The most pressing issue

[Prophet 451]

Poll question: The most pressing issue

A hypothetical situation:
It's January 2009. The new president and new Senate have just been sworn in. The Dems consolidated their Senate gains of 2006 and added quite a few more, the new President is a Democrat (pick your favourite candidate). Day one of the new administration was ordering investigations of the Bush junta and getting the hell out of Iraq. Now, it's day two, what should be top of the agenda?

[Ron Green]

1. If "associated issues" with global warming means

sustainability, energy independence, agriculture reform, etc., then that's got to be the one. It's about survival of humans on the planet.

[Prophet 451]

3. That's exactly what it means

There just isn't enough space to include all that as an option.

[leftofthedial]

2. unfortunately, without campaign finance reform

and media reform,

the most urgent issues, global warming and health care, won't get fixed

[Swamp Rat]

4. Catagory 5 hurricane-proof levees

if we make it to January 2009.

[pennylane100]

5. Without media reform

we can not attain any of our goals. Control the media, control the message.

[Parisle]

6. Prophet,... with a nod of approval to your poll...

--- (Most DU polls are silly, but this one has a crucial point behind it) Might it not be that part of our political and governmental myopia in recent years has resulted from a prioritization of individual issues (or just choosing "favorites"), and failing to put all the pieces together into a program consistent with "the most important PRINCIPLE of American governance?" I have always looked upon single-issue debate, issue-based factionalism... and the MSM's handling of disparate issues coverage as a MEANS whereby the overall population gets distracted into ineffectual squabbling,... missing the greater overall principle, if you will,.. and the real underlying power of We the People becomes diluted by the deliberate machinations of media, political and corporate interests. Look, for example, at all the premature and superfluous jabbering re: "Hillary vs. Obama," when the philosophical proceeds of that wasted-effort discussion mean only that important issues will be overlooked.

--- So to answer your question,.. the most pressing matter is to see to it that the power of "one man - one vote" is the true law of the land and the over-riding principle of American government,.... but on Day 2 of a new administration, I'd like to see about fifty former administration officials, PNAC members and their corporate enablers placed into indefinite detention. If we don't severely punish the neocons, then we have gained nothing.

[Prophet 451]

8. Point well taken

The death of (for lack of a batter term) "joined-up policies" has enabled a lot of division. However, even if we intend to create a new framework, ala the New Deal, the nature of political discussion means that some aspect or other will have to be addressed first.

[OhioChick]

7. Trade issues...

Offshoring/Outsourcing. If people don't have jobs and live under bridges, the other issues don't really matter much to them.

[blues90]

9. All of the above and many more NOW in 2007

I can't even think about 2009 at all . If we don;t get what is wrong now going toward the better then 2009 will be a none issue other than running in the streets on fire .

[bryant69]

10. Campaign Finance Reform/Election reform

which are the same thing. We can't make any headway on any of those issues until we fix our electoral system. How are we going to reform health insurance when big Pharma can buy all the votes it needs? How are we going to clean up our environment when the Oil Companies and the Manufacturers pay for senators campaigns? We need to fix our electoral system first and I'm depressed that so many of you don't seem to realize that. That includes fixing the machines, but it also includes campaign finance reform, providing free commercial advertisments for candidates while forbidding them from buying airtime, redistricting with distracts that are actually competitive instead of designed to protect incumbents.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[MamaBear]

11. I voted for the Global Warming ...

I voted for the Global Warming option only because, if properly addressed, it will carry all the other issues with it, because as we wean ourselves from abusing our dwindling petroleum reserves, we become more aware of all the other things that require care.

Or I hope so.

All this after the (peaceful and legal) removal of the * Cabal from office ... forever.