This
week, I’d like to know, which candidates in the running for the Republican and
Democratic nominations are you familiar with, and if you could ask the
candidates one question, what would it be?
October 23, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Whatever your
take on "Joe the Plumber", he at least got a chance
to ask a presidential candidate a direct question.
This week I offered readers a chance (of sorts) to pose
a question of their choice to one (or both) of the
candidates.
There are some doozies here, as you might expect – and many
that I would love to hear the candidates address.
Some, sadly, I have heard asked of these candidates – but
can’t say that they have really been answered.
Some readers chose to direct their question to one
candidate or the other – and you can pretty readily infer
from some the leanings of the questioner – but, all in all,
I thought the questions were fair, reasonable, and – at
least in total, balanced – my appreciation and thanks to
all who participated so thoughtfully.
Oh – and I have to share one question that I thought
stood out as this week’s
Editor’s Choice
;
“Are you sure you want to go through with
this?”
As a parent of 2
college students, what can the government do to
help reduce the future financial burden on
graduating students. Schools are very quick to
offer loans, but the federal subsidized loans and
grant awards have just not kept up with inflation -
college tuition inflation that is.
Mr. Obama, once the
electorate recovers from whatever spell you have
managed to put them under, how many days into your
administration will it take before your approval
rating sinks to below 20%?
You have two
minutes. Fill that time by saying positive things
about your opponent.
Mr. Obama, If you
intend to cut taxes for millions of Americans while
increasing spending are you not implying that
Ronald Reagan was correct and that lowering taxes
leads to increased revenues for the
government?
who will be your
foreign service secretary?
Despite your
promises, do you really believe that you can bring
about all the changes that you have described
throughout your campaign and are you ready to take
responsibility for ones you don't
deliver?
Why don't
suitable candidates ever run for office?
Don't you people
have jobs? Why is it acceptable to completely shirk
your duties to campaign all over the
world???
If you are elected
President, will you have a more open administration
than the current one?
Why do you make
promises that can't be kept? Anyone who says he
can bring peace to the Middle East, end our
dependency on foreign oil, or solve any real
financial crisis is lying, and insulting me by
saying it.
Even if I could
think of a question at this point (I'm
"politicked" out and the campaigns are
much too long.), I would not trust the answer from
either candidate. I'm not happy with either of
them, but I suppose I'll have to make up my
mind in less than 2 weeks.
I would like their
thoughts on introducing a third-party into the
two-party system.
How will you
encourage the people of this great nation to take
better care of their own health, and stop looking
to doctors and medicine to fix the health problems
they have brought upon themselves?
Is balancing the
federal budget a priority for you? If not, why
not?
Over the next couple
of years how will you stimulate the economy while
keeping an eye on fiscal responsability.
How come you
don't explain the economy meltdown in terms of
how it affects real American and provide solutions
using simple arithmetic. For example, how would you
help the person who lives from hand to mouth and
had the following unforeseen events not lose his
home, his mind and possibly his American dreams? -
Real estate taxes increased by $175/m - Gas for 2
vehicles increased by $400/m - Heating increased by
$150/m - Food increased by $100/m - His portion of
medical at work increased by 125/m - His job cut
overtime resulting in his income decreasing by
$800/m Please be specific as to how your proposal
would help this person and prevent it from
happening in the future. Guillermo Tineo
To Mr. McCain: Why
do you think that Sarah Palin is a credible running
mate and what was your basis for chosing
her?
The current bailout
seems designed to reward "capitalist, risk
takers" for ignoring risks inherent in their
investment, but ignoring, once again, those
directly affected. As President, do you believe you
will have any power to reorient our governmental
focus towards the benefit of the people, not the
corporations and executives?
What specific
changes would you make in the national educational
policies and programs, and how would changes be
funded?
How much money do
you intend on spending on this country's
crumbling infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc.) in
the next four years? (Sorry, I realize this is two
questions) Where will these funds come from?
How exactly are all
these great programs getting funded with all the
tax cuts? (I'd like to ask it a lot more
sarcastically, but if the candidates were strolling
around, I'd be somewhat polite.)
How will you
"reach across the aisle" and end all this
partisan bickering?
What do you really
think about your opponent?
