POLITICS: What Are America's Top Problems?

by SodaHead Politics Posted 2010/05/13 13:08:12

121 votes
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	I think the economy and jobs are our top problems.	24 votes	20%
	I think immigration, especially illegal immigration, is our top problem.	17 votes	14%
	I think ...	80 votes	66%

In the wild world of U.S. opinion, terrorism, weeks after the botched NYC car bombing, was ranked lower than immigration when it came to what people thought were the country's top problems.

According to Gallup, switching places at one and two were similar-themed topics: economy and jobs. At the same time, Americans grew more likely to name immigration (including illegal immigration) as the nation's most important problem, moving that issue into fifth place.

The heightened concern about immigration comes as a new Arizona law designed to address illegal immigration has drawn nationwide attention. There is increased concern both across the country and across the political spectrum. However, increased mentions of immigration are most pronounced in the Western states, surging from 2% in April to 16% in May, as well as among Republicans and conservatives.

"Americans continue to view unemployment as one of the nation's leading problems, but they put slightly less emphasis on it today than they did in April. At the same time, the percentage of Americans citing immigration as the top problem has swelled from 2% to 10%. The even steeper increases seen among Republicans and conservatives highlight a major aspect of that concern -- the belief that illegal immigration needs to be curtailed."

+10

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susanmom 2010/05/13 14:14:04

I think ...

+11
I think our government is broken and the current administration and congress are doing everything in their power to further contribute to the demise of this once great country. An example of one of our many problems, one that has received much attention as of late, is of course, illegal immigration.

It is well know that the Arizona law known as SB 1070 has thrust this issue into the spotlight once again. And once again, it has polarized the conservative and progressive residents of this country, as well as both state and Federal government officials from the top down.

I ask each of you as Americans only, regardless of your ideology, to click on the picture below and read the sign(s) that these demonstrators are carrying. I also ask you to put aside race for a moment as it is NOT an issue that directly relates to the ongoing illegal invasion. Now, using common sense only and putting aside all other distractions, can anyone, in truth, defend the actions of those depicted?
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More polls by SodaHead Politics

sgf to B.S. De... 2010/05/13 21:41:40

You suggested that you're worth more than kevracer, that the people you know are somehow superior to the people he knows, then you plainly stated that he's an insignificant little peon compared to you... Sorry, but that's not modesty.

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kevracer to sgf 2010/05/13 21:47:14

thanks!

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B.S. De... to sgf 2010/05/14 15:07:55

You are right, it was a knee-jerk reaction to that kid's Elitist Liberal nonsense.

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kevracer to sgf 2010/05/13 21:20:28

two thumbs up for that one!

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Elizabe... to kevracer 2010/05/13 20:48:43

Can't, or at least should not, envy anyone, especially the so-called, Elite alias, The Illuminati, alias, The Shadow Government; alis The Occult .... and if you do, you have a MUCH higher power to be held accountable to, than on a thread ... lol

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Elizabe... to B.S. De... 2010/05/13 20:45:38

..and just to add a little P.S.) The Eite: Illuminati are the POWER of the world ... They are the BANKS...can't get much more powerful than that.. and it also slithers them into a social status they inherited thru bloodline ... Also known as : The Shadow Government

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Elizabe... to kevracer 2010/05/13 20:41:50

The "Elite" in this context is .... The Illuminati... Check that one out ...lol
That lesson in itself will make your hair grey from wisdom....

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Formula... to kevracer 2010/05/13 19:57:48

+1
anyone with COMMON SENSE knows what he means!!

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kevracer to Formula... 2010/05/13 21:21:43

why don't you tell us?

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Bogie 2010/05/13 18:55:08

I think ...

+2
Corruption is the biggest problem because that is what has caused all the other problems.

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LucyBrown to Bogie 2010/05/13 19:09:23

+1
Which came first? Corruption, or a system which rewards self-interest, thereby making "corruption" the most profitable outcome? Either way, if we take away the means of corruption and exploitation (the monetary system) and replace it with a system which rewards sustainability, cooperation, and innovation (a Resource Based Economy) we might find the majority of these problems (including corruption) begin to dissipate.

