What should I look for?

So I pay attention to politics about as much as the average Joe. Problem is, thats not enough to make an educated decision (imagine that, people want to make an educated decision rather than show America that we have overcome bigotry and racism by electing a fool).

So, my question to you is: what issues do you find important in this upcoming election and why?

I wish that I could say that I understood some of the ideas that these people are putting forth, but they speak politician. They say a lot with out saying a thing, so it gets a bit confusing to me.

Great question Bax*, I have been asking myself this very question, and after doing so I realize I cannot support any on the current GOP front runners.
My issues

the economy- no/very little government involvement
healthcare- repeal Obamacare, I pay more for less benefits, especially this year!
freedom- Rights of the states and individuals are being trumped by the feds

These are my top 3

Bax* wrote:

So I pay attention to politics about as much as the average Joe. Problem is, thats not enough to make an educated decision (imagine that, people want to make an educated decision rather than show America that we have overcome bigotry and racism by electing a fool).

So, my question to you is: what issues do you find important in this upcoming election and why?

I wish that I could say that I understood some of the ideas that these people are putting forth, but they speak politician. They say a lot with out saying a thing, so it gets a bit confusing to me.

Liberty! Liberty is the single most important issue for me. I want....I DEMAND.....maximum liberty. So, I look at where each candidate stands on issues that affect liberty. I don't just listen to what they are saying now, all the remaining candidates have track records, so I look at their actions in the past, as well as what they say today. For me, since liberty is far and away the most important issue, it is a very easy choice, as only ONE candidate stands for liberty at every turn: Ron Paul! IMHO, every issue that people list as high on their list such as the economy, health care, taxes, employment, environment, all affect liberty. The economy: when stifled by regulations, red tape, and massive instability in the country, affects liberty. Someone who is struggling with being able to pay the bills and get/stay out of debt is not able to be truly liberated. Health care: when individual mandates are placed by the government to purchase health care, when regulations artificially drive up the costs of health care, when FORCED rationing of health professionals raises the costs of health care, when government funded entities like Medicare/Medicaid set the prices charged to consumers, liberty is affected....or more accurately liberty is diminished. Same goes for the massive debt this nation is burdened with, the continual foreign policies of intervention, the bailouts, TARP, NDAA, tax rates, inflation rates, housing prices, employment rates....they all affect liberty. Barry/Mitt/Newt/Rick ALL endorse policies that restrict liberty, so I can NOT, and I will NOT, cast a vote for any of them under any conditions.

Thanks for the response guys. Some definite food for thought.

Pro, one thing that crossed my mind with your post about liberty is that ultimately it has become an illusion. Im sure you have heard the analogy of how to boil a frog. If the water is boiling and you throw a frog in, he will jump right out because he knows whats going on. But if you put him in a pot of cool water, and turn up the heat slowly, before you know it he is cooked!

Honestly, thats what I see happening with both sides of the spectrum. They know they cant make HUGE changes all at once, so they try to win the little battles that amount to a large battle.

I personally am of the conservative persuasion, but I fear that even conservatives dont fully represent me. Tea Party people seem a bit whacky in my eyes, and communism.... well we will leave communism out of it.

proutdoors wrote:

Bax* wrote:

So I pay attention to politics about as much as the average Joe. Problem is, thats not enough to make an educated decision (imagine that, people want to make an educated decision rather than show America that we have overcome bigotry and racism by electing a fool).

So, my question to you is: what issues do you find important in this upcoming election and why?

I wish that I could say that I understood some of the ideas that these people are putting forth, but they speak politician. They say a lot with out saying a thing, so it gets a bit confusing to me.

Liberty! Liberty is the single most important issue for me. I want....I DEMAND.....maximum liberty. So, I look at where each candidate stands on issues that affect liberty. I don't just listen to what they are saying now, all the remaining candidates have track records, so I look at their actions in the past, as well as what they say today. For me, since liberty is far and away the most important issue, it is a very easy choice, as only ONE candidate stands for liberty at every turn: Ron Paul! IMHO, every issue that people list as high on their list such as the economy, health care, taxes, employment, environment, all affect liberty. The economy: when stifled by regulations, red tape, and massive instability in the country, affects liberty. Someone who is struggling with being able to pay the bills and get/stay out of debt is not able to be truly liberated. Health care: when individual mandates are placed by the government to purchase health care, when regulations artificially drive up the costs of health care, when FORCED rationing of health professionals raises the costs of health care, when government funded entities like Medicare/Medicaid set the prices charged to consumers, liberty is affected....or more accurately liberty is diminished. Same goes for the massive debt this nation is burdened with, the continual foreign policies of intervention, the bailouts, TARP, NDAA, tax rates, inflation rates, housing prices, employment rates....they all affect liberty. Barry/Mitt/Newt/Rick ALL endorse policies that restrict liberty, so I can NOT, and I will NOT, cast a vote for any of them under any conditions.

A return to Constitutional rule of law as defined by The Federalist Papers would cover it all.