If they could change
one thing in America, what would it be? or
alternatively, If they could change one thing or
attitude of the general populace, what would it
be?
What comfort can you
give people getting ready to retire? As the baby
boomers are getting ready, mentally to retire and
their retirement accounts quickly depleating, are
there any plans that would allow boomers to retire?
If people close to retirement age are not retiring
and staying in the workforce, where does that leave
new high school and college grads?
More of a comment to
Barack Obama. While I agree with many of his
proposals and understand his concern for providing
people with access to money in times of need,
allowing 401(k) participants to withdraw more of
their 401(k) funds without a penalty tax is a
really, really BAD idea!
I would ask them
what they want for a legacy and how they plan to
achieve that end.
I'm so fed up
with our elected officials I think the whole lot of
them should be cast away on an island somewhere
where they can filibuster till they run out of
breath. I would ask why they can move so quickly to
intervene for one person - Terry Schiavo, or for
something completely ridiculous such as renaming
food in their cafeteria - freedom fries, but when
it's something like social security or
immigration that affects millions of people, they
are unable to act. What do they plan to do make
congress more effective for the people.
Have you ever lied
for the good of the country?
Why won't
legislators pass a bailout bill to protect American
citizens from losing everything in bankruptcy due
to catrostrophic illness?
Why do you waste
time criticizing the other candidate rather than
tells us what and how you will perform?
To McCain: Please
explain the Health Care Benefits that you expect to
tax and why?
In the year 2040,
what will the average Joe think of your 4 to 8
years in office? Will he be angry, scared, or will
it matter becuase the way we are going, the United
States should be bankrupt by then, financially and
spiritually.
What will you do
about Social Security and Medicare, so the money I
have contributed for my working career is there
when I retire and for my children when they
retire?
To either candidate
on the Republican Ticket: "Why are you
here?" (Note: I live in one of the most
Democratic neighborhoods in one of the most
Democratic places in the US, San Francisco.)
To tell the truth
about what they would do, or better to tell the
truth that they have no clue as to how to get this
country back on the road to recovery. Or, do you
really think that when you become President, you
can really change anything?
Are you being
completely and totally honest with the American
people? If they (either one) answer yes, you know
they are lying.
How will you ensure
that my family remains protected and shield us from
another terrorist attack?
Can't imagine
Obama would venture into my neighborhood but -
I'd ask him about his church attendance at a
church were where devisive, negative and racist
messages are delivered; I would ask how his heart
can be prepared to lead and protect the ENTIRE
nation when it has been nurtured by such messages.
I'd also ask him why he thinks such massive
campaign spending is justified with so much want in
the world. I'd offer Mr. McCain a glass of
water and a chair to rest. I would ask him how he
plans to meaningfully address environmental and
energy issues. I'd also ask him what charities
he supports and why. I'd ask him who he'd
appoint as secretary of state.
How do you feel
about exposing Joe the Plumber as an unlicensed
plumber who owes back taxes? In the "War for
the White House", is he just to be considered
"collateral damage"? He got his 15
minutes of fame, but it could be expensive for
him.
I'd like to ask
both candidates about specifics involved in their
promises. I'd also like to know what they
believe the odds are of actually being able to
achieve any of their plans.
Would you support a
ban on all political advertising (not just in
presidential races) that makes any mention of your
opponent's position, i.e., "negative ads?
Such a ban would permit advertising that describes
your position only but would prohibit any
description of your opponent's, including a
prohibition on using quotes from your opponent or
any pictures or images of him or her. It would also
extend to outside groups like PACs, who would only
be able to produce ads supportive of a candidate or
one side of an issue, and not permit description of
any candidate's position or record in a
negative light. The ban would NOT extend to live
appearances on the campaign trail or to debates
where both candidates are present.
To McCain - Why do
those who've reaped the economic benefit from
this country via high taxable income deserve an
additional 3% tax cut?
I'm pretty sure
the people behind me know how to spend their money
wisely. It's the people ahead of me who seem to
be spending my money wildly that has me concerned.
How would you control government spending?
Why in the heck do
you even want the job, given the state of the
economy and everything else that is happening here
and around the world?
I admit it, I'm
an actuarial geek. We actuaries excel at make
REALLY GOOD demographic and financial projections,
and the projected deficit scares me to death.