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Bogie to LucyBrown 2010/05/13 20:09:22

Utopia?

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LucyBrown to Bogie 2010/05/13 20:41:49

No, but much closer to it than where we are today! :) There's really no such thing as Utopia; we will always need to continually evolve and improve upon technology and society. A Resource Based Economy could set the stage for human advancement to start happening in leaps and bounds rather than two steps forward, one step back.

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Bogie to LucyBrown 2010/05/13 20:48:20 (edited)

I kinda like the demand based economic system myself. Resources get very limited and so innovation to meet demand provides new methods of suvival. When the economics are based on what the suppliers want to seel and manufacture the demand side becomes irrelevant and then innovation is stifled and demand stagnates. This led to stagflation in the past just as it is now. The Wall Street prices of stock are rising but there is no value added coming from the increased prices. The market values used to be determined by a market stock price to actual earnings ratio. However if the earnings are zero the P/E is actually infinity. In the case of an interest based stock the real earnings are disguised as the value of the interest income is very hard to justify. Thus the S & M's and the recent debacle are examples of what supply and resources based economics can create. But this is the world of genius bankers who can bedazzle and beguile the buffoons we elect.

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LucyBrown to Bogie 2010/05/13 20:53:50

We are referring to two different things. I understand exactly where you're coming from if we're looking at this within the context of our current system, however, I'm talking about a new system altogether. Check out http://www.thevenusproject.co... for an in-depth explanation of what I mean by "Resource-Based Economy". In this system, we (the people) are participating in the creation and use of products in a way that is very different from today.

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Bogie to LucyBrown 2010/05/13 21:05:46

I kinda think it'll catch on like ESPERANTO did however.

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LucyBrown to Bogie 2010/05/14 15:42:35

Hehehe... maybe, but I hope you're wrong...
It's the most comprehensive solution to our problems that I've seen anyone give yet, so I feel it's worth shooting for. I may try to get us there and not succeed, but I will certainly not succeed in getting us there if I don't try. If we're not all here living this life for each other, then I have no idea what we're living it for.

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Bogie to LucyBrown 2010/05/14 15:56:58

I am all for it I just fear the war mongers would not like it. Hey if you were a bullet salesman would you want it?

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LucyBrown to Bogie 2010/05/14 16:38:10

Oh, I totally get your point... the idea of The Movement is to gain enough numbers and momentum that the decision will not really be up those types anymore... but I do realize the lofty-ness of it all.
That being said, The Zeitgeist Movement is global with 400,000+ members and growing (we're only about 2 years old).
First-worlders may take a little longer to catch on to the need for this movement, but there are plenty of people around the world who already get it.

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Bogie to LucyBrown 2010/05/14 18:10:33

I worked for the UN and with 17,500 employees and 149 member nations it still hasn't been able to do anything much for the good of humanity in any real way.

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LucyBrown to Bogie 2010/05/14 18:27:37

I believe this is because the UN (possible good intentions aside) was trying to change the system from within- trying to correct our problems by addressing the symptoms. We will not see change until we stop playing by the rules of the system which is currently failing us and start building a new system altogether.

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Bogie to LucyBrown 2010/05/14 18:30:03

My eldest sister was head of the CPCML, Communist Party of Canada Markist Leninist from 1967 to 1997. They kinda had the same idea in mind.

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Bogie to Bogie 2010/05/14 18:33:05

I am going to fix it myself soon so don't worry about it. I plan on conquering the Universe once I can get the help of Ming the Merciless on the planet Zarcon. "Damn You Flash Gordon!"

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B.S. De... to Bogie 2010/05/13 19:13:03

Chicago style Politics

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itoldyouso 2010/05/13 18:53:02

I think ...

+2
LIberalism, wackooism. You know the far left, to the left. About time to round em' up along with the problem they caused and ship em' all to MEXICO.

