What is the biggest challenge America faces?
Our country is faced with challenges as we enter into the 21st century. I am prepared to effectively deal with these challenges and lead our country as President on Day 1. Please let me know what you view as the biggest challenge America faces and how you would like your President to address this challenge.
More Answers (2,816)
Our biggest challenge is the enemy within. People believing that they must be and think and vote Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal. Instead of thinking for themselves and making personal decisions on issues, they feel the need to vote the party line. When we are fighting a nearly 50/50 battle against ourselves, progress comes to a screeching halt. The two party system is failing our country, and the electoral college, which is antiquated beyond horseback messages, perpetuates this. No challenge is insurmountable for this great country, except for that of getting in its own way. Eliminate the electoral college, allow the popular vote to determine our leaders, and the people will elect the leaders who will head us in the right direction.
The National Debt (domestically as a country auctioning T-notes and as citizens struggling to pay bills); and how much China is buying into America... I think I echo many Americans' concern over the integrity of a country that shoots to kill the Tibetans.
There seems to be a greater level of competition coming from China, Brazil, and Russia, too. What robust plan can be crafted to help our great country out over the next 4 years and further?
Restructuring America's economic and foreign policies. In order to do so, it will be necessary to realign the power players within the bureaucracy. America will need to return to a "Speak softly and carry a big stick" approach to international affairs. Allowing international interests that suffered investment losses because of our Iraqi incursion incentives to recover within Iraq. Tone down our rhetoric and pace of inclusion of former Soviet satellites to NATO. Refrain from interfering in the Taiwan/China rapprochement, and the North and South Korea rapprochement.
Mend our relationship with Russia and avoid the temptation to engage in another Cold War stance. Use Iranian interests within the U.S. to destabilize the radical regime in Iran.
Resource shortages: energy, water, depleted oceans Future generations face a future of cold winters without heat, thirsty children without clean water to drink, and barren oceans.
I would like to see our President start a "Manhattan Project" where the best minds, and immense resources to back them, are dedicated to solving problems vital to the nation's security and well being, such as replacing energy independence with environmentally friendly alternatives.
Domestic: The biggest challenge is over-regulation and a government that is growing out of control.
International: Terrorism
False Issue: Illegal immigration. Immigrants who work hard and build our country (the vast majority by the way) are a massive form of unsolicited foreign aid. We may pay a little more for public services (services which should not be available to ANYONE by the way), but we get cheap housing, cheap food, cheap hospitality services (e.g. hotel and restaurant workers), etc. It's a good deal for the U.S.
Ted N
Audio/Video Systems Specialist, Videographer, Video Editor
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Dear Senator McCain:
I believe one of the biggest challenges facing America is the reviving of its economy.
Having U.S. companies stop sending jobs overseas would be a start, and maybe invest more in its neighbors, Canada and Mexico. I propose giving U.S. companies some incentives to keep jobs in North America.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Ted Nguyen
Biggest problem: Run away corporate greed, its focus on short term goals, how it's forgotten that its employees are its largest investors, and the unchecked influence it has on our law makers. The result of which has given Cart Blanch to the financial institutions, placebo oversight of the pharmaceutical industry and reducing the wind in the sails of renewable energy (such as biodiesel and efficient battery technology for electric vehicles). Solution: Cap the salary and benefits for executives of corporations that accept government 'bailouts' or tax benefits/credits or government contracts above a determined amount. Effectively cap the amount of money and influence from campaign contributions. PAC funds and lobby efforts by make transcripts of all meetings and conversations by lobbyists, constituents and people representing special interest groups to any elected or appointed official or their staffers/consultants public information.
The absolute biggest challenge that we face is the faltering economy. Having seen the dot com bust in early 2000, and now living through the housing bust (> $500k personal slip in net worth due to real estate devaluations), it is extremely frustrating to see all the hard work we put in as a nation go up in smoke. These slips can be minimized, and millions of Americans including the top 1-5 % of wage earners, could face huge losses.
The Answer: Hire someone who knows the levers of how to fix the economy. And use the tools available to help the millions of homeowners seeing their homes lose 20, 40, 50% in value.
Climate Change Awareness and Education on Capitol Hill
Nina I
Legal Translators eDiscovery Translation Pharma Sci-Tech Translators languagealliance.com www.translationforlawyers.com
I believe the biggest challenge facing the U.S. and the world in the next 4 to 5 years is the rapid depletion of conventional oil resources throughout the world as related to the Peak Oil theory. In fact, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that there is a very good chance of a major energy supply crunch as soon as 2012 with regard to world oil supplies. If so, this could potentially be a major economic and national security issue.
