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Issues + Action

iSpeak: The Big Issues In These Elections

With the primaries over, the battle is joined for the Presidential election in November. The next President will inherit a number of huge crises—50 million Americans without healthcare, the Iraq war and the Afghanistan wars, the housing crisis, growing unemployment and impoverishment, climate change and the many threats to our environment, gas prices and the energy crunch, threats to our food supplies, a growing Constitutional crisis and curtailment of our rights and liberties, among others.

In your opinion, what is the most important issue or issues in this election, and why?

All issues facing the new president come 2009, are very important and need immediate attention. Our issues here at home - housing, unemployment, health, etc.---are going to be a monumental task for our new president. As far as the wars in Irag and Afganistan and other world issues, dealing with these problems only compounds and exacerbates our home issues. This country should have never gotten involved with these wars. The issue of "weapons of mass destruction" was fabricated by George Bush. I am happy to see the younger generation getting involved. If there is a future for this country and peace in the world, it rests on their abilities, knowledge, and perseverance. God Bless America!

Saundra Maynard
Retired member
New York City 
 
As a mother of three and a homeowner, the most important issues to me are our economic stability and environmental issues. These include rising gas prices and food prices, as well as environmental concerns. Next on my list would be education/health concerns, with special emphasis on childhood obesity.

Delma Luciano
Administrative staff
Montefiore Medical Center
The Bronx, NY
I think, if he wins the election, Mr. Obama must help poor people in the USA. What benefit were the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan? We must leave these countries to resolve for themselves theirs problem, and concentrate on our own needs—helping our young people, and old people. The economy it is on the floor, we cannot save money, everything is expensive.

Luis Arce
Housekeeping aide
Shorefront Jewish Geriatric Center
Brooklyn, NY 
 
The most important issue is the economic crisis we are suffering at all levels--the lack of jobs; and also the healthcare crisis.

Gloria Uribe
Laboratory worker
Segundo Ruiz Belvis
The Bronx, NY

I am convinced that Obama is the President to come. He will face the most weakened collective life history has ever painted for us. Allow me to enumerate: the economy, civil rights, education, the stock market, all areas of energy, all areas of global environmental concern, a nation of wars and destruction, violations of our Bill of Rights, crimes against our people and peoples of other innocent nations. Let us never forget the horror in dividing the Black and Jewish coalition which, as one, fought to make great the civil rights cause. This was once the strongest coalition in unity and in love for one another. It has been nearly ruined under Bush-Cheney. I firmly believe that this is the time for a great man, Obama, to lift America up and fight against the war within. Is there a person out there who honestly believes McCain can change America toward a future of growth, of love fore each other? I implore our members to vote for one candidate—Obama.

David Marks
Counselor
Beth Israel Medical Center

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