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Dude to itoldyouso 2010/05/13 19:18:17

+2
Much too close. Antartica might be good.

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itoldyouso to Dude 2010/05/13 19:21:46

Thanks for the help on that one. Good idea.

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ambracia22 2010/05/13 18:50:22

I think ...

People think way too in the moment on most of America's problems and always imagine them still being there 50 years from now and bringing down our country. People have been have fears like these since the 1600's and I think one of the reasons this country is the most powerful in the world is that we always make little problems into a big deal and kill them before they can become ones. Were a Paranoia superpower.

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LucyBrown 2010/05/13 18:49:33

I think ...

all of these problems are symptoms of our society functioning under a monetary system and all of the harmful ideologies perpetuated by the monetary system. Every human's number one top priority right now needs to involve working towards a Resource Based Economy. www.thevenusproject.com

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EagleEye 2010/05/13 18:31:19

I think ...

+2
............I'm entitled.....I don't want to work, but I want a 2nd house on the lake for my yacht which is big enough to tow my ski boat.......I am entitled to all..... that is my right as a free-loading american......all I want to do is take - take- take........please support me in the manner in which I want and deserve to live! (sarcasm) .

Top problem is Americans want social programs, they want entitlements....they do not want to work for there wants......LIKE GREECE, THE AVERAGE WORKER WORKS ONLY 20 HOURS A WEEK....THAT'S WHY THEY ARE BROKE!

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nettie to EagleEye 2010/05/13 18:50:43

+1
you do know that jobs have been sucked out of our economy for the last 15 years and right now we have about 8million peopLE UNEMPLOYED because THERE ARE NO JOBS!!!!!!!!!!!

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B.S. De... to nettie 2010/05/13 19:15:24 (edited)

+2
Go to the Government if you want a job...that's where the money is. I represent small business, I used to be the backbone of America, the Stock market watch's as I grow or shrink....Obama is killing us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ambracia22 to EagleEye 2010/05/13 18:52:05

35 hours http://www.billshrink.com/blo...

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wpsark_BN_0 2010/05/13 18:27:10

I think ...

+3
Political correctness and growing government

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Dee 2010/05/13 18:07:55

I think immigration, especially illegal immigration, is our top problem.

+1
Sharply curtail all legal immigration until Americans are back to work, and stop and deport all illegal immigrants and their children, this alone will bring about huge improvements in all the other problems mentioned.

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wombat 2010/05/13 18:04:28

I think the economy and jobs are our top problems.

the bank business is the main factor holding us down.

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LucyBrown to wombat 2010/05/13 18:44:16

+2
sort of.... that's part of it. Have you seen Zeitgeist Addendum or any of these lectures (http://www.thezeitgeistmovem... )? Monopolies, cartels, even really the Federal Reserve are symptoms of a monetary system. The fact that we even *think* of things in terms of "economy and jobs" instead of resource availability and technological and social advancement is the actual problem.

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wombat to LucyBrown 2010/05/13 18:49:44

The stock market is degrading our economy. The money flowing in there is already positioned to disappear in private accounts. The next bank crash is program and will kick us into stone age.

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LucyBrown to wombat 2010/05/13 19:03:12

+2
Maybe it doesn't have to. We have the technology to cushion a blow to our "economy" if we could all just stop thinking in terms of "economy".

For example, what will be the big problems if there were suddenly a major stock market crash or a huge spike in gas prices (both of those things seem fairly likely to me)? The problem *isn't* actually that nobody will have money... it's that nobody will have *food* because they won't have enough money to buy it or enough money to buy the gas to transport it. Drop the money out of the picture and we could just start focusing on feeding people. With the technology we have today, we could easily be growing a surplus of all food locally and simply making it readily available to everyone.

This is en extremely oversimplified example, and I know it sounds lofty if not impossible, but the craziest part is that it *could* be possible if we, as the human race, so choose.

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wombat to LucyBrown 2010/05/13 19:14:56

+1
I am absolute sure that we have a chance but it depends on the bank system and our ability to control its failing management.

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