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We got so much great feedback from you guys on our Immigration Questions post, that we’re harassing you again for help. This year we’re running a series of articles in the magazine about Election Issues we’ve all heard about but don’t really understand. We’ve got 3 in the works: a great piece on Immigration (for next month’s issue), one on Health Care, and one on Social Security. But we’re trying to get a handle on what other issues you pretend to know about but really want to understand. Throw your suggestions in the comment box below, and if you’re the first person to toss out an idea we end up using, we’ll Pony Express you a free t-shirt of your choice. Thanks in advance!
Comments (78)
Comment
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Stem cell research.
posted by Ben on 9-10-2007 at 2:07 pm
What does CHAD stand for? You know, as in “Hanging CHAD”.
posted by Justin on 9-10-2007 at 2:07 pm
English as the official language is a very difficult one I believe and VERY debatable.
posted by Humaira on 9-10-2007 at 2:12 pm
With all the damage we’ve done in Iraq, since we never should have invaded to begin with, how can we pull out without leaving a colossal mess? What is really the best way to handle the Iraq situation and avoid spending too many more billions of dollars and losing too many more lives? Is it even possible?
posted by Jill on 9-10-2007 at 2:15 pm
Education accountability and all other education reform and funding issues.
posted by Michelle on 9-10-2007 at 2:18 pm
How about improving education? – sadly, no child left behind seems to have not worked very well, as some people can’t seem to locate America on a map.
posted by Lindsay D on 9-10-2007 at 2:26 pm
School vouchers and tax brackets.
posted by Kate on 9-10-2007 at 2:36 pm
Are we working towards online elections and how will that work? Will people w/out computers be left behind?
Will the Internet become privatized-will AT&T or Comcast start controlling which websites I can visit and at what quality?
posted by ashleyd on 9-10-2007 at 2:40 pm
How about campaign finance reform?
How about the environment?
How doe the houses of Congress work at ground level? i.e. who really sits in for every session, who votes and how, etc.
posted by John (Grasping for the Wind) on 9-10-2007 at 2:42 pm
What’s the deal with Israel?
posted by Marina on 9-10-2007 at 2:42 pm
The push for an american photo ID? Most states have them, so are we getting rid of state drivers licences, or are we going to have to start carrying a portfolio of government cards and photos?
posted by Mac on 9-10-2007 at 2:43 pm
There’s a lot of talk about campaign finance reform. (And a heck of a lot of money spent on campaigns about campaign finance reform…) What are the proposals to reform and how would they affect campaigning?
posted by BeckyJ on 9-10-2007 at 2:47 pm
Instead of the electoral college, why dont we go off of the popular vote for who becomes our president?
posted by ashley m. on 9-10-2007 at 2:49 pm
What are we doing to make ourselves less dependent on foreign oil? How can we make America more green?
posted by Cheryl on 9-10-2007 at 2:56 pm
How about – No Child Left Behind (NCLB), IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and government funding of education.
And – Holding our public officials accountable for the laws that they break. Why is it against the law to tap your foot in the bathroom but acceptable to lie to Congress and the American people?
posted by Cathy on 9-10-2007 at 2:58 pm
Globalization??
posted by Kerry on 9-10-2007 at 3:02 pm
The government’s influence monetary policy. In particular, the FED … how it works & why it matters.
posted by DW on 9-10-2007 at 3:10 pm
What exactly does free trade mean? And why does it seem like we’re getting the short of that stick?
posted by Jennifer W. on 9-10-2007 at 3:12 pm
Health care reform should play a role in the election.
posted by Dan on 9-10-2007 at 3:13 pm
In light of the surge in terrorism, what exactly is the H1B Visa, is it (or was it) a good thing and should we continue issuing these?
Thanks
posted by drummerchris on 9-10-2007 at 3:16 pm
Open Media issues and/or the status of public broadcasting
posted by Max on 9-10-2007 at 3:19 pm
Net Neutrality!
posted by Witty Nickname on 9-10-2007 at 3:19 pm
I believe economics is something most Americans don’t grasp very well. Otherwise, only the rich would vote Republican.
