The US has BIG problems - what needs to be fixed first?

[FormerRepublican]

With Bush in charge, the country has gone to heck in a handbasket. In short, we're screwed. We've got some really big problems on our plate that we'll have to really work to solve. In your opinion, what's at the top of the agenda?

For example, some of my top priorities would be:

1. Budget. We're funding todays government on the backs of our childrens excessive taxes.
2. Corruption and corporatization of government. Can't fix the budget when corporations aren't taxed, are rewarded for shipping jobs overseas, and rich folks keep all their $$$ while the poor starve. The corrupting power of corporate $$$ needs to be fixed.
3. The idea that the only solution to problems in the US is a military solution. Whatever happened to good diplomacy? IMO, problems 2 & 3 led to Iraq and half the other nightmare scenarios we're now facing.

The list is endless of course, but you have to start somewhere. If you were elected President, what top issues would YOU start with?

[Nostradammit]

1. An end to the miltarism

It's killing us. All other problems could be solved AFTER this one.

IMHO.

[sandnsea]

2. Trade

Environment and labor laws have to be implemented into trade policy. Everything hinges off of that. The military protecting corporations in foreign countries. Corporations oppressing people in foreign countries. Pollution and environmental damage, which is also a current health issue, here and abroad. Everything wrong in this country and the world can be traced right back to greedy trade policy. We can't stop trade, but it's imperative that we fix it.

[nonconformist]

3. I agree with your priorities, and add

break up the big media conglomerates. A free independent press is vital in keeping the government in check.

[HereSince1628]

4. Every priority is going to be contingent on having Congress with you

Unless of course you are an adherent to the notion of a Democratic unitary executive.

[FormerRepublican]

6. Unitary executive = unconstitutional, IMO.

We should pester Bush - he had all this power implied by the Unitary Executive theory, so why hasn't he solved all the problems already? Why do we have MORE problems now?

Power = Responsibility

But Bush doesn't know the meaning of that word.

IMO, if Dems get the Presidency, they'll get Congress, too. The backlash against Bush is coming, and it's going to be a Tsunami.

[HereSince1628]

10. I hope there is a backlash, I've been waiting years already

Re unitary executive, it is a euphemism for dictatorship. Despite the constitution, presidents have as much power as Congress and the Courts will let them run with.

[BooScout]

5. Diplomacy....

We have so screwed our reputation with the rest of the world.......it's going to affect us in every walk of life for years to come. Our reputation was priceless and now it's nothing but caca.

[dorkulon]

7. The one Meta-issue: Corruption.

When it comes to reform, all roads lead to taking the money out of elections--making corruption illegal again. Everything else stems from this.

[wake.up.america]

8. What would the freepers say to your list? The country is in a mess...

and you did a good job of pin pointing some of the problems.

[annabanana]

9. break up the media cartels...

And start to get the information out to that oblivious 30%..(And keep a pretty good eye on them while I do it, to)

[NoGOP]

11. Restoration of rights

Some of the legislation that has passed at the state level in the last 5 or 6 years in limiting the rights of women and gays is an absolute disgrace. These need to be overturned at the Federal level.

[bklyncowgirl]

12. I'd put your number 2 in number 1 and add in public financing of campeigns

We aren't going to get a sound budget if congressmen have to cozy up to corporations and the wealthy in order to get the money to run for office. Unfortunately, as long as the Supreme Court equates political donations with free speech we're screwed.

[Ladyhawk]

13. 1. Fair elections 2. Accountability in the media

If we don't have those two things, we can't ever address the budget, corporatocracy, the war, looming environmental disaster, etc.

[dorkulon]

15. But neither of these would be problems without corruption n/t

[preciousdove]

14. Real, Fair elections n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. Getting the money out of politics. Real electoral reform.

Cutting "defense" spending by, at least, half.
Ending corporate handouts via "Tax breaks" and subsidies.
Ending unaccountable "secret" program like the ones the CIA and NSA run.
Demand that Congress declare "war" openly instead of handing it off to the executive through CYA actions like the "Tonkin Gulf Resolution" and the IWR.

And, many more.

[JanMichael]

17. Fusion voting, Citizens Jury/Panel and Deliberative Polling.

Fusion Voting

Citizens Jury

Deliberative Polling

[RC]

18. Repeal person-hood for Corporations

Corporations are businesses. Regulate and treat them as such.

[dorkulon]

19. Yes

Corporations-as-people and Money-as-speech are the modern tragedies of the SCOTUS.

[Nostradammit]

23. There it is -

Upon further reflection, that is the first thing I'd do.

[Cerridwen]

20. Media

If the corruption continues, we won't know. If things start changing for the better, we won't know. If elections are rigged, we won't know. If corporations continue supporting dictators and repressive regimes, we won't know. Er, kinda like now. Hold them to a standard which earns them the rights of a "free press;" they've broken their contract as the "fourth estate;" time to hold them accountable.

I say, start with the media, then rescind corporate personhood and corporations formed "in perpetuity." Penalize corporations for moving offshore with their "made-in-the-USA" money; require them to give back to the people they exploited; apply penalities with some "teeth" for recruiting and hiring people in the US illegally.

Keep US jobs and US money in the US until we have "fixed" ourselves; when there are no more people in poverty, when no more people are homeless, when all US people are living "the American Dream" then we can "show" other countries how it's done. Until that time, I don't think "we" qualify as any sort of experts on running a country.

Send a bill for services and support to countries from which people come here illegally; if they won't take care of them there, they'd better pay for "us" to take care of them here.

Universal health care.

Just for starters.

[ladjf]

21. 1. The rigged voting machines. Otherwise there will be no

opportunities to fix the other stuff.

[area51]

22. What this country needs

— Free & fair elections: no more black box voting.

— Universal healthcare.

— Make offshoring/inshoring extremely expensive for companies so people can go back to work.