Most Important Issue for this Election?

[Gaybaby94]

Honestly, this economy is so screwed up it will never be fixed, but I believe that Obama is indeed the best person to start the process of getting the economy back on track. I say four more years cause it's never easy fixing a giant mess from the previous president.

So the most important issue to me is same sex rights. It's time homosexuals become equal to straight people and get the equal rights we have been denies for years.

[StoppingTime]

Honestly, this economy is so screwed up it will never be fixed

This is such a baseless argument.

It will never be fixed, so we shouldn't try. Can you not see the lack of logic here?

[Gaybaby94]

This is such a baseless argument.

It will never be fixed, so we shouldn't try. Can you not see the lack of logic here?

I said it will never be fixed, but it's worth a try and Obama is the lesser of the two evils.

[Professional Russian]

Honestly, this economy is so screwed up it will never be fixed, but I believe that Obama is indeed the best person to start the process of getting the economy back on track. I say four more years cause it's never easy fixing a giant mess from the previous president.

So the most important issue to me is same sex rights. It's time homosexuals become equal to straight people and get the equal rights we have been denies for years.

Stop blaming bush for the economy. Obama added 6 trillion to the debt and made gas prices go to $3.59 a gallon if anything Obama has made it worse

[Pierce]

I think that the economy doesn't matter when human rights are being violated. Rights for homosexuals are being violated. I believe we can push the economy a little to the side while we fix more serious troubles like how Gay's are unable to get married in 183 countries and in the U.S 44 states. America should be a safe haven for all people. If I'm not mistaken gay's are people too. I apoligize if those facts are not completely accurate but I hope my point is still clearly expressed.

[Noirtier]

For this election, what's the most important issue? I think it's actually foreign policy. Yes, we're ending our war in Afghanistan. That's good. Meanwhile, there are rising tensions and hatred and anger in the Middle East, such as Egypt, Libya, etc. Iran is developing nuclear weapons, set to have them by mid next year, and have on multiple occasions said they are determined to strike Israel. Israel has claimed they would consider a preemptive strike, which Iran responded they would attack the US embassy if Israel did strike. Russia is under a dictator in the guise of a president now, the European Union is crumbling, China and Japan have rising tensions and could begin another war, and we don't know what to even expect from Mr. Kim Jong Un over there. In addition, Cuba may crumble quite soon, as Castro nears his death. Civil wars rage everywhere from Columbia to Syria, and a rising surge in secessionist desires in various European countries. That's a lot on the plate for foreign policy, and a lot that could affect much more than just the United States...

[Manjusri]

Obama took gasoline and put it on the fire. Sure, the debt may have been there before he was elected president; he still made it worse.

I would rather have romney as a president simply because of his economic solutions. They are much more well-suited for what our nation needs right now than obama's.

[Gigablue]

I think that the economy doesn't matter when human rights are being violated. Rights for homosexuals are being violated. I believe we can push the economy a little to the side while we fix more serious troubles like how Gay's are unable to get married in 183 countries and in the U.S 44 states. America should be a safe haven for all people. If I'm not mistaken gay's are people too. I apoligize if those facts are not completely accurate but I hope my point is still clearly expressed.

This. You can have the best economy in the world, but it is irrelevant if your citizens are denied of basic human rights. The main role of a government is to ensure rights and freedoms for its people.

[Pierce]

This. You can have the best economy in the world, but it is irrelevant if your citizens are denied of basic human rights. The main role of a government is to ensure rights and freedoms for its people.

Glad you agree.

[xXJust Jump ItXx]

For this election, what's the most important issue? I think it's actually foreign policy. Yes, we're ending our war in Afghanistan. That's good. Meanwhile, there are rising tensions and hatred and anger in the Middle East, such as Egypt, Libya, etc. Iran is developing nuclear weapons, set to have them by mid next year, and have on multiple occasions said they are determined to strike Israel. Israel has claimed they would consider a preemptive strike, which Iran responded they would attack the US embassy if Israel did strike. Russia is under a dictator in the guise of a president now, the European Union is crumbling, China and Japan have rising tensions and could begin another war, and we don't know what to even expect from Mr. Kim Jong Un over there. In addition, Cuba may crumble quite soon, as Castro nears his death. Civil wars rage everywhere from Columbia to Syria, and a rising surge in secessionist desires in various European countries. That's a lot on the plate for foreign policy, and a lot that could affect much more than just the United States...

