With all that seems to face us every day, it seems important to get a grip on prioritizing what it is we should do about them, and -- more importantly -- in what order.
Any order would be better than the paralyzing lack of order or effort we see in our present-day representatives in government. Rate the following issues with (1) being the MOST IMPORTANT and (8) being the LEAST IMPORTANT. Tell us why you rated them the way you did.
A. High Gas Prices
B. Energy alternatives
C. War on Terror
D. War in Iraq
E. High Food Prices
F. Illegal Immigration
G. Global warming
H. Health care availability and costs
I. Other not mentioned here
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A sense of urgency -- what's yours?
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6 comments:
My opinion:
1. (C)War on Terror
2. (F)Illegal Immigration
3. (D)War in Iraq
4. (B)Energy Alternatives
5. (A)High Gas Prices
6. (H)Health Care Availability & Costs
7. (E)High Food Prices
8. (G)Global Warming
I believe that the most important issues today are those related to national security, and so my top choices are the War on Terror and Illegal Immigration...we have to remain vigilant in defending ourselves from enemies "both foreign and domestic". The War in Iraq is an issue of national security, in my opinion, because we have a large number of soldiers overseas and that weakens us at home. We need to hurry to get the job done in Iraq.
Next comes Energy Alternatives because finding those alternatives is important NOW so that we can have energy LATER (thanks to Steve from Apple Hill for a little education this past weekend).
Now from the bottom up, Global Warming is the least of the problems listed here. Our planet has plenty of resources left and we'll be just fine.
High Food Prices are tied in to the energy problems, so if we fix the energy problems we fix High Food Prices.
Health care is important, but it's something that we the people can do something about, i.e. eating healthier, avoiding fast food, balancing diets, getting exercise, etc. I think a lot of the problems in health care stem from American apathy towards their own bodies. If those of us who can choose a healthier lifestyle would just do it, I think prices would come down for those who really do need significant help and care.
They are all important and will weigh in on the decisions in the next election.
Global warming is probably at the bottom of the list right now because people don't see the immediate threat. It is like of like smoking in that regards.
The health care is not an issue to people who have it well subsidized by their employers. The typical good family plan for people who are not covered is over $1,000 per month. Perhaps we need to take the burden off of the employer to make people really understand the true costs of healthcare. It might sink in then.
1.High Gas Prices
2.Energy Alternatives
3.High Food Prices
4.Health Care Availability & Costs
5.Global Warming
6.War in Iraq
7.War in Iraq
8.Illegal Immigration
"It's the economy stupid" i think I heard that before.
I'm going with Healthcare costs.
When I was 25, it was the last thing on my mind. Now I'm 59 and it's #1. Funny how perspectives and priorites change as we get older.
Anyhow, I'd be satisfied if our elected officials did SOMETHING about ANY of the items on your list. How 'bout that?
Put a dart board up in the Capital with all of the issues on it. Pull somebody in off the street and let them throw a dart at the board. Whatever it hits, CONCENTRATE ON THAT ONE AND DON'T STOP UNTIL A REASONABLE SOLUTION IS AGREED UPON. Then move on to the next one. There you go.
1. Healthcare availability and costs
Solution: Shut down the FDA and repeal any and all laws favoring the AMA. "Consumer Reports" types of organizations would begin to crop up, providing a market-based regulation of the industry without taxing us for its administrative costs. Accreditors would also appear (like Underwriter Labs, the folks who put their stamp of approval on light bulbs), giving consumers confidence in the drugs or care providers they underwrite.
Note: (Bonus points for enacting a federal law requiring the loser to pay the winner's legal fees in any and all healthcare-related lawsuits.
2. High gas prices
Solution: Repeal all taxes on fossil fuels, and all laws regulating the oil industry.
Note: This will go a long way in helping with E. [High Food Prices]. Bonus points for selling ANWR to the highest bidder and allowing unrestricted drilling. (If they own it, they'll be more likely to want to preserve it.)
3. War in Iraq
Isn't it over? I thought we won that one, and set up a new government over there. Let's bring our troops home and treat Iraq as the sovereign nation it is, rather than as a U.S. Territory.
Note: Bonus points for closing down military bases in the other 129 nations we presently occupy, redeploying those troops to bases along our borders (addressing F. [Illegal Immigration]), and lowering our taxes by the amount thus saved.
4. War on Terror
End it, along with the War on Drugs and the War on Poverty. Wars against concepts never work, they only create money-sucking government agencies that rob the nation's citizens of their liberties. If there's a particular nation to war against, Congress should declare war, nuke the place and let us get on with our lives.
5. Energy alternatives
Butt out. Maize-based Ethanol leads to lower fuel efficiency and, due to the law of supply and demand, higher prices on all corn-based products (from processed foods made with high fructose corn syrup to meat & dairy--because cows eat corn). Let the free market determine the best energy alternatives, whether they be biofuels, electricity, nuclear power, or hemp-derived ethanol (talk about cheap to grow and refine... it's a weed, for crying out loud!).
6. Global warming
...is most likely caused by increased output from the Sun, rather than human activity. Leave "We the People" alone, and go try to regulate the Sun's output instead.
Note: Bonus points for cutting the NOAA's funding unless they move their climate tracking stations away from parking lots and air conditioners, so they can actually measure the climate. False positives don't help anybody.
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Hey, lookit that: I combined issues and cleared up three slots! ;)
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7. Go for the gold
Inflation (that's increasing the money supply; the inevitable price hikes are actually the result of inflation) essentially robs the average Joe and lines the pockets of bankers. Return the U.S. Dollar to its former gold-backed glory, and watch the economy begin to restabilize.
8. Shut down the IRS
The ultimate tax break: end the Federal Income Tax and all other IRS-administered taxes. If taxes are needed (unlikely, but possible), tax state governments and U.S. territories on a per-capita basis.
9. Phase out all Federal welfare
Shut down any national welfare agencies possible, and transfer oversight of the remaining programs to state and local governments.
IMO,
Priorities
1. War on Terror/War in Iraq. Referring to them separately is like attempting to separate the War in the Pacific from World War II.
2. Illegal Immigration.
3. High Gas Prices/Energy alternatives. Remove excessive government regulations that prohibit drilling where oil exist and allow the free market and ingenuity of a free society to what it does best. Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less.
4. High Food Prices. (See #3 above) Lower fuel prices will mean lower food prices. Burning oil and not corn will mean lower food prices. The absence of governmental interference and the potential for financial gain will motivate investors and inventors to find cheaper was to produce food. Eli Whitney wasn't a government program.
None Priorities
1. Health care availability and costs. Health care, child care, health insurance, and auto insurance are not a responsibility of the government, but personal responsibilities of a free people.
2. Global warming. Gen 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." If man did not and can not create it, then how arrogant is man to think that he can destroy it.
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