Top Public Issues for 2019

Issues are with us whether we do anything about them or not. So, I thought I might make a list of the issues I think are most important for America in 2019. These are the ones that affect us all in some manner and need attention. 

1.      Too many gun deaths; what will change that? How do we make society safer from gun violence?

2.      Too many unwanted babies born without viable futures; what would reduce this problem?

3.      Too many people unprepared for change; how do we help them, reduce their painful adjustment, make the best of it?

4.      Too much poverty in the world; here and in other nations. How do we reduce poverty without taking anything away from the unwilling?

5.      Broken immigration system; what would an efficient, well run system look like? How can we acquire this in the next few years?

6.      Social justice: equal access to opportunity; an end to discrimination (gender, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation). How can we address this complicated issue without making it worse?

Each of these issues is a hot button for divisiveness in our country. Politicians manipulate these issues for power, votes and money. They play on fear and injustice without doing anything to lessen the problems. No solutions. Just animosity. How do we manage this context so the rest of us can focus on the problems and actually achieve desired results?

I think most problems need attention in these three areas:

a.      Serious attempt at defining the problem; what is it all about? What are its effects on our society? How large is the problem? How many people does it affect? How much does it cost our nation to abide with this specific dysfunction? What do we need to do to better understand the problem itself?

b.      Identify all the causes of the problem. Clear factual research on understanding how and why the problem works as it does. Knowing these elements, are we pointed in potential directions for solving the problem, or at least massively reducing its ill-effects?

c.      Identify all possible solutions to the problem. All the solutions, regardless of cost, complexity or simplicity. Work out realistic social costs to implement each solution; conduct a cost/benefit analysis on each. Choose the top three solutions for broader discussion and debate.

Let the nation decide which solution is best for implementation. The selection will be affected by resources needed, time allocation needed to achieve desired results, and costs to the citizenry. Let the democratic process work. Believe in the wisdom of the people. Once the selection is obvious, implement it with all due speed.

Of course, the listed issues are interrelated. So, prioritize them; which should be tackled first? Which second, and so on until all have been prioritized.

Work with the issues in priority order. It may be that only two per year can be engaged rather than whacking away at all of them simultaneously. Besides, fixing one issue may reduce the scope of other issues, making their solutions easier and less costly. Keep the priorities straight from the beginning.

There are many other issues that need attention. We will get to them eventually. First we have to solve the larger problems that have created gridlock and dismay.

Now, who can we count on to get this work started?

November 30, 2018