~a column by Colleen O’Brien
Because we live in Iowa, home of the first caucus in a Presidential election year, we get all the candidates sometime in the two years prior to the vote; in this case, November of 2016. They’re flocking to Iowa already, in case you haven’t noticed, and it is indeed a privilege, for they come here to where there are so few of us (only 3 million or so population in the entire state) that any of us can talk to them if we want to. Most people in other states do not get this opportunity to closely observe those who will definitely influence their lives for four to eight years.
It’s a good idea to have questions ready if you’re going to a meeting at the Pizza Ranch or the Greene Bean to hear a possible future POTUS (initials the Secret Service uses for President of the United States). You can tell your grandkids you had the chance to ask a question of a historic figure, making yourself a historic figure.
Following are possible questions to have at the ready:
Natural Resources: Water & Air Quality / Energy / Global Climate Change / Food Production
- How will you deal with water and air quality regarding animal confined feeding operations?
- What are your opinions on air and water quality regarding legislation and enforcement?
- What is your position on using fracking for energy production being transparent regarding the chemicals used?
- How will you promote alternative forms of energy: solar, wind, ethanol and geothermal?
- Would you be willing to support legislation to reduce corporate subsidies?
- What is your stand on food inspections related to livestock?
- How would you limit carbon and methane released into the atmosphere?
- Would you support international climate agreements?
- How would you approach water shortages and water pollution?
Affordable Care Act / Social Security / Medicare & Medicaid
- How do you see the successes of the Affordable Care Act?
- If you oppose the Affordable Care Act, what specifically would you offer?
- Do you consider health care a privilege or a right?
Tax Reform / Income Equality / Income Inequality / Eroding Middle Class / Off Shore Banking
- What do you think about increasing capital gains tax?
- Would you be willing to raise taxes paid by corporations and cut loopholes?
- Would you be willing to ban off-shore banking?
- Would you be willing to raise personal income tax rates for the top bracket?
- What do you think about raising the minimum wage?
- Do you think the middle class is eroding? What would you do to stop this erosion?
- What do you think about raising the cap for Social Security withholding?
Pay for Soldiers / Benefits for Veterans
- How would you provide resources for homeless veterans?
- Would you support allowing homeless and disabled veterans to visit nearest medical facility without limitations?
- How would you provide more information regarding emotional, mental and moral issues faced by veterans?
- Would you consider streamlining access to mental health services for veterans?
- What programs would you initiate for veterans – alcoholism, drug abuse, self-medication?
- Would you support job training and employment for veterans, and families of returning veterans?
- Would you support national service for everyone from ages 18-22?
Social Issues: Racism / Prison / War on Drugs / Mandatory Sentencing / Child Welfare / LGBT
- What alternatives have you offered to “three-strikes-and-you’re-out”?
- Do you see legal or illegal immigrants as invaders or as persons of worth?
- Do you support sending immigrants back to the country of their origin or finding ways to assimilate them?
- Do you support equality for all persons, including those who are LGBT?
These questions are bipartisan; any candidate can be asked, and what you want to hear will depend on which candidate you ask what. It’s interesting to attend stump speeches on both sides, the Rs and the Ds, for an informed voter makes for a wiser choice; or at least a self image of wiser.