Thus, the next President's major challenge is to transition our country ASAP to alternative sources of fuel, especially in the transportation area. This includes all possible sources both short and long term: ethanol, bio-diesel, all-electric cars, hybrids, compressed air cars and hydrogen fuel cell cars. Industry movers and shakers are already moving in this direction- a revolution is coming in the automotive market. See Toyota, Tesla Motors, Zero Pollution Motors, Miles Electric Vehicles, MDI air car, etc. The next President will need to inspire Detroit to move faster in this direction.
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War, and false economics. How do we truly know what is true? The media hypes, the writer blogs, bias liberation. With that said, war is on my mind and how do we globally resolve this complex issue without being a coward?
Richard P
Freelance Financial Consultant/ Owner, Debt Laundry (info@debtlaundry.com)
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Dear John,
Your challenges will start with restoring the USA's national and international position. The trust in the USA, domestically and internationally, is at a low level. This concerns all areas, from the economy to foreign policy.
I would advise you to separate yourself rapidly from some of the lobbies that have surrounded and negatively influenced your predecessor. The excessive influence of the lobbies could drag down the USA into decadence, as the harems did in the ancient empires of i.e. Turkey and Persia. The first emperors in these ancient civilizations always kept touch with their roots and where they came from. Even though they had accumulated large wealth’s, they took their tents and went back to the desert for months. The President of the USA has to win the people again and defend the interests of the large silent majority of the middle classes.
Know who your allies and enemies are. Be a leader that can take decisions on its own, with consultation but without the influence of others. In this changing world and possible redistribution of cards, you can certainly count on your traditional Western allies.
Best regards,
Richard
★ Stu M
★35+ Yrs IT PJM /QA/Dev ★ Snr Technical Manager/QA TestLabs Service ★ Business Owner ★ Web Developer ★
Stupidity
Charles C
Programmer for Kelly IT Resources @ Intel
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The biggest challenge people face is maintaining a quality of life fit for the American Dream. To me the American dream means being able to carve out a little piece of this nation for your own and improve your situation. People living the American Dream feel like they are a part of this nation and thus have a vested interest in its future. A citizen with a stake in their country is more likely to support and uphold it.
There are some key points in today's world that are acting as barriers to the American Dream. As the American Dream moves farther and farther away from people, they will also move farther and farther apart from each other. The common bond in this "melting pot" we call the USA... IS the American Dream.
Most of the Barriers I see growing in front of the American Dream relate to economic issues.
* Education - Education is becoming a barrier at all levels. In the recent past I was making way through the university curriculum. Even though I was at a state school with highly subsidized tuition, people were starting to get squeezed out of the system. These were good people who could give meaningful contributions to the work force, but their choice of pursuing an education was being made for them. Often because they had to support a young family and more and more to support their parents and grandparents. Family vs. Education should not be a decision that has to be made. America loses if either is neglected.
And perhaps the solution is not more money for college students, but to make the existing money more accessible. It is a job in itself to seek out and obtain funding for education. There are barriers to this funding that are largely artificial; The barriers are due to excessive process and cryptic guidance. The simple directive is to find a way to get existing funds into the hands of qualified students faster and with less overhead.
The education woes do not stop at the university level. They extend throughout the entire education system. We need to take care of our children or our future is dim. I do NOT think that exams are the solution to this problem. Passing a test is not what is going to pull American schools back on top. Teachers need to be enabled to do what they do best. Perhaps this enabling comes in the form of new supplies or technology. This funding does not have to all come from the federal or state level. Businesses should be integrated into the education process. While I believe the primary objective of education is to promote good citizenship and provide a basic level of ability, a close second is to create an useful workforce. Businesses are the ultimate benefactor of the workforce, and should play a role in shaping that workforce.
Which leads me to another point, students today are lacking science and math skills. At the core of this deficiency is a lack of problem solving skills. You would do well to review the discussion on this topic started by Mr. Gates. Problem solving is what has made America great. Think back to the Constitution, the rail road, the telephone, the airplane, the TV, the computer. Problem solving has carried his nation. It is the means to get to the "improve your situation" part of the American Dream.
* Health Care - Health care is another barrier to the American Dream. It is a barrier because it taps financial resources that might otherwise be used for other things to move closer to the American Dream. In light of the recent housing market I am considering getting into a very soon. My wife and I are looking for a modest house that will be within our means. For certain homes we are considering, we would be paying more per month for health care than for our mortgage. More attention needs to paid to solving the things that strain the health care system (cancer, etc.)
I have run out of space, but would love to chat more if you ever make it to Sacramento.
This is arguably the most important election this country has seen in many decades. I believe that we need to see a mature President lead this country through some very troubled times both domestically and internationally. I cannot vote for someone who makes up stories to play, part of a dynasty and especially someone who denies to reveal his true identity with idealogical beliefs that are truly foreign to this land. Senator McCain, I believe that you have the characteristics to lead this country with your passion and integrity dealing with what is to me the core issue - making the USA safe while being a dominant global player as a legacy to our children and their children.