Nothing against you, Clint, but this ^^ Is why I dont watch CNN or NBC or any new on tv! Its so depression, horrible and literally nothing good to report.

[Sugaree]

Honestly, this economy is so screwed up it will never be fixed, but I believe that Obama is indeed the best person to start the process of getting the economy back on track. I say four more years cause it's never easy fixing a giant mess from the previous president.

So the most important issue to me is same sex rights. It's time homosexuals become equal to straight people and get the equal rights we have been denies for years.

We've got 20 million people out of work, rising production costs, and people losing their homes. BUT BY ALL GODS WE GOTTA LET GAYS MARRY, RIGHT? MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER.

Seriously, get off the social issues bandwagon. I mean, holy shit, do you even know how convoluted you sound when talking about politics? You base all your arguments, if they can be called that, either on a social issue or blaming the Bush administration.

The economy will never be at full health, because it never HAS been in truth. But perhaps it IS time to give someone else a shot. Obama did take on a lot when he was sworn in, I sympathize that much with him. But he also took on a lot of promises that haven't been kept. He said that the stimulus bills would put us down to 5.6% unemployment, that the deficit would be cut by half, and that manufacturing would skyrocket. We now have 8% unemployment (15 or 16% if you count people who just stopped looking for work), a 16 trillion dollar deficit, and our manufacturing has slowed to an almost full stop.

I know what you're thinking right now. "Well he's just a Republican BIGOT/RACIST/SEXIST/whatever you liberals are using as an insult!". I was just like you; I supported Obama for about three years of his term before I realized he hadn't really done anything. For the first two years of his four year term, he had a fully Democrat congress and still got nothing done. He had the power, but nothing happened except for the Health Care reform law and two failed stimulus bills. So, I'm gonna guess some of your arguments from here on out.

1. He saved the auto industry!

False. Obama did not save the auto industry as a whole. Rather, he blindly approved that billions be given to the automotive industry and forced them to crumble to Union demands for higher wages. Why is that? Well, during the 2008 campaign, most of the President's funding came from Union backed Super PACs and he needed to return the favor.

2. He passed health care reform!

True, he did, but at what cost? To help pay for his new health care plan, the President took out 700 billion dollars from Medicare to pay for it. 700 billion dollars taken away from Medicare, something that millions of people in this country rely on for help paying medical bills. On top of that, the new health care law doesn't go into full affect until 2014. Obama spent two years out of his four year term getting this health care reform through, when those two years should have been spent making a budget and making across the board cuts.

3. He supports same-sex marriage!

Yeah, big deal. A lot of people do. Fact is, same-sex marriage shouldn't be an issue Washington is concerned with. Getting the government involved in marriage is a bad idea and it should be strictly a religious thing. Yes, same-sex couples who are married by a justice of the peace should be legally recognized and have all the benefits of straight couples; but they don't need the government involved when marriage was instituted via religious authority.

So, if you're going to ignore the fact that this country is going to eventually join Greece all so you can marry your boyfriend, go ahead. The rest of us will move on without you. And before you go spouting off about how ignorant or bigoted a conservative I am, think about what you're about to say. I don't identify with conservatism or liberalism, because both of these beliefs have divided the country. But you're going to do it anyway, because you're a die hard liberal.

[Pierce]

We've got 20 million people out of work, rising production costs, and people losing their homes. BUT BY ALL GODS WE GOTTA LET GAYS MARRY, RIGHT? MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER.

Seriously, get off the social issues bandwagon. I mean, holy shit, do you even know how convoluted you sound when talking about politics? You base all your arguments, if they can be called that, either on a social issue or blaming the Bush administration.

