What will be the hot button issues in 2006 and 2008? Border security, health care, social security, abortion, gay marriage, the deficit, corruption, the Iraq war, terrorism, poverty, taxes, lobbyist reform? Which are most important to you and why?
137492
Unless someone can shift the focus (or Congress can pass a compromise bill), Border Security and the Iraq occupation (both terrorism issues) will probably dominate the political landscape. \n\nSomething *has* been done about health care and social security in the most recent term; making it more of a local issue. If people in the district are extremely for or against the recent reforms, it will play locally. Abortion will also have play locally; but unless there's a ramp-up in the anti-abortion forces, or another outbreak of violence surrounding clinics it's a secondary issue.\n\nNobody in Washington wants to talk about corruption, lobbyist reform, the growing deficit or taxes; so it's an issue for the opposition.\n\nAs a minister, the biggest issue for me is gay marriage. To me, a government prohibition on gay marriage is equivalent to saying "People born on Tuesday can't take Holy Communion."
365723
These three should give you perspectives from a few angles.\n\nhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/\n\nhttp://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=16391\n\nhttp://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=7052
552871
An internal cold war is a good description of it....I hope we can focus on the issues rather than a 'tit for tat' struggle between Dems and Reps
410463
I'd say one of the most pressing issues would include the US occupation of Iraq.  I'm sure you can find lots of historical data and speculations about the future conclusion.
76169
Country would be 2008 presidential elections. My state (South Carolina) will have its next elections June 2006. Most of my local elections will be this year too.
373930
At last some Common Sense!!! Thats what this country need-a bit of common sense!! \n\nYou have my vote already!
476440
It all depends upon how much the majority holds.  In this one, it was HUGELY important, because the democrats now control the house (and I am not sure if they got the senate too - but I think so) which means while the president is important, the opposing party now controls the purse strings.\n\nIt probably is more important during the second term of a president, because that is historically when power shifts (did during clinton's etc.)  Mid term elections during the first term of a president are important, but probably just as important as a presidential election.\n\nHope this helps.
384339
Really the only issue Im concerned with is the No smoking in restraunts. \nI vote for who I think will do the best job, no matter what party they are with .
578794
i also dont want to start a fight, and i do feel that the immigration issue is one of importance, typically, these types of issues are only brought up when things are going badly for whoever is in the whitehouse. lately, gay marriage and illegal immigration have been the big ones. "dont pay attn to iraq right now, THERES GAYS TRYING TO MARRY, AND MEXICANS CROSSING THE BORDER!!!!!" \n\nand its not just this cabinet that has done this, these tactics have been around for a long time. \n\nthey've also used the terror alert level (that color code thing that means nothing to anyone).
381572
More young people need to get involved in the whole campaign, voting process.  I really believe the focus should be to address internal local issues, like education and drugs.  Two areas that definitely impact America's youth.
134050
depends on who you're talking about.\n\nregardless of nominee, i would assume global warming would be a major issue.  healthcare usually is also.  any nominee worth their salt would have to have clear and seemingly effective strategy of iraq, and how to fix what Bush&co have done to screw the pooch over there.\n\nif you're looking for someone to keep your eye on, i'd suggest feingold.  he's articulate, comes from the midwest, and isn't a pussyfoot liberal or a demo-publican like many of the democratic party.\n\nbesides that, barak obama is perhaps the best and most refreshing politican alive today.  if he'd run for president in '08, i'd vote for him 20 times.  he's just introduced a bipartisian bill to have federal spending listed on the internet.  so basically, when the congress approves a bill, you'd be able to track how it got spent.  what a concept, eh?  too bad we have to babysit most politicians.
127838
THere are a lot more important issues than the abortion issue.  That was the platform that got the republican supporters in an uproar to the extent that they couldn't see the real damage being done to this country.  It's just a smoke screen, no matter who uses it and which side their on in the issue.  Abortion isn't going to matter is GWB starts WWIII, we'll all be dead.
134529
The single biggest issue facing the US at the moment is the ability of Tel Aviv to control US foreign policy in the Middle East. AIPAC is immasculating US congressmen and silencing detractors with accusations of anti-semitism.\nAmerica is prosecuting a conflict at the behest of Israel... This is making a mockery of the most powerful democracy in the world and showing Americas Achilles Heel to all of her enemies.\n\nI think this ranks as the most important issue facing that country at the moment.
500492
1. What was the last election in which you voted? Why did you vote?  I voted in this past November election, and I did because I ALWAYS vote.\n\n2. Were you satisfied with the voting choices in the election?  Somewhat.  Though my local election didn't go as I'd hoped, I'm happy with the Democrats in Congress.\n\n3. In what party do you align yourself?  Democratic.\n\n4. Does party selection influence your vote? If so, to what extent?  Yes it does---I'd NEVER vote Republican.  \n\n5. Please list/explain 3 key issues that link you to the party you claim.  1) They're NOT Republicans.....\n\n6. What do you think are the 3 most important issues facing voters today? (examples can include abortion, homeland security, international trade, stem cell research, environment, etc.)  The war, human rights (same-sex marriage & women's rights), and yes, the environment.\n\n\n7. Please list/explain 3 issues you think the other party has gotten wrong.  1)  Using "Christianity" and "good morals" as a save-all, 2) Trying to ban same-sex marriages (human rights-hello?), 3) EVERYTHING.\n\n22 \nFemale\nJunior in college (journalism)\nNon-religious\nOffice clerk
649263
I'm a liberal and I really don't care... that's not one of my party's "core issues"... it's like saying "why do all conservatives want to be able to own automatic weapons?"... many conservatives don't care about automatic weapons.... some do...\n\nit's a fringe issue and not really what's important right now...
623797
You have a lot on your list! I think education is very important too, and I would vote for it, but it seems the laws just create more paperwork for teachers and don't create better outcomes. So I think that gets stricken off my list of considerations.\n\nI would definitely vote on a President that is good for the economy - it's #1 on my list! I think America's financial well-being determines everything else that we can do.\n\nNow, I would put environmental protection high up on the list too, because America has fallen way behind the rest of the world with that. First, there's the aesthetic value of the environment - protect the parks, you have some place to take your kids, enjoy a picnic, have fresh air, great scenery! Then, there is the practical value - the less pollutants we have to expose our bodies to, then the better our health will be. In a way, there's a financial aspect too, especially if we ever invest in the research for a viable alternative energy source.\n\nAs far as healthcare goes, I would emphasize preventive health care only. It would be beneficial in the long-term to prevent uninsured people from having small preventable problems turning into bigger, more expensive problems that cost a lot in unpaid medical bills (that ultimately must be absorbed by higher costs to other patients). I don't think health care should be completely taken over by the government, because the government can easily bungle it all up... So I think preventive medicine for uninsured people is a compromise that would save money in the long-run while avoiding too much government involvement in health care.\n\nAside fom that, I would vote on a candidate that emphasizes retaining as much freedom to the individual to live his/her life as he/she chooses. I do not support frivolous legislation that attempts to interfere with people's personal lives.
562015
Let's see, in 2004 Bush ran promising a gay marriage amendment. He got elected, and when he announced his post-election agenda, gay marriage wasn't even on it! Now, 2 years later, it's an election year, and the Congress is talking about gay marriage. And, of course, flag-burning. They trot this little horse and pony show out every two years, take a vote that doesn't pass for a problem that doesn't exist, and then smugly act like they are uber-patriots, instead of merely incompetent lawmakers.\n\nHonestly, I don't think there has been a single incident of flag-burning in 30 years. How dumb would you have to be to think this is an important issue? Of course, how dumb would you have to be to vote Republican to begin with?