U.S. Election Issues

[Geezer38]

I think most of the people here are interested in U.S. Politics because it affects us all, no matter what country we live in. See what you think of the above poll questions:

[Poppa Bear]

I think that the "flagging economy" is mostly bash Bush B.S. There is no "flagging economy" in my area and the unemployment rate is actually lower than the average rate during the 1990's.

[silverkitty39]

You are very fortunate. Tell that to people all over the US who'se jobs have been out-sourced. The Indian economy is booming on those jobs. China rather likes letting America fund their economy as well, and Mexico.....oh well they continue to make such pitiful wages that they still want to go to the US and now Mr Bush has said it is OK for illegals to take Americans jobs.

[ninjalooter1701]

Poppa Bear, if it doesn't affect you, it doesn't matter?

So, then, since the terrorism didn't affect you, does it matter?

Or does the terrorism affect you, indirectly, but the joblessness across the US doesn't affect you indirectly?

[marlowe]

The economy is an abstraction. People out of work is a tangible reality.

But on second thought, it seems very likely that terrorism will be a major concern. Prior to that vote in Spain, it seemed like a purely back burner issue. But those voters in Spain have put the entire world at risk. The appalling precedent they have established is nothing short of an invitation to terror. Now I expect we'll be seeing a lot more terrorism. And that could put it up higher in voter's consciousness. Sometime soon it will be pre-eminent, even all encompassing. I don't know if that will happen by November, though.

[1MrConservative]

You are very fortunate. Tell that to people all over the US who'se jobs have been out-sourced. The Indian economy is booming on those jobs. China rather likes letting America fund their economy as well, and Mexico.....oh well they continue to make such pitiful wages that they still want to go to the US and now Mr Bush has said it is OK for illegals to take Americans jobs.

The outsourcing you speak of is mostly campaign-speak by the democrats in the US. The reality is much different. Those who choose to inform themselves will see through this attempt by the dems to smear the economic recovery in the US.

Check out this link for an informed opinion about outsourcing.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/ts20040316.shtml

And here is an article on the employment outlook in the US. (Unemployment, by the way, is at the lowest levels in several years, contrary to what the dems are saying.)

http://www.us.manpower.com/uscom/contentSingle.jsp?articleid=284

I really don't think the economy is going to hurt Bush at all in November. To the contrary, it is what will propel him to victory. :cheers

[Neko]

I think most of the people here are interested in U.S. Politics because it affects us all, no matter what country we live in.
Can we take a vote on that?

[silverkitty39]

Ok and why don't you go to CNN, the Lou Dobbs program and see for your self the companies who have taken their jobs out of the country. Hell even the US Gov't has outsourced the information center for food stamps! The person who answers the phone now has an East Indian accent.

BTW Lou Dobbs has been a conservative for a long time, but he sees the danger in the outsourcing of American jobs. So I hardly think its Democratic mumbo jumbo!

[cwinton]

It's a silly poll. There is never 'one' issue driving an election for most voters.

Had you compiled a list and asked to choose the 'top five' ... results would be interesting and actually reflective of actual concerns facing Americans today.

[adaminthemiddle]

Kerry will focus on 1 and 2. Bush will focus on 3 and 5. I would wish 4 was an issue, but I don't think it will be. At least not until the recession's over.

My personal opinion is that a President should worry about what's going on in his own country--aka 1 and 2. I voted number 2 just because I knew too few would.

The economy is an abstraction. People out of work is a tangible reality.

Good point. :)

There is no "flagging economy" in my area and the unemployment rate is actually lower than the average rate during the 1990's.

You are very fortunate.

Right indeed silver. Just look at the national unemployment rate. It was about 4% when Bush came into office; not it's at 5.7%.

Tell that to people all over the US who'se jobs have been out-sourced. The Indian economy is booming on those jobs. China rather likes letting America fund their economy as well, and Mexico.....oh well they continue to make such pitiful wages that they still want to go to the US and now Mr Bush has said it is OK for illegals to take Americans jobs.

Hmm... I'd say you're pretty correct on that. :)

But on second thought, it seems very likely that terrorism will be a major concern. Prior to that vote in Spain, it seemed like a purely back burner issue.

You could be right.

But those voters in Spain have put the entire world at risk. The appalling precedent they have established is nothing short of an invitation to terror. Now I expect we'll be seeing a lot more terrorism. And that could put it up higher in voter's consciousness.

Nope. I don't think so. I think terrorism has more to do with the terrorists than the victims. In other words, it's not a country's security, it's how bad someone wants to attack the country. Even with today's security in the U.S., another terrorist attack would be a cinch.

The terrorists attacked Spain because they were tired of Spanish intervention in the Middle East. They hoped this would cause the election to turn the other way, and Spain to get out of Iraq, which it did. And now the terrorists have no reason to attack Spain, so they'll leave them alone and focus on other countries.

If something similar happens here, it will definitely help Kerry. (Not that I want it to happen.)

The outsourcing you speak of is mostly campaign-speak by the democrats in the US. The reality is much different.

I'd be interested in seeing you use a non-biased source proving that. Preferably, I wish it'd be actually numbers instead of just politically-inspired opinion.

Check out this link for an informed opinion about outsourcing.

That won't work. Not only is it an opinion with minimal facts, but it's a biased site. "Conservative News and Information."

And it kind of surprised me that they alluded to Hoover's tariff. (By the way, this wasn't about jobs, it was about GOODS!) Hoover was pretty conservative you know. :lol

And here is an article on the employment outlook in the US.

That article's about the "pace" of improving unemployment. Sure Bush got lucky with 300,000 jobs in March, but I don't see how that makes up for the 2-3 million he already lost, or the 4-6 million he needed to create to keep up with population rates.

(Unemployment, by the way, is at the lowest levels in several years, contrary to what the dems are saying.)

Go to www.bls.gov and find something proving that.

What you'll find instead is that when Bush came into office, the unemployment rate was at 4%. Now it's at 5.7%. Ooh, that's so much better! NOT!

I really don't think the economy is going to hurt Bush at all in November. To the contrary, it is what will propel him to victory.

Yep, breaking the all-time record on the number of people not in the labor force for 37 out of 38 months in office, with February 2001 the only month he didn't do so, when Clinton's fiscal policies were still in effect, is a good thing. NOT!

Yep, rising unemployment almost 2%, .1% in March alone, and losing 2-3 million jobs when he should have made 4-6 million are good things. NOT!

Can we take a vote on that?

I don't think we can. We'd have to break it down to "interested" and "affected." I think only about 10% of the country is interested, but every single one of them is affected in some way.

...see for your self the companies who have taken their jobs out of the country.

One of the 3 people in one of my college classes just got their schedule opened up. Hmm... maybe because her company fired her because they decided to outsource jobs?

You know, as long as companies in the U.S. have to pay large amounts in taxes, whereas companies that move to China, Mexico, Japan, etc. have no taxes, there's going to be outsourcing. Looks like there's another reason to vote for Kerry.

There is never 'one' issue driving an election for most voters.

Not usually. Although this did ask for the most significant one.

Had you compiled a list and asked to choose the 'top five' ... results would be interesting and actually reflective of actual concerns facing Americans today.


Have you seen recent CNN polls? They show similar results. The economy is the biggest issue, usually followed by unemployment and health care. The War in Iraq and, especially, terrorism are usually towards the bottom.

[Zan de Man]

A couple of weeks ago I'd have said it would be the economy. Now I think it just might be Iraq.