The economy will never be at full health, because it never HAS been in truth. But perhaps it IS time to give someone else a shot. Obama did take on a lot when he was sworn in, I sympathize that much with him. But he also took on a lot of promises that haven't been kept. He said that the stimulus bills would put us down to 5.6% unemployment, that the deficit would be cut by half, and that manufacturing would skyrocket. We now have 8% unemployment (15 or 16% if you count people who just stopped looking for work), a 16 trillion dollar deficit, and our manufacturing has slowed to an almost full stop.

I know what you're thinking right now. "Well he's just a Republican BIGOT/RACIST/SEXIST/whatever you liberals are using as an insult!". I was just like you; I supported Obama for about three years of his term before I realized he hadn't really done anything. For the first two years of his four year term, he had a fully Democrat congress and still got nothing done. He had the power, but nothing happened except for the Health Care reform law and two failed stimulus bills. So, I'm gonna guess some of your arguments from here on out.

1. He saved the auto industry!

False. Obama did not save the auto industry as a whole. Rather, he blindly approved that billions be given to the automotive industry and forced them to crumble to Union demands for higher wages. Why is that? Well, during the 2008 campaign, most of the President's funding came from Union backed Super PACs and he needed to return the favor.

2. He passed health care reform!

True, he did, but at what cost? To help pay for his new health care plan, the President took out 700 billion dollars from Medicare to pay for it. 700 billion dollars taken away from Medicare, something that millions of people in this country rely on for help paying medical bills. On top of that, the new health care law doesn't go into full affect until 2014. Obama spent two years out of his four year term getting this health care reform through, when those two years should have been spent making a budget and making across the board cuts.

3. He supports same-sex marriage!

Yeah, big deal. A lot of people do. Fact is, same-sex marriage shouldn't be an issue Washington is concerned with. Getting the government involved in marriage is a bad idea and it should be strictly a religious thing. Yes, same-sex couples who are married by a justice of the peace should be legally recognized and have all the benefits of straight couples; but they don't need the government involved when marriage was instituted via religious authority.

So, if you're going to ignore the fact that this country is going to eventually join Greece all so you can marry your boyfriend, go ahead. The rest of us will move on without you. And before you go spouting off about how ignorant or bigoted a conservative I am, think about what you're about to say. I don't identify with conservatism or liberalism, because both of these beliefs have divided the country. But you're going to do it anyway, because you're a die hard liberal.

OMFG LMAO dude calm down you blew this way out of proportion I agreee with Gaybaby. Human rights are more important to me then the economy read my earlier post. Lets put economic issued just a tad to the side for a little while so we can fix these violations to human rights.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

I think military spending is the most important issue, though I don't believe it will be seen by the general public.

The economy will sort it's self out regardless of who is elected. Depressions happen, and they are corrected. That's how our horrible capitalist society works.

[IAMWILL]

I think Foreign Policy and the Economy are the most important issues. I forgot what organization it was, a big political analysis one, but they have been embraced by both candidates, and they reported that the economy will grow 8% in the next 4 years regardless of who is President. So I'm not massively concerned with the economy.

Foreign policy is more important to me, but to be honest the candidates have ridiculously similar plans. Romney is a bit more aggresive, but I don't think that is a good thing with Iran and the Middle East right now. I like how Obama has handled the situation so far.

Immigration is a pretty big issue. Hispanics are quite a large voting group nowadays, and they are generally swing voters. Obama scores well here however, Romney's "self-deportation" idea doesn't sit well with Hispanics, as well as a lot of other people.

Although I'm generally more conservative in my views, I would like to see Obama win this election. I think he needs another 4 years for any of his policies to be effective. He has better long term solutions in my opinion as well, Romney's plans are more short term. Something about Romney too, I don't feel like I can trust him. He seems like... evil. I don't trust what he says, and he has been shown to flip flop multiple times.

[Gigablue]

We've got 20 million people out of work, rising production costs, and people losing their homes. BUT BY ALL GODS WE GOTTA LET GAYS MARRY, RIGHT? MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER.

