "war on Islam"...well, radical Islamists began this war with us, not the other way around. People seem to have forgotten 9/11, and the lesser attacks that took place over the decades before it. I want a president who will ensure that every measure is being taken to stop the flow of illegal immigrants, many of whom could be terrorists, into our country. What will you do?
Second, what will you do to curb the growth of the federal government and get it back within its constitutional boundaries? It has mushroomed into a huge, bureaucratic mess that is taking on all sorts of things it was never intended to do. Government never seems to do anything efficiently, and every issue it takes on becomes a disaster. One experience with Medicare or Medicaid should be enough to convince any American that socialized medicine for everyone is a bad idea. We need to put control of our lives and our futures back into the hands of the people, and not in the hands of out-of-touch bureaucrats and politicians in Washington. That means backing the federal government out of things better left handled at the state and local levels, or by private industry and individuals. What are your thoughts on ways this can be accomplished?
This question ties in with the last: what will you do to curb Congress' lust for spending our hard-earned money? Eliminating wasteful federal programs will help, but power and money tend to go hand-in-hand in Washington. The P.R. battle to fight cutbacks in social services that are not the Constitutional business of the federal government will be a tough one. What tools will you use to fight it, and how can individual Americans who are informed and care about this issue help?
What do you think is the best method to move away from an income tax, which punishes achievement, and toward a consumption tax like the Fair Tax? This will be another huge P.R. battle, as it will remove a lot of the power held by politicians who control tax dollars and the lobbyists who seek to influence them. These are very powerful interests that will be in opposition to any changes in the current tax system. So I'd like to know how you'd approach this, and what the average citizen can do to help eliminate the income tax.
While there is no "constitutional guarantee" of the "separation of church and state", as another poster claimed, there is one that prevents the establishment of any official religion for the United States. What will you do to curb the efforts of the secular humanists who are making every effort possible to prevent others from practicing their religion as they see fit, thus "establishing" secular humanism as the country's "official" religion? This concerns me greatly, not only for my fellow Christians, but for Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and any others who have faith in a higher power than Mankind to guide us through this life.
What will you do to decrease America's dependence on foreign oil? As long as our main supplier of the fuel that runs our economy is the Middle East, they will continue to hold this country by the short hairs. We must tap into our own oil resources, as well as develop alternative energy sources (and not ethanol, which our cars are not designed to use efficiently, or water-based systems, which use another scarce resource we need to sustain life itself) to prepare for our eventual future without fossil fuels. What steps will you take to make these things happen?
What do you see as our next step in eradicating the Islamic radicals whose primary goal in life seems to be to kill as many Americans as possible? These people view diplomacy as a sign of weakness, and have proven their lack of credibility countless times in the past. They laugh at U.N. resolutions and sanctions, and only seem to understand force. If they are not completely vanquished, they will continue to rise again and bring their battle to our shores. Our presence in Iraq has focused their efforts there, but they are undoubtedly continuing to lay groundwork for future attacks on our own soil. What are your thoughts on how best to keep them from carrying out such attacks? And what pressure should be be putting on the more moderate factions within Islam to get their brethren to back off?
How will you deal with the growing pressure to adopt measures against global warming that are mainly designed to take money from the United States and give it to an international bureaucracy that will be as rife with corruption as the U.N., the International Olympic Committee, and every other of such do-good groups? While it's true that Mankind has an impact on the environment, we are phenomenally vain to think that our impact is greater than the natural forces that have existed on this planet since its birth. Many scientists are skeptical that Man is the cause of the earth's current warming trend, yet many Americans still believe that we are the primary cause of it. How will you educate people on this issue?
And, finally, what will you do to re-instill a sense of hope in the American people? This used to be viewed as the land of opportunity, and people all over the world are still clamoring to come here. But our own population seems to view this country as a giant teat off which they are intent on suckling. Too few have aspirations to achieve any semblance of greatness on their own and fail to see the many opportunities that present themselves every day. How will you inspire Americans to see this country for the great land it is and seize those opportunities, both for themselves and for our nation?
I doubt that any of the candidates will address any of these real issues, but these are things that real Americans care about, and they need to be addressed. Thank you!