I would especially like some clear thinking on the impact of China on the countries economic future.
posted by Bassman on 9-10-2007 at 3:26 pm
Separation of church and state
Environmental issues(logging, global warming, land use)
Last Hour Legislation that incoming admins decry and then do.
posted by Vorpal on 9-10-2007 at 3:28 pm
When exactly we will know WHEN we have won the “War on Terror”!
posted by SkyeBlue on 9-10-2007 at 3:47 pm
Anything that ends with the suffix -”gate”. Is it me or does there seem to be a sudden proliferation of -”gate” scandals, politcal and otherwise?
posted by jdp on 9-10-2007 at 3:48 pm
Pork barrel projects. Are they good/bad, does it really matter?
posted by Kevin on 9-10-2007 at 3:52 pm
The meaning of life
Why my wife after 30 years thinks she knows more about doing dishes than I do
Why wearing white socks doesn’t work with a dark suit
How to live across the street from a anal compulsive
How to learn German in 15 minutes so I can speak to my daughter-in-law
How being 66 is really hip [groovy] [super] [and so on]
posted by Dan Kagan on 9-10-2007 at 3:53 pm
Yeah, Economics…particularly the trillion dollar debt, which has always perplexed me and was summed up nicely by Dennis Miller once:
If it means we owe some other countries money, well, screw em. What are they gonna do, invade us?
posted by Johnny Cat on 9-10-2007 at 3:55 pm
A more specific topic in the economic realm would be the candidates stance on credit and credit card problems. Millions of people (especially younger people) do no understand how credit effects them and how credit cards work while the credit card companies take advantage of the ignorance. I would love to know what each candidate would to help lighten the burden.
posted by Jared Browsh on 9-10-2007 at 4:00 pm
What about foreign trade? I think a lot of people (including myself) don’t really understand this.
posted by Shelley on 9-10-2007 at 4:02 pm
How does foreign aid to central and south america impact illegal immigration, if at all? If their countries were stronger, would they stay? Is it the U.S.’s responsibility to help? Or would this help only lead to further government corruption as what already exists on the Mexican/Guatemalan border?
posted by Charles on 9-10-2007 at 4:13 pm
It’s called the Farm Bill, but what is all that money actually spent on anyway?
Someone told me that less than 15% of the billions of dollars in that bill go to actual farmers.
posted by Lynn Rudeen on 9-10-2007 at 4:14 pm
Flag burning referendum
posted by Nick on 9-10-2007 at 4:38 pm
Infrastructure.
Our bridges and roads are deteriorating and _need_ to be repaired. States monies are insufficient to repair them all – so the likely source of major $$ will be the feds.. I’d like to know how candidates will resolve this issue. (what is the role of Fed. Highway Administration in their repair anyways?) And while we on the topic of roadways and highways, what about traffic – Should managing traffic flow in and around major cities/ports/economic hubs be a federal task?
posted by micx on 9-10-2007 at 5:01 pm
How will we avoid Genetic Discrimination now that we have mapped the Human Genome?
posted by JaneM on 9-10-2007 at 5:07 pm
Electoral College. Should I hate it as much as I do and why aren’t the masses fighting against it?
posted by lisa dodson on 9-10-2007 at 5:09 pm
How far will the government go in installing cameras everywhere possible,how do they work, and should they?; also,how much privacy do we really have (right now), and how much should and will we have in the future?
posted by Geoffrey on 9-10-2007 at 5:20 pm
How about covering the entitlements of the members of congress, and the fact they do not have to live under many of the rules and laws they create for the citizens of this country?
posted by Marlon on 9-10-2007 at 6:03 pm
Federal access to free online public schooling… essentially public school at home. Florida & other states offer it now, to help with overcrowding.
posted by D. Levy on 9-10-2007 at 6:05 pm
Poverty/homelessness, in the U.S.
The national debt.
I agree with a lot of the above comments, and think they are good issues also.
posted by Emily on 9-10-2007 at 6:09 pm
Net Neutrality is an issue I’d love to see more coverage and information on. For the longest time I couldn’t figure out whether I was technically for or against net neutrality (I’m for it).
posted by Mattie on 9-10-2007 at 6:11 pm
How can they change Pluto’s Planetary Status without our consent?
Or,
What gives them the right to decide to change the definition of a planet without asking anyone’s permission?