Yes, it is. Human rights issues will always be more important than the economy. The US has many social issues and inequalities, such as: same sex marriage, abortion rights, healthcare, etc., to name a few. As long as people are being gravely mistreated, who cares about the economy. Yes, it is important, but not the most important issue.

[Gaybaby94]

I think that the economy doesn't matter when human rights are being violated. Rights for homosexuals are being violated. I believe we can push the economy a little to the side while we fix more serious troubles like how Gay's are unable to get married in 183 countries and in the U.S 44 states. America should be a safe haven for all people. If I'm not mistaken gay's are people too. I apoligize if those facts are not completely accurate but I hope my point is still clearly expressed.

This. You can have the best economy in the world, but it is irrelevant if your citizens are denied of basic human rights. The main role of a government is to ensure rights and freedoms for its people.

Thank you!

[Professional Russian]

We've got 20 million people out of work, rising production costs, and people losing their homes. BUT BY ALL GODS WE GOTTA LET GAYS MARRY, RIGHT? MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER.

Seriously, get off the social issues bandwagon. I mean, holy shit, do you even know how convoluted you sound when talking about politics? You base all your arguments, if they can be called that, either on a social issue or blaming the Bush administration.

The economy will never be at full health, because it never HAS been in truth. But perhaps it IS time to give someone else a shot. Obama did take on a lot when he was sworn in, I sympathize that much with him. But he also took on a lot of promises that haven't been kept. He said that the stimulus bills would put us down to 5.6% unemployment, that the deficit would be cut by half, and that manufacturing would skyrocket. We now have 8% unemployment (15 or 16% if you count people who just stopped looking for work), a 16 trillion dollar deficit, and our manufacturing has slowed to an almost full stop.

I know what you're thinking right now. "Well he's just a Republican BIGOT/RACIST/SEXIST/whatever you liberals are using as an insult!". I was just like you; I supported Obama for about three years of his term before I realized he hadn't really done anything. For the first two years of his four year term, he had a fully Democrat congress and still got nothing done. He had the power, but nothing happened except for the Health Care reform law and two failed stimulus bills. So, I'm gonna guess some of your arguments from here on out.

1. He saved the auto industry!

False. Obama did not save the auto industry as a whole. Rather, he blindly approved that billions be given to the automotive industry and forced them to crumble to Union demands for higher wages. Why is that? Well, during the 2008 campaign, most of the President's funding came from Union backed Super PACs and he needed to return the favor.

2. He passed health care reform!

True, he did, but at what cost? To help pay for his new health care plan, the President took out 700 billion dollars from Medicare to pay for it. 700 billion dollars taken away from Medicare, something that millions of people in this country rely on for help paying medical bills. On top of that, the new health care law doesn't go into full affect until 2014. Obama spent two years out of his four year term getting this health care reform through, when those two years should have been spent making a budget and making across the board cuts.

3. He supports same-sex marriage!

Yeah, big deal. A lot of people do. Fact is, same-sex marriage shouldn't be an issue Washington is concerned with. Getting the government involved in marriage is a bad idea and it should be strictly a religious thing. Yes, same-sex couples who are married by a justice of the peace should be legally recognized and have all the benefits of straight couples; but they don't need the government involved when marriage was instituted via religious authority.

So, if you're going to ignore the fact that this country is going to eventually join Greece all so you can marry your boyfriend, go ahead. The rest of us will move on without you. And before you go spouting off about how ignorant or bigoted a conservative I am, think about what you're about to say. I don't identify with conservatism or liberalism, because both of these beliefs have divided the country. But you're going to do it anyway, because you're a die hard liberal.

THis has to be one of the best posts ever made in ROTW. I agree with this in full

[Sugaree]

Alright, everyone wants to get on me for denying human rights. Don't get me wrong, human rights issues are important, but do none of you consider 20 million people out of work a human rights violation? Do none of you consider the fact that thousands of people are losing their homes to foreclosure a human rights violation?

