Here's My Take: Your Top Three Issues

"Here's My Take" gives you an opportunity to present your view, opinion, or choice in a way that blog comment sections and op-eds don't permit. It's a new format! And a new way for you to engage others in the HuffPost community. We'll publish peoples' submissions on HuffPost's OffTheBus as part of the "Here's My Take" feature. Check out the last edition, "My Ideal Administration," to see what it looks like.

Think of it as a citizen think-tank -- a series of discussions, each one focused on a single issue or scenario. This idea came to me after editing op-eds for OffTheBus and moderating comments for HuffPost. Got ideas for ways to make it better? I'm open to them -- email me at [e-mail]. Don't have time, but want to participate later? Join OffTheBus.

HERE'S MY TAKE: TAKE #2

QUESTION: EXCLUDING the economy, what are the top three issues you'd like to see the incoming administration address and what would you have the administration do about them, why? I am excluding the economy from this discussion based on the assumption that this is the top issue for all of us, but feel free to tie your top issues to the economy as appropriate.

SUBMIT YOUR ANSWER: Submit your answer using this form on Survey Monkey.

DEADLINE: Midnight Monday, October 13

DISCUSS: OffTheBus's op-ed editors will format and publish your submissions, as well as a quick post on the most popular and interesting picks sent in. Everyone who participated will be notified when the feature goes up.

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Here's My Take -- Jennifer Bogut:
I know....all issues eventually return to the economy. I get it; however, there are other issues which need to be examined and discussed. Using this as a base understanding for this exercise, here are the "other" issues I place at the top of my list.

Iraq/Afghanistan:
We need to get the BLEEP out of Iraq, move a portion of those troops into Afghanistan and bring the rest back home. I believe that America needs to make a good faith effort to find and capture Osama Bin Laden. Our system of justice is one of the characteristics that has made us characterized the U.S. among the nation's of the world. I truly believe that by trying Bin Laden we send the message that you can attack us but you CANNOT take away what makes the United States the world's beacon.

Of course, by stopping the torrent of dollars into Iraq, we can begin to pay back the money we borrowed -- remember that debt? I hope that we will also be able to begin the healing process -- both politically and economically.

Energy Independence:
Here is where those "strong economic fundamentals" can be featured. Senator McCain claims he meant the "American worker and American ingenuity" when he said "the fundamentals" of our economy are strong. Using the Senator's parameters, we can all be even MORE patriotic, then, by engaging these resources.

We must get the oil monkey off our backs wherever possible. Electric and hybrid cars, geo-thermal, solar and wind all present huge opportunities for the U.S. to lead both in use and in innovation and development. We are America, dag-nab-it.... let us act like it and roll on this!

Of course, by kick-starting these industries, we add jobs and begin to produce something we can export again, thereby saving our economy. As it is now, we do not make anything ... we consume. We dug ourselves out of the first depression by exporting product, not rhetoric.

Civil Rights:
Guantanamo Bay, Habeas Corpus, Wiretapping and the "Patriot" Act all have eroded the civil rights and protections that we are all entitled to in this country. As Benjamin Franklin said so aptly, "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

We will not be able to fight this "war" on terrorism as the current administration would like but we will be able to hold our heads up again as America. The psychological impact of that is as effective -- if not more so -- than most of the procedures we now endure under this "protective blanket." When those planes hit their targets -- and a field in PA -- on September 11, 2001, the entire world was unequivocally on our side. No ifs, ands or buts....everyone was a New Yorker, a Washingtonian or a Pennsylvanian. There was an overwhelming "Oh no you didn't" from all corners of the planet.

However, I would argue that, since Bush used all of this goodwill to bully both us and the rest of the world, now we "can talk to the collective hand." The only way for us to regain world respect and -- more importantly -- domestic respect, hope and pride is for us to repeal the laws, tear up the signing statements and pull the plug on these tyrannical policies.

Of course, by merely resetting our civil priorities to those of eight years ago we begin to rebuild goodwill that allows other nations to be more willing to help us and to support our products or services.

So...what is your take? What do you want to see the next administration focus on? Submit your answer using this form on Survey Monkey.

