General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat do you consider to be the most serious issues facing the nation?
Without making references to candidates or their positions what do you feel are the top issues facing the US?
Education
Gender equality
Minority rights
LGBT right
Income inequality
Crime
Terrorism
Domestic militarism
Climate disruption
Fiscal policy
Job creation
Other?
Edited to add -- please feel free to list more than one
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)and climate change.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)The lack of a party representing anything even a tiny bit left of center.
Right-wing politics is responsible for almost all the other problems.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)power grid)
Jackie Wilson Said
(4,176 posts)who is on DU and their priorities.
I dont think anyone else even mentioned minority rights, let alone in an order other than the OP.
Wow.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)where minorities, women, LGBT folk are accepted openly anywhere. Civil rights should always be our top priority.
Jackie Wilson Said
(4,176 posts)Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)Jackie Wilson Said
(4,176 posts)Listening to my liberal talk radio right now and my guy is arguing with a Bernie or Bust person and it is so aggravating.
metroins
(2,550 posts)Always economy..
It determines almost everything else.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Initech
(100,028 posts)Everything else on that list can be traced back to #1.
scscholar
(2,902 posts)We're not spending enough to help the people live in general. It's no one issue.
NickB79
(19,224 posts)Given how fast we're now progressing towards a civilization-crushing future, all other issues fall behind it.
And given how little attention it's gotten this election cycle makes me pessimistic we stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting through this in one piece.
broiles
(1,367 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)NickB79
(19,224 posts)There isn't a single nation on this planet, even ones where the populace is highly educated and accepts the scientific validity of climate change, that is actually doing enough to put the brakes on the mass extinction event we've set into motion. Even the Paris Accords, the most adventurous attempt we've made so far to address climate change, doesn't even come close to keeping out planet out of the danger zone.
My fear is that even when people accept that climate change is real, when asked to make the sacrifices needed to stop it, they will say "No, it compromises my standard of living too much, fuck the future generations."
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)skip fox
(19,356 posts)Even though is imperatives are not as immediately shrill.
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)Jobs (and by extension wages)
National Debt
Privacy Rights
Access to medical care
Pollution
CrispyQ
(36,413 posts)Of course, you couldn't tell by the amount of action to combat it.
We're so fucked.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Not a single one of the other problems can be solved if we don't have a functioning democracy.
KG
(28,751 posts)alittlelark
(18,888 posts)I would consider looking at that to be a precursor to change.... a Gun-crazed society is in no way ready for a REAL discussion of 'Problems Facing Our Nation' without looking in the mirror.
Rebkeh
(2,450 posts)Unlike most people, I'm not as focused on policy as much as I am on cultural change.
If I had to choose one, I'd choose climate disruption or racism because the interconnections are more obvious with these and getting to the crux of the problem covers all angles. Or most of them anyway.
For example, you cannot effectively address income inequality without addressing racism. One hand washes the other.
You cannot effectively address climate disruption without addressing fiscal policy.
You cannot address crime without addressing job creation/unemployment.
Gender/minority/LGBT rights and education.
Good luck addressing racism without addressing education ... and round we go.
* note - I left out domestic militarism and terrorism because it's redundant and solutions involve addressing all of the above, and then some. It's more complex and beyond the scope of policy focused solutions.
mike_c
(36,267 posts)We need to restore economic justice and insure an inhabitable future first, IMO. Then we can work on the rest of the list.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,145 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Throd
(7,208 posts)Vincardog
(20,234 posts)that is going to take down national banks next time around,
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)Bonhomme Richard
(8,997 posts)an economic cause.
All the other problems are just symptoms.
GOPblows431
(51 posts)it's a disgrace that we are the only developed country without universal healthcare. A real shame.
haikugal
(6,476 posts)Kip Humphrey
(4,753 posts)Thirties Child
(543 posts)If we lose the earth, we've lost everything. Nothing else matters.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Populist_Prole
(5,364 posts)Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)Ease of family formation
auntpurl
(4,311 posts)Minority, women's, and LGBT rights
Climate change
Job creation
Improving the ACA
Campaign finance reform
Building strong alliances with foreign powers