Is this election about substantive political philosophy, track record and proof of ability, or is it about entertainment and personality? I want to know answers. It's getting tedious watching and reading about thinly-veiled put-downs and what has become a continuous dart game. Talk to me about how you're going to solve the huge problems the current administration has either created, or exacerbated.
What steps will you take to resolve labor and trade issues and ensure consumer protection? No matter how nationalistic and patriotic we are, the truth is, our United States are part of the global market, and we will be held accountable for how fairly we play in it. What are our elected leaders going to do to protect consumers -- including children -- from unhealthy products?
What will be done to mitigate rising food costs? At a time when unpredictable climate changes are negatively affecting crop yields, and the fact that it has become more profitable for some farmers to switch from producing eatable staples like soybeans to growing corn for bio-fuel, what are your plans for how we -- one of the most prosperous nations on the planet, can continue to help the World Food Program feed a hungry global populace?
What will you do -- not posturing, but concrete plans -- to mend our international relationships and forge realistic alliances? Foremost in our minds of course, is Iraq -- but what about the ongoing struggle in Afghanistan, and the volatile political climate in Pakistan?
In a world where nuclear power is a reality and nuclear warfare is a threat, what will you do to contain such threats? What is your strategy for our dealings with Latin America, and how can we build our relationships with Russia, and China? How will you help make peace in the Middle East, and what can you do to support the peaceful efforts of Israel -- our one democratic ally in that region?
National security and battling terrorism are not only crucial concerns, they are existential. What will you do to correct past mistakes and ensure the ongoing safety of our citizens and our borders?
My list of questions goes on to include such national concerns as, affordable ubiquitous healthcare, education, infrastructure updates, ecology, a fair system of taxation, guest worker permits, and disaster preparedness. Obviously, there are more.
I care very little about how many pizzas and food platters the candidates for president of our country have purchased, or how much they've spent on advertising. I am seriously worried about the mess that has been made of the world we live in, and what I really care about is what our candidates are prepared to do about it.
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But quality is not an substantive issue with HIllary surrogates, that is plainly and painfully obvious.
Easily done, Saban...buy yourself a computer if that pleases you. On it, you will find all the answers to your questions in, I estimate, about fifteen minutes....Simply by looking at their websites, the medium of choice for the candidates themselves, and looking it up what positions on nearly everything you mentioned.
Has anyone ever told you that you are whining, "we don't know, we don't know" while you could be figuring things out. Better still, run for office yourself or support someone who is.
Good Luck.
I have a solution. REALLY, REALLY TRULY help out family farmers. I live in rural Kansas and have worked (temporarily) at the USDA office in our county seat. I've seen ag-program checks that come through ranging from the silly ($3) to the obscene.
Unfortunately, it is the family farmers who get the silly checks, while large entities get the massive payouts. The farmers I know work very hard; most of them work 2 jobs. I know of some families in which BOTH partners have full time jobs and farm during their off hours. They endure awful weather at both ends of the spectrum and are paid a pittance. Most would like to do more, but unless you have money to start with, there are definate limits to what you can produce.
A safe, environmentally friendly, sustainable, domestic agriculture industry needs diversity. The recent beef controversy in California is simply MORE proof that large companies are more interested in the bottom line than the quality of the products they produce.
Agri-business giants have had a lock on the money from Washington, and, at their whim, they can manipulate the market, especially now that bio-diesel is playing a part. You want to see market competition? Broaden the market, and, at the same time, bring some relief to families that need it.
I think it's possible to redistribute the monies currently alloted for agriculture in a way that would achieve this for us: safer, more reliable food production and relief for working families. All you have to do is pry that money out of the cold hands of the big agri-business.
Not holding my breath. *sigh*
I suggest you go to every candidates web site and write them. I also suggest you to to the house and senate web sites and write everyone who you can. (My experience is that some will take your comments no matter where you live - and some will take comments from only constituents.) I have found that I get answers when I write. Especially from one Illinois Senator who used to write his own responses, he may be preoccupied at the moment... but email seems to get attention. (Believe it or not.)
Eloquently expressed indeed, yet I must say there is a great deal more to it than that, one person or any given administration lead by that person will be of little consequence, We, the People will have to not only support our next leader but get our hands dirty pitching in, make no mistake about it. Agape.