Also,
Is the government really listening to every word you say on the telephone?
posted by Rebekkah on 9-10-2007 at 6:12 pm
Fair Tax!!
posted by HokieX on 9-10-2007 at 6:12 pm
How our influence in the World Bank and the IMF influence global economics, and how do we take advantage of that power via free trade acts.
posted by David Fine on 9-10-2007 at 6:34 pm
How can we be, or why can’t we be, a more self-sufficient country? Are there ever limits on what we will get from other countries rather than take on the outlook of “do it ourselves or do without”?
posted by E on 9-10-2007 at 8:08 pm
Why is the care that our veterans, who put their lives on the line for us every day, so horrendous when they come back from overseas?
posted by Mary on 9-10-2007 at 8:11 pm
The Patriot Act – recenlty reauthorized but what does it really do.
posted by Chris on 9-10-2007 at 8:37 pm
non dairy creamer? non dairy creamer???WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH NON DAIRY CREAMER!!!
posted by john on 9-10-2007 at 8:42 pm
How about questions about the election process _itself_ that we pretend to understand but don’t. Like:
Why aren’t all primaries on the same day?
What’s a “caucus” vs. a “primary election”?
How exactly does the electoral system work again? (Yes, we heard it in 2000, but it didn’t make sense then, and it still doesn’t!)
And is the electoral system so bad? If it is, why do we still USE it? (I think I remember hearing that it made sense in the days when vote counts were carried on horseback, but those days are long gone and we’ve still got the electoral system!)
PS to John (#49) – non-dairy creamer? What about “fat free half-and-half”! Isn’t half-and-half supposed to be half milk and half CREAM??
posted by Elizabeth on 9-10-2007 at 10:04 pm
What’s up with your education system? Why do so many students have so much debt when they graduate and so hard for them to pay it off? If segregation is over why do students of color go to college and graduate in such low numbers? Why are we not supporting the students that need the money to go to college, especially the under-represented communities (i.e students of color, women, low socio-economic)? Why haven’t we increased financial aid for students that need it instead of merit based?
posted by Lorena on 9-10-2007 at 10:14 pm
How far from the Constitution have we as a nation gone?
posted by Paul on 9-10-2007 at 11:02 pm
the HIPPA law. How can a dr.’s office tell me they can’t send me the report from my MRI – because that would violate HIPPA? Hello! it’s a violation of MY privacy to get MY OWN test results?!
posted by Vicki on 9-11-2007 at 12:10 am
also – quantum physics & string theory
posted by Vicki on 9-11-2007 at 12:12 am
I’d like to know more about alternative “green” products and projects and why people aren’t more adamant about finding an alternative, renewable fuel source.
posted by heather on 9-11-2007 at 12:55 am
Interest rates – what does it mean when the Fed raises the interest rate and why do they do it?
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – what the heck are they and what do they do?
What is the real difference between a state and a commonwealth?
A clear explanation of the national court system (local, state, federal), how judges are elected or appointed, and how cases work their way up through the system to become a supreme court case.
What exactly are currency exchange rates and why are they so important?
What is the Basque region of Spain so upset about?
Why do people say the UN does nothing?
Does “shipping jobs overseas” really harm the US in the long run?
Why are people so angry about the WTO?
posted by Julie on 9-11-2007 at 2:47 am
Fiat money, the Federal Reserve, the crash of middle class housing, and the silent tax.
posted by J.K. on 9-11-2007 at 4:32 am
What about the electoral college voting. My boyfriend was saying something about how some states no matter what only vote republican or democrat but then others are “swing states”. – He said Maryland Always votes republican (I think) which means all of the people who vote in MD – do their votes even count? If not, why bother voting? And how could that be changed to where the publics vote Does matter?
I’m so confused – help
posted by Janet on 9-11-2007 at 6:35 am
How about the end of the income tax and creating a national sales tax. Done correctly we would pay no more than we do now, and it would garner taxes from people who don’t currently pay “income tax”… ie, drug dealers, under-the-table labor, etc.
posted by Bill on 9-11-2007 at 6:45 am
How ‘party’ loyalty is at odds with being an elected representative. How congressmen and senators don’t respond or report on their actions until election time.
