To Aramike - I do have clear ideas on the issues - but this is an opportunity for YOU to be as engaged as a voter.
UnderseaLcpl - I hope it will be fun - and thanks for helping us get started!
Constitutionally the role of the Federal Government is to provide for the common defense and settle issues between the states. Boy its gone a bit beyond that hasn't it? It needs to get back to that role - though realistically it may never be solely that again. It does need to provide oversight on where it spends its money, but stop using that federal money as a bludgeon to force states to comply with dictates from "on high". The question is actually really deep - which I like. The federal government's role is really to get out of the way of the states whenever possible, and allow the citizenry of each state to govern their lives as they see fit. Instead - DC has mandated everything from how our kids will be educated and on what topics, to what you can put into your own body, how fast you can drive on the highway, even to when life begins or ends. That was never its intended role, and that needs to change. Yes it needs some oversight on things like drugs that will be prescribed throught the nation. It shouldn't be telling you what your children will or won't be taught though.
I know I am opening alot of doors for more topics - I hope someone walks through them.
The most pressing issues right now? Boy - talk about a loaded question. But still - the domestic economt is the very top of the list. That has a lot of sub subjects like tax structure, debt and the world economy, immigration, etc. etc.
In 4 years - who knows.
The second - would be world stability. Right now India and Pakistan have Nukes, Iran is on the way to them. This keeps up and the world will soon be hostage to whichever national leader is the LEAST stable. That doesn't even touch conventional arms and their usage. The biggest areas that concern world security right now are the middle east and the terrorism issue. Both need to be dealt with - but it seems no one wants to make the tough decisions on how to do so. While the middle east has fairly recognized regional borders, terrorism has no such thing. Both issues will need seperate approaches to not only be contained - but truly remedied for the long term welfare of our nation and society.