Interest on the national debt, Social Security,
Medicare, defense, etc., where's the money
going to come from to pay for these programs? As a
source of meaningful funding, the Department of
Fraud and Waste was eliminated several years ago. I
promise not to broadcast the candidate's
response; I only want to know that they acknowledge
the problem.
No reason to ask a
question, neither of them would answer it honestly.
They would put their spin on it to make it
palatable for the "beauty
contest".
Which church will
you be attending when in DC?
Senator Obama:
Please detail your specific proposals on what steps
are necessary to shore up the US Student Loan
program while making it viable in the private
sector and what steps are necessary to increase
healthcare coverage while reducing costs?
I would like to ask
Barack Obama why he wants to punish success with
higher taxes?
policy on retirement
/401(k)/DB plans
When will you outlaw
"press 1 for English"?
I would love to sit
John McCain down and ask him about his days in
combat and as a POW. Whenever he or someone else
speaks about it, I'm fascinated.
What did you think
of Sarah Palin's performance on Saturday Night
Live?
Regardless of what
your campaign promises are, what do you think you
actually have a chance of accomplishing in a 4 year
term?
(I'd have more
than one.) There's been talk about insuring
everyone....what are you going to do to mitigate
the increases? Do you even know that hemophilia
drugs can be $600,000 a year? (And, of course, how
much is a gallon of milk?) And here's a loaded
question -- what is your position on tort reform?
Are you bold enough to make cigarettes completely
illegal? And...finally, do you support the
Phillies???
Are you going to
free up completely for stem-cell research?
What is your plan to
balance the federal budget, and keep it
balanced?
I'm not sure
either one would answer truthfully....what a shame
that there's no faith in the two people who are
the final candidates for the top job in the
country.
What specific plans
do you have for reducing America's dependence
on foreign oil?
I would love to ask
BOTH candidates at what percentage are you
"over taxing" working people - regardless
of how much they earn (and including payroll taxes
and income taxes)? Is it ok for the government to
take a total of 45% of someone's income, 50%,
60% - at what point does it get to be too
much?
When are you going
to bail me out?
1. What is your
stance on individual rights to bear arms. (Gun
control laws) 2. How are you going to address the
10 trillion dollar debt? 3. middle class pays their
fair share of taxes, how are you going to change
the laws to make it Fair for everyone?
Are you sure you
want to go through with this?
What do you think of
the "Fair Tax"?
To John
McCain...What were you thinking when you took on
Palin?
Why has no media
medium asked each candidate his views on the Fair
Tax? Although it's a taboo topic in our
industry, I would like to know where each
stands.
I would ask for
specifics about how the candidate is going to get
us out of the enormous budget deficit our country
is in. I am not confident our economy can recover
long term with the deficit we are running and it
appears it is only going to get worse.
What are your plans
to feed the American homeless, put a stop to
illegal immigration, and bring our troops home from
Iraq permanently?
The presidency has
term limits. Do you think Congressmen should have
term limits? Why or why not?
How do you intend to
pay for all of the programs and tax cuts you want
to initiate?
I feel that
currently there is too much given to illegal
immigrants. I would like to know how each candidate
really feels about it.
Barack Obama: How
can you support a plan to increase taxes on the
wealthiest 1% of citizens when they are directly
responsible for creating jobs in this country?
Increase taxes on them, and funds available to
create jobs and new businesses goes away. Every
past tax cut has resulted in more revenue for the
government, so how can you justifiably increase
taxes and then hope to also increase spending?
...and may I ask one more: If the only thing
government can do well is make war, why do you
think more regulation is the answer to anything?
John McCain: Why don't you support the
FairTax?
As President, what
are you going to do to stop the Democrats and
Republicans from spending their time trying to
discredit each other and instead focusing on doing
the job that "we the people have hired them
for".
Question for Obama:
If you are so big into redistributing wealth, why
don't you redistribute some of your campaign
funds instead of increasing taxes for the middle
class? Why should many of us continue our
education, get college degrees, obtain advanced
accredidations, work hard at our careers, just so
you can redistribute our earnings to others who may
not make good decisions?
While everyone makes
a poor decision, how can we trust your values if
you have used a hard substance such as Cocaine (if
you have)?