Comments

[BlueGorilla]

Where is "equality"as an issue in American politics !?I am aware that the mere mention of the word ,sends shivers down the spine of the post- McCarthy US body politic.Liberals banish the word,for fear,of being branded communists,and the right are waiting to jump on the liberals.
The gap between the top and bottom,and the top and middle of society,has grown astronomically as tax cuts,welfare squeezes,low wages,anti-union legislation and state giveaways for the rich have marked the post Reagan years.On top of this ,the American dream is 99.999% myth,as the mentally unspectacular son of an ex-President,acheives success well beyond his abilities.In contrast the sons and daughters of the poor,are likely to occupy the same class position as their parents.
Not only is this a waste of talent,but it also destroys communities,as crime, pays better than work.Crumbling schools, are too frequently, centre's of low expectations,and one's life span is drastically shortened,if you are unfortunate enough to be born into the working class,and increasingly the middle.
Inequality is the driving force, of many other ills of US society ,from crime to economic underperformance.Let us not forget ,that it is the poorest and blackest who disproportionately sacrifice lives ,in the rich mens wars,.Perhaps less soldiers would be found,if the class/education system worked more equally..not enough soldiers? hmm not a bad idea.
Democracy needs an educated,aware electorate also ,so as to balance tyranny .and an education system which fails the masses,fails democracy too.

[BluePride]

republican pirates pillage and plunder: But, it's the dems fault 'cause they've had congress for two years...??? BOTH have culpability, albeit, repubs much, much more...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZsLva3C4pU

but seriously: We DON'T Need Another HERO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKVBq4VbC6w

[Britishdemocrat]

There is no doubt that the economy will go into a depression. I now believe that we are in a recession but it is only a matter of time before the omens of the 1930s return to haunt us. It will be slow and painful, unemployment could go up by as much as 15 or 20 per cent. There will be millions without homes and rioting in the street, resulting in total social breakdown. I have heard a lot from people that there won't be a depression but they can't prove to me that this is the case. With so many of our huge companies going under - and who would have thought GM merging with Chrystler, that I can only say we must be heading for unknown territory.

[NotMcCain]

I agree, pretty much.

Ending the war. UNDOING the damage we've done to people's lives by violating both the Geneva Conventions and our own Constitution.

My third is Kyoto Treaty and other actions to reduce the efffects of global warming--and restore environmental protections that Bush has eroded.

That narrowly edges out health care reform to me. And developing alternative sources of energy would be more important for me than energy independence. I'm not an advocate of drilling off the coast, popular though that's become lately. Let's do more with solar and wind instead.

[clr2]

What about ILLEGAL ALIENS? We spend BILLIONS in CA alone to educate and provide health care to people who don't belong here. We need to use this money on our own poor.

[CousinJimmy]

Drill baby drill. All of the above. Clean coal, coal to oil, nuclear, wind. We need a crutch until I get my flying car that runs on hydrogen that was promised to me in cartoons when I was kid (Jetsons).

All of the above. We get off oil and the thugs in the Middle East economies go to hell. 2 birds with one stone folks.

[zrants]

McCain forgets a lot of things. He forget to pay taxes on his California properties, and has trouble remembering how many houses he owns. Now it appears he forgot to declare some casino winnings a few years ago and forgot to pay taxes on them. He even forget his opponent's name during the last debate, referring to him as "that". Makes you wonder what he does remember. Also makes you question what he says.

[krocklin]

Well said. Simply resetting policies back to 2000 would accomplish half of it.

[Jennifer Bogut - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks, I agree but it's a nice start!

[officewag]

Well said.

I agree with you on the disgrace of Gitmo, domestic wiretapping, the need for alternative energy, and for capturing OBL. I worry that Afghanistan/tribal territories of Pak stan could prove to be a Hindu Kiush quagmire for our fighters.
Diplomacy on this front, help with education and development, and a wary eye on the corrupt leaders of Pakistan would be a good start.

[Jennifer Bogut - Huffpost Blogger]

Well said right back at ya! We are going to need all resurces going forward......