Our threats are both domestic and international. We need to rid this land of the corruption and lies that make up the political and corporate landscape. We need job creation, which means a focus on long term education to generate the talent that we need to stop the need to import talent from abroad. We need a focus on family values and that starts from the top -with you at the helm. I simply cannot believe that either of the 2 remaining Democratic candidates can offer that for very different reasons. Economic recovery starts by lowering our dependence on foreign goods. In order to make American made consumables more affordable, we need to start focusing on making these goods more cost effectively. We need to look at ways of eliminating costs in the special interest groups. Health insurance is a perfect example. By eliminating superfluous overhead, you can not only make health insurance available to everyone but you can easily streamline the availability of quality health care to everyone WITHOUT raising taxes as the Democrats would have us do.
Senator McCain, I have been an active supporter of yours for many years. All I ask is that you be really smart in how you play to the lobbyists and political power while leaving your legacy after hopefully 8 years of leadership in 2016. This is such a critical time for us, we don't immaturity or dynastic candidates. We need change. I am confident that you can bring us that change.
Senator McCain,
Energy, “the fuel of the economy’ is the core challenge behind many that pose as our challenges ranging from quality of health care to national debt. The amount of addressing the issue expected from the President of the United States, far exceeds mere initiatives, partnerships, support and campaigns that address the consumer consumption habits and trends, instead it extends to offer generous budgets for long term energy solutions that revamp dependencies on perishable sources of energy that are currently limiting innovation, science, human achievements and that are effecting an ever connected world economies by the minute.
Many countries in Europe have already taken steps towards less oil dependency, as of April 2008 there were a total of 197 nuclear power plant units with an installed electric net capacity of 169,901 MWe in operation . 35% of the European Union electricity was generated by nuclear energy in 2005. France holds the top position with 78.5 % of electricity needs generated by nuclear energy. Safe, clean, reliable and affordable nuclear energy could be the pivot that would shape centuries to come of competitive industries whether heavy or light, cheaper products that could positively benefit our trade balance, in addition and most importantly a sound economy backed by a strong currency that is less depreciable by time.
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Getting our soldiers out of a country that did not provoke us; that we are not at war with; that has already killed 4,000 Americans; and that there is no clear indication of victory - since there is nothing in particular we are fighting for. ALSO - our economy is in the toilet; we're the most hated nation on the planet; our children get the worst education in the world; and we're going to be a province of China or India if we don't totally change our ways quickly.
Lack of internal infrastructure investments and basic services such as education and health for all.
Contending with the fact that you could actually end up being in the Whitehouse.
#1 to get out of Iraq now.
There is no single biggest challenge, so picking one and focusing on one would result in a poor policy.
A great political correct word, challenge, I prefer to use the word "problem"
I am know as a problem finder and problem solver, but would not envy the Commander in Chiefs position comes January of next year.
I believe e a distinction could be made in this answer between U.S. specific challenges/problems and global ones. To the people in America, that really does not make a difference. So allow me to summarize:
- The increased importance of money and decreased respect for people, resulting in mediocrity everywhere. It resulted in loss of jobs, layoffs, etc. and the rest of the world reacted to that. Check the currency exchange rate of the $. Another decade and the Euro symbol will replace the $ symbol on a standard keyboard
- Constant budget cuts for areas that are essential to the well being of our society and, probably more importantly, the next generation. Arnold, yo may be "fantastic" but what about these eduaction cuts.
- Healthcare. I pay for healthcare and yet I got a bill for a procedure I had done to have myself checked on something my father dies off and they told me it was not covered because it was "preventive"
- And oh yes: Iraq: Why attack another country and call it a war , WWII was a War were the US were respected and its soldiers considered heroes. In this one we get a daily reminder we do not even know who the enemy is, yet people get killed and, worse, trillions of $$$ or getting spend
that are not being used instead to deal with:
- the deficit
- education
- creating jobs
- endowment of the arts
- restore our reputation in the rest of the world
Well,
that would take at least a good President and Vice-President and a solid administration to get started on.
Concerned resident of The United States
Christian R
Forex Hedge Fund (Chief Of Operations) & Forex Signaling Group Leader (Forex Group)
Take care of Israel Senator McCain. Some of us still hold fully to the founding principals this country was founded on, and we do not compromise for money or politics. If you split Israel into parts, you will mark the end of this country. Mark my words.
Senator McCain-
I think restoring confidence in the economy will be the biggest challenge facing the next administration. Over the course of the last six years, unemployment rates have frequently been lower than during the internet boom (today's levels of unemployment, average length of unemployment, and long-term unemployment are lower than that of 1996), the stock market has hit record highs and business has flourished. Because of personal and government debt, the continuing trade deficits and resulting devaluation of the dollar (along with a hostile press), the mood of the country on the economy is pessimistic at best. Shoring up losses, balancing the budget, finding a way through the current credit crises and preventing another one will be the biggest domestic challenge up front. Success in these categories will help restore faith in the economy in ways that historically low interest rates can't, which will help spur spending, investment and the cycle of innovation that made us what we are.