Human rights isn't just about equality or the suppression of a specific group; human rights is about making sure every person has the same amount of opportunity. I don't deny gays getting married, just put it on the back burner for now because we have fiscal responsibilities that must be met. Keeping the federal government out of marriage is not that hard to do! If anything, gay marriage is a human rights issue that should be decided by each individual state, and if those marriages are recognized by the states, they should be recognized by the federal government.

[Twilly F. Sniper]

So the most important issue to me is same sex rights. It's time homosexuals become equal to straight people and get the equal rights we have been denies for years.

There you go. Thats why you'd vote obama. Romney doesnt like that ideal one bit.

Plus, I agree. A higher percent of the population agrees with you than does not. By 1%, counting the 9 percent or so who dont care.

The economy though, is very important. This is where im not sure. I dont support either view on the economy. Theyre doing the exact same things, except obama is using Obamacare to do it, Romney is using an unnamed policy.

But Obama wins in the end.

Romney is pretty much going to cause trouble. We will fight a war we cant win if he becomes president. No lying here.

[Cicero]

I knew that you were gonna say something like "Gay Marriage is more important than everything else in this world!". Its great that your in favor of gay marriage, but saying that the economy is already screwed that we shouldn't fix it is pretty stupid, if we go into debt with countries like China for much longer, gay marriage rights will be the last important thing on earth. Did you know in China the government watches and monitors what websites the citizens go on? Did you know that if you watch porn, you can and will be arrested because its actually illegal to watch porn? The MOST important thing is the debt, so that we don't get over run by other countries like China.

You are so biased its not even funny, even other people on this site who believe exactly what you believe are calling you biased and calling your argument "baseless". If we don't settle and rid the debt with have with other countries, we will probably be the ones working for them. If we were to protest about something as minor as "Letting us watch porn" we would be arrested!

[Harry Smith]

This is coming from a brit who is very interested in the american election and US history, I think for the average american the most important issue will be the economy purely because it effects the most people. I agree that gay rights are more important than the economy but for many americans it boils down to making sure they have enough money to support their family and pay the bills.

If I could I would vote for obama because if Romney becomes president it will go back to bush style foreign policy.

[Cicero]

This is coming from a brit who is very interested in the american election and US history, I think for the average american the most important issue will be the economy purely because it effects the most people. I agree that gay rights are more important than the economy but for many americans it boils down to making sure they have enough money to support their family and pay the bills.

If I could I would vote for obama because if Romney becomes president it will go back to bush style foreign policy.

Romney has said that he disagreed with a lot of things Bush did while in office. If you watched the debate Romney made it perfectly clear, that he disagreed with Bush on how he handled certain Foreign Policy issues.

[Harry Smith]

I'm not saying that Romney was going to copy bush, I said that he was going to return to the style of foreign policy that bush used. Look what happened when Romney came over to Britain, the first thing he did was slagged off our olympics. America's closest ally for the last 50 years, can you imagine him trying to improve relations with Iran. Also just because a politician says something in a debate or speech dosen't mean that it is true. Do you think that Romney would try and defend Bush- of course not, he knows how unpopular Bush is. He is just trying to seperate him self from Bush.

[Danny_boi 16]

To me the issues are, in order: foreign policy, Balanced Budget, Domestic policy, energy independence, Job creation, and work in the department of interior

[Peace God]

But perhaps it IS time to give someone else a shot.
i swear ta god if you centrists let romney win on some "he's a business man" bullshit...

:blowup:

[Sugaree]

i swear ta god if you centrists let romney win on some "he's a business man" bullshit...

:blowup:

Who said I was voting for Romney? I've got my full support behind Gary Johnson. Also, any true centrist wouldn't vote for either Democrats or Republicans.

[IAMWILL]

I don't think Obama has had enough time for any of his policies to really come through, thats one of the reasons I think he should serve another term. Its not right to come in for 4 years, change a ton of policies, and then leave and have another president come in and reverse the last guy's policies. Nothing gets done. Look its not like one president will lead the US to a third world country and the other will have us ruling the world and all driving Ferraris. The US will do well regardless of who is president because most economic policies are extremely similar today.