Case in point, Dick Durbin of Illinois — I’ve sent seven reasonable and polite letters on issues that concern me and received only 2 replies in which it was obvious the letters were never read.
posted by Nancy on 9-11-2007 at 7:19 am
Why do we need political parties which serve only to constrain our choices to Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber? Why do we give tax dollars to the Democratic and Republican parties to spend on their conventions… can’t they pay for their events themselves? Why do we have closed primaries where you have to have a party affiliation in order to vote? Why don’t more people vote for “None of the Above”?
posted by Ken on 9-11-2007 at 8:03 am
What can the average person really do to make changes? We all have complaints, but it feels useless to try to do anything about it.
And if that doesn’t work; How does one go about becoming a citizen of another country? Something along the lines of the grass being greener and all that.
posted by Tru on 9-11-2007 at 9:03 am
The National Debt, perhaps as it relates to the IRS and taxes
posted by Lesley on 9-11-2007 at 9:54 am
I know HIPAA, Vicki.
It’s touted as some great protection of your individual healthcare privacy. In a relatively meaningless way, it does this.
More importantly, to the lobbyists who keep our lawmakers well fed, it has a little provision that makes it explicitly legal for your doctors to charge you money any time you request records be sent to another doctor.
Oh, the joys of American health care.
posted by Bassman on 9-11-2007 at 10:15 am
Electronic voting security is easy. Just pattern it after the electronic slot machines.
Those systems have meticulous accounting of millions of individual transactions and nobody cheats them, but everyone tries.
posted by n2y2 on 9-11-2007 at 10:30 am
Voter apathy.
Why don’t we vote? Would more of us vote if “none of the above” was an option?
posted by elizabutt on 9-11-2007 at 11:08 am
1) why is katrina/new orleans so mishandled & underrepresented in the media?
2) flat tax verses the current tax system – which is more sound? can we get out of debt?
3) social security – is it really going away forever?
4) minimum wage increases – how does that change my current salary?
5) the housing dilemma – lots of people are discussing real estate & government bail outs, what can be done? can i ever sell my house?
posted by tara on 9-11-2007 at 12:59 pm
I’ve always felt there should be a ‘none of the above’ option. A write-in is not the same.
If the media got into reporting the numbers it could send a strong message. I want to do what I consider my duty (voting) but, my vote is more and more often a vote against one candidate than for the other.
posted by Bassman on 9-11-2007 at 1:00 pm
I don’t understand how the gov decides the amount that we pay in taxes and what to allow as a deduction and what not. Like why is a donation to an animal shelter a deduction but caring for one you adopted not? Or why do I take home less if I work overtime?
posted by J2daQ on 9-11-2007 at 1:35 pm
What will our coastal communities do when the waters begin to rise? (Nope, not just in self-interest – I live far inland.)
And foreign policy – just how are we going to repair the damage done to international relations by the present ‘administration’?
posted by Keeker on 9-11-2007 at 2:55 pm
The health epidemic (rapidly increasing number of adults and children who are overweight or even obese, and/or who have diabetes).
posted by Chris on 9-11-2007 at 4:25 pm
Been hearing a lot about mortgage stuff, but usually opt to skip those articles in the paper. What’s the deal here?
How about all the controversy/firings/resignations of justice department figures/other government officials recently?
What’s the deal with Scrushy/Siegelman? Now Karl Rove has been mentioned in the trials, etc.
I think a strikingly large majority of Americans don’t even know what the electoral college is or how it works. (This would make for a good sidebar, including it’s history and why, at one point in time, it was favorable).
posted by Amanda on 9-11-2007 at 4:34 pm
I may have missed the entire context, but as i was watching the Rep. Debates a few months ago, i heard something about a national identification card system, specifically for (illegal?) immigrant workers.
I’d certainly like to learn more about the deal with that.
(I believe Guliani was the one who brought it up)
posted by Annie on 9-11-2007 at 8:16 pm
What’s with the sex scandals (amongst politicos) and who really cares?
posted by leah on 9-11-2007 at 8:30 pm
What about NEA?
posted by PM Toone on 9-12-2007 at 7:39 am
The growing socio-economic and education divide and how it will affect the future.
posted by al on 9-13-2007 at 6:59 pm
Given that many of our founding fathers were deists and against religion mixing with politics, how did the tradition of swearing on the bible at inaugurations come into play? It goes all the way back to Washington…
posted by Amy on 9-14-2007 at 3:30 am
What is Obama’s plan to help the economy?
posted by Sara on 2-4-2009 at 3:12 pm