Helping Iraq stand on its own two feet and reducing the need for US presence and spending, and containing rogue states and terrorist threats stand as the biggest challenges in foreign policy.
There are myriad other issues - illegal immigration, free trade, domestic security, alternative energy, etc - that face the next administration, but by scrutinizing, fixing and revving up our economic engine for all of America and the world to see, the resulting confidence and investment in the US will go a long way in solving a fair number of issues at hand.
I believe that you're capable of rising to the challenge on these issues and more. Congratulations on your nomination and best of luck in November!
Larry M
Chief Gardener and Woodcutter at Our Little Farm
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The single largest challenge America faces is our absolute dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels, particularly petroleum. Everything in our economy is dependent upon them. Yes, we might have a lot of coal left in the ground, but what powers the equipment that rips it from the earth? What powers the locomotives that transport it? Oil. What are the vast majority of plastics manufactured from? Oil. What powers the equipment that mines and refines the fuel for nuclear power plants? Oil. More importantly, modern industrial agriculture is impossible without oil.
We've made cheap oil, natural gas, and coal the foundation of our economy. Particularly oil. Nearly all commodity prices have been tracking the price of oil on it's upward journey since 2005.
Despite attempts by current and past administrations to demonize OPEC for our problems, the fundamental issue that we must change from a fossil fuel dependent economy to one founded on renewable resources.
Let's get through denial and complete our grieving process for the death of cheap oil. Our next president must set the nation on a course to a renewable economy.
Clarification added April 11, 2008:
Wow, so many really good answers! My answer was focused on the American economy. Big government and the curtailing of our Constitutional and civil rights are the largest issues facing our nation. Frankly, there are several departments in the executive branch which need to be seriously overhauled, redirected, reduced, or outright eliminated. The largest issues are in the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Transportation, but all need to be critically evaluated. The President certainly has the authority to make this happen.
John "J.C." C
Wealthcare Capital Management
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I just read all 135 responses and the only common denominator I can find is what I was going to submit as America's biggest challenge.
Our biggest challenge is to simply a federal government that has become incredibly complex in many areas without adding any value. The folks in Washington feel adding agencies and bureaus and cabinet positions is the way to tackle a problem. When was the last time anything was actually eliminated in Washington?
I think a message that would resonate with Americans is that if you simplify government you can also simplify American lives. People's resources are stretched. Whether it be time or money, folks want less hassle in their lives and the government contributes to the hassle more often than not.
Universal Health Care does not simplify our lives. The current tax code does not simplify our lives. The current foster care program in our society creates complexity today and in the future. The intent and execution of Social Security and Medicare funding is overly complex and bleeding with waste.
Educating the next generation, especially in STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. My son has went through a school system that is rated as excellent yet they only teach the same math and science that they have been teaching for years. There are no programming courses available, no robotics or no engineering courses. They spend time on penmanship, but not any on keyboarding. To be competitive in the coming years we are going to need to the next generation to have technology skills. I know addressing this would be difficult. What to do about students that don't have computers at home, or areas where internet access is limited. I think the government could help by ensuring internet access is available and affordable. The No Child Left Behind could incorporate some technology standards. There could be tax breaks or other incentives for corporations and local governments to invest in technology in schools. The government could set up clearinghouses for teaching technology or technology information directed at children.
The only issue is our Earth. Without a healthy environment, nothing else matters.
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Bill N
Brand Stratgist & Author of "Brand Advocate," "Brand Triad," & "Our Time is Near."
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Three things:
1) Economic stability: Bolster and create incentives for business innovation and manufacturing capabilities in the US (reduce reliance on foreign products)
2) Simplify Tax System: Flat tax and equalize burden on households
3) Ethics and Credibility back to Government: Most friends and neighbors say to me "there is no one to vote for - they all lack credibility and morals"
Question for John: How will you accomplish these three initiatives???
The emphasis on partisanship over policy and a population poorly educated by non factual pop science and history.
We need to transform ourselves back into a nation of doers.
Somewhere along the way, we forgot or rejected how America was born and grew into a beacon of hope for the huddled masses. We became the lazy, entitled masses. Our children stopped going to college to make the world a better place and started going to get rich quickly.
When immigrants (like our ancestors were) work harder than we do for less than we do, it says a lot about us and them. When we import engineers and scientist, not to give them a chance to learn where otherwise they wouldn't, but to fill positions in this country vital to our economy and defense, it says even more about what we've become.
We need a good dope slap. We need someone to tell us to get off our lazy backsides, forget what we're owed and get out there and do something larger than ourselves. We need the challenge more than the President does.
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