[Gaybaby94]

I don't think Obama has had enough time for any of his policies to really come through, thats one of the reasons I think he should serve another term. Its not right to come in for 4 years, change a ton of policies, and then leave and have another president come in and reverse the last guy's policies. Nothing gets done. Look its not like one president will lead the US to a third world country and the other will have us ruling the world and all driving Ferraris. The US will do well regardless of who is president because most economic policies are extremely similar today.

We all know why Obama couldn't get his goals done, right? The republicans in the congress has been blocking bills left and right. It's ridiculous. It took 3 and a half years to get the Obamacare through and that's because the right wing kept trying to block it.

[Professional Russian]

We all know why Obama couldn't get his goals done, right? The republicans in the congress has been blocking bills left and right. It's ridiculous. It took 3 and a half years to get the Obamacare through and that's because the right wing kept trying to block it.

Obama had like 1 or 2 years with an all democrat congress and nothing got passed. Obama could have passed anything but didn't. Someone care to explain why didn't pass anything?

[Sugaree]

We all know why Obama couldn't get his goals done, right? The republicans in the congress has been blocking bills left and right. It's ridiculous. It took 3 and a half years to get the Obamacare through and that's because the right wing kept trying to block it.

A lot of Democrats opposed Obamacare too, you know. It took 3 and a half years to get it through because it went through so many rewrites. The Republicans have only been blocking Obama for the last two years, but they aren't fully to blame. Senate leader Harry Reid blocks pretty much all legislation from the House of Representatives if it so much as mentions repealing a White House approved law. Congress dead locked itself, don't blame the Republican House for something the Democrat Senate also does.

Obama had like 1 or 2 years with an all democrat congress and nothing got passed. Obama could have passed anything but didn't. Someone care to explain why didn't pass anything?

It was too busy trying to pass the new health care law. Those two years resulted in another stimulus, the repeal of DADT (which was pretty significant), and the passing of Obamacare. One would think that if you had a majority in Congress that favored you, you would take advantage. Unless the Democrats take back the House and keep the Senate, I don't think another Obama term would result in anything else than more deadlock.

[tHe_Jester1080]

It's funny how you guys say Obama hasn't had enough time to change things, or he deserves 4 more years. DO YOU GUYS PAY ATTENTION. Obama has added more national debt than presidents washington through clinton COMBINDED. Bush added 5 million in 8 years. Obama has added 6 million in just 4 years. He has cut oil drilling permits in half which has taken away millions of jobs. He focuses resources in green energy which is a waste. While green energy is great, it takes time and is very costly. The U.S isn't ready for that jump and expense and is solely an oil country. He has gone on several apology tours in the middle east. He has simply just not done what he promised in 08 and he thinks he can promise the same here in 2012. He won't get it done. You won't see new jobs or economic growth. All you will see is the national debt reach 20 million and the house hold share of it reach $55,000 which 4 years ago it was only $27,000. Obama is not someone we can afford.

[Professional Russian]

5 million in 8 years. Obama has added 6 million in just 4 years.

Trillion*

and by the way. any more questions about obama putting us in more debt than bush? because i have proof right here: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57400369-503544/national-debt-has-increased-more-under-obama-than-under-bush/

[Sugaree]

He has cut oil drilling permits in half which has taken away millions of jobs.

Except the vast majority of those permits had been held for the last 30 or 40 years. It was a waste for that land not to be used by companies who purchased permits back in the 60s or 70s. In all actuality, oil drilling permits that were revoked have also been reinstated, though the actual drilling is a long process.

[Ajmichael]

I know I'm speaking from outside of the US and I'm sorry to move away from the topinc, but personally I think it is disgusting for your political parties to be taking about how to reduce the poverty and restore the economy and at the same time spend nearly six billion dollars on the presidential campaigns, and around four billion on the mid-terms. From what I have interpreted being in the UK, it seems to be a race to see who can shout the loudest in the swing states. It costs $18 per person for the presidential campaign alone. Whereas the UK elections are centered around structured debate with strict caps on spending and air-time. In out last election, there were three live election debates and the total cost for all parties was $49 million, or 80 cents per person.