Let's talk real issues

Barbara Simpson
Posted: November 26, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern




As the pre-pre-campaign campaigning winds down to caucus crunches and early primaries, the critical campaign issues should finally get real attention.

Campaign managers, consultants and the proliferation of frothing pundits have missed the boat.

The views of the American citizens matter, and those concerns are forcing their way to the surface. Candidates who avoid them will fail. Being a footnote in history isn't on their agenda.

The problem is, the meat and potatoes issues concerning Americans today, aren't on their agenda either.

They'll soon face the reality that the American people will elect our next president. Their concerns need the attention – not those of academic utopians, gutter-mentality politicians pandering to the lowest denominator, and certainly not one-world internationalists who tout the key to the future of mankind.

Perhaps, even the geniuses who plan the ridiculous "debates" we've been subjected to, will realize there are issues Americans consider vital.

First, Americans know George Bush isn't running for election – or even re-election!

Yet, candidates are running against the president. Almost in unison, the Democrats rage and rant about alleged failures of the Republican administration. There's a constant drumbeat for change; we're not on the right road; more must be spent on social issues; and oh yes, get the troops home now.

Not much detail on how – or what happens if we do – or where to get the money – or how it'll be spent. We do hear government must do more because that's what government does.

They say what they think we want to hear.

It's base political pandering.

The anti-Bush campaign isn't as obvious on the GOP side; after all, they're in the same party. But the subtle message is "we'll do better than George."

Democrats don't have a lock on crass pandering.


I don't move in those elite political circles which claim to know what issues the people want addressed, but I know average Americans – in varied cities, states and economic levels.

Candidates might be surprised at what those people say. Their issues are specific but because there wasn't an "official" poll, the list isn't in order of preference.

Jobs – the overall economy, trade, protection of American production and personal income. They want to know why the banking industry was allowed the lending excesses leading to the mortgage blowout. It's feeding recession concerns.

Americans aren't isolationists but they want to know why virtually nothing is 'Made In America."

Why has the American industrial base virtually disappeared? Why are our jobs disappearing? Why are foreign interests allowed to buy U.S. industries? Why are we so dependent on foreign producers for basic goods?

Trade/Product Contamination – Americans are furious about contaminated food and other products from foreign manufacturers, some sold under American labels. Our children are threatened by contaminated toys, jewelry and even lunch-boxes, and our domestic pets are maimed and killed by such laxity.

They're angry our excellent food quality has been contaminated by the lax standards of foreign countries and the seemingly casual inspection standards by the U.S. government agencies supposedly protecting our health and safety.

We have contaminated packaged foods and tainted produce causing serious/fatal illnesses. Why? Why is no one held responsible?

Americans don't buy the line we need to learn to accept it.

Medical Care and Health are important but it's a politically manufactured "crisis." Americans aren't screaming for the government to get more involved in their health care.

Most Americans have dealt with insurance company bureaucracy and their usurpation of medical decisions from physicians.

Do doctors feel they control their practice? No, and it's getting worse.

Ask patients how it feels to argue with an insurance company about treatment.

The system is distorted.

Free market choice is needed. If people could buy personal policies with their choice of coverage and physicians were free to diagnose and prescribe as medically appropriate, the system would work.

It's OK if people don't buy insurance. If they have medical bills, they'll have to pay them, just as they do any other personal expense. When they need insurance, they'll buy it. It worked before. Insurance company and government interference ruined it with too many fingers in the money pie, increasing prices and shortchanging doctors and patients.

Illegal immigration – Thousands of communities and hospitals are stretched financially because of illegals getting free medical care; taxpayers foot the bill.

The virtually unlimited benefits given to illegals burden every level of society – medical, educational, social services, jobs, housing, food, law enforcement, the penal system and more. The hot button issues of driver's licenses and sanctuary for illegals as well as border security are given lip service.

As liberal legislators, judges and lawyers protect illegals, the real costs are paid by the hard-working, middle class already stressed by the other money issues candidates avoid.

Education/schools – The soaring costs of education, the plummeting achievement levels, the climbing dropout rate and the basic ignorance of graduates are shameful. More money is not the answer.

Terrorism/the war – Ultimately, Americans know that nothing else matters if our national security isn't secure. Americans know Islamic terrorism is real and we've been targets across the world, including on 9/11 and now, in Iraq.

Americans know the real battle there is for our country and Western security. They know withdrawal is surrender. They don't accept that betrayal of our troops and our country.

Candidates dance around the issue and play money games with the troop funding.

Americans know better.

Ultimately voters will demand answers to the real issues of the election, which have nothing to do with a candidate's skin color, sex, religion, or marital history.

Americans know better.

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