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POLITICS: 2008 ISSUES POLL

Thursday, January 17, 2008

When (NOT IF) you vote this November, Concrete Loop wants you to decide who to choose based on what you feel, not what the media tells you. Vote for who best reflects your personal beliefs on the issues that matter most to you.

I’ll use the results of the following poll in an upcoming entry outlining the most important issues to the CL community and where the major candidates (both Democrats and Republicans) lie on those issues.

86 CommentsCOMMENT?

Posted by: J. Dakar

more info on the dope 21MC pharaoh's poncho way-back-like-cornrows callaloo-checks sportin-waves safari-dimebag

86 Comments


COMMENT PAGES: [1] 2 » Show All

1.

miesha

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

look totally forward to this election!

2.

carmool

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

i really need to pick more than one but i’ll stick with Healthcare for this poll.

3.

Reecie

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

This poll is missing one of the biggest issues the average person in this country is concerned about: the economy! As each day passes, concerns about a recession grow even more. The economy is a VERY real concern with the surging grass prices, inflation, and just overall like of affordability of the basic necessities (food, shelter, etc.)

5.

Reecie

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

*correction: should be overall LACK of affordability.

6.

Detroit Red

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Paying off college loans

7.

AWJ12687

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

It’s probably shallow to others but I still am concerned about the war in iraq.

8.

Classy Kay

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I chose other: and entered in The Economy..everything revolves around it!

9.

base

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Poll needs to include TAXES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! affirmative action is not an issue im looking for compared to the millions of other things that are affecting this country

10.

Detroit Red

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I am AGAINST Gay Rights, Gay Marriage & Abortion.
I understand that Hillary Clinton is FOR Gay Rights, Gay Marriage & abortion…..

I need for our Next President to have Christian Values and to believe in the Jesus Christ, The Bible, and prayer in schools

Peace & Blessings

11.

@#6

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

You are absolutely correct all these things revolve around economy.

12.

@#6 & #8

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

That’s right you need an education too get a good job everybody will not be in the NBA etc, or an entertainer and they still need an education to and affirmative action keeps the playing field somewhat egual.
Education is vitally important.

13.

Detroit Red

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Reparations for Slavery, in the form of free college scholarships for our children
and a formal apology from the FEDERAL GOVERMENT for Slavery
* New Jersey has already apologized for slavery

14.

ANGEL

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I reset the poll and added economy to the options since most of the people who selected “other” filled that out.

But in the future, just click other and fill in what you want. Thanx.

15.

Lisa

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

No you need experience to get a job, I just graduated and I haven’t found a job because everyone tells me that I don’t have enough Work Experience.

16.

blk dds

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Dang we can’t vote on more than one?

#3 said:
surging “grass” prices…….
____________________________________________
LOL you wouldn’t be talking about that greeny green would you. You should have taken that up with Bill when he was in office. LOL j/k

17.

Dame

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Healthcare, Education,Economy and Iraq are all important to me.

18.

cdnyc

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

The Economy.

19.

Have Not Thought of a New User Name

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I couldn’t decide between economy, health care and education.

20.

Dame

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

@Reecie I am concerned about the economy too and so are other countries they fear the U.S is headed for a recession which I believe.

21.

cdnyc

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

J.Dakar: I don’t know if you’ve mentioned the upcoming Nevada caucus yet, but what is your take on the lawsuit filed by the Nevada Teacher’s Union(supporting Clinton) against the Nevada Culinary Union(supporting Obama) claiming that setting up voting stations in nine casinos to allow the shift workers a chance to vote gives Obama an unfair advantage?

BTW, a federal judge ruled against the teacher’s union today.

22.

StrongBlackFamily

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

CDNYC, I heard about that too. The reality is, teachers in Nevada legally are allowed time off to vote, culinary workers aren’t. In order to ensure that the workers get an opportunity (ie not have to travel all the way home on a break or something) the Obama campaign set up the voting booths.

I think it makesa difference but oh well.

23.

♥Chelly♥

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Crime is a HUGE issue.
Healthcare, education and the economy are also big concerns to me.

24.

cdnyc

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

@17: Actually the Nevada Democrats and the DNC agreed to set up the booths last March. Obama didn’t have anything to do with. It just turns out that the largest union in Nevada (60,000 strong) decided to support him and not Hilary. Two days later…the lawsuit.

A reporter asked Bill Clinton about it today and he went off!!!

25.

hood_shit

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Who da f*&^ J. Dakar? Angel, you giving my job away? lol

Real talk- this is wassup! Get Obama, Romney, Hilary, Huckabee, Guiliani on the Loop and that will def be gangsta!

26.

estyle4039

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

CL: Ya’ll doing the damn thing unlike the other sites! You guys are keeping a happy balance between entertainment and serious issues that has a profound affect on, not just people of color, but people in general. KUDOS and High Five to all the hard work you guys are doing.

P.S. Don’t forget to encourage the youngans to register to vote and to actually “VOTE”.

27.

CGJ

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I chose the economy because all of the other issues are directly or indirectly tied to it - healthcare, the war in Iraq, crime, etc.

One of the other issues near and dear to me is more government funding for stem cell research. A lot of diseases (such as AIDS) are manmade, so that means the cure is also manmade - we need to spend less money on war and foreign policy and more money on finding a cure for deadly diseases such as AIDS and cancer.

Take care of home first, and the rest will take care of itself.

28.

estyle4039

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

All of the issues are equally important, but I choose education. . .can’t do anything without it.

I hope we don’t hit a wall of recession. . .if you think crime is bad now, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Could you image the desparation for mere necessities?! Lord, have mercy on us all!!!

29.

Diamonds & Girls

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

@22
I believe there are already cures for diseases such as AIDS and Cancer however as cruel as it may sound…it all boils down to POPULATION CONTROL…

30.

natural mystique

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

After economy, definitely GUN CONTROL!!!

31.

Someone pass me an ADVIL...

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I wanna know how they feel on gay and lesbian issues….

32.

supyall

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I cant believe that there are only 4 other smart ppl out there who care about foreign relations. Foreign relations dictate EVERYTHING. You piss off N. Korea, and while you may have no more recession, bc the economy will be based on reving up for a war, meanwhile they bring in the Chinese and we get royally SCREWED. You piss off Iran and they drop a nuclear bomb on us. We piss off Pakistan and they do the same. Chavez aint playin w/his oil.
C’mon ppl the way we have been going about diplomacy w/Bush has put our country in peril. And if we dont make nice, and quick we will pay for is disastrously.

WE NEED ALLIES QUICK.

33.

CGJ

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

@24 - I don’t know about cures, but I know that some people have access to better drugs than others, which boils down to money - those with money can go to foreign countries and get drugs that haven’t been approved by the U.S. FDA.

Farah Fawcett goes to Germany I believe twice a month to get cancer treatments…and have you ever seen an HIV positive person who actually looks more healthy years after the onset of his disease? Magic Johnson was diagnosed with HIV 20 years ago (WOW!)…I ain’t hatin on Magic, but can others without his money have the same access to the drugs he’s on?

34.

msfabolous

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

What category does lowering gas prices fall under? Gas is killing me….If i HAD to choose one it would be economy followed closely behind health care…I’ll do the poll…

35.

Latane

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I would say the economy, I am very afraid that we will slip into a recession.

36.

Daft Punk™

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I chose economy.
We do not need another Depression.

37.

msfabolous

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Dangit i can’t pick between economy and education…

38.

msfabolous

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

@#24 and MONEY made off of these drugs most importantly…

39.

msfabolous

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I mean @#27

40.

Ant$

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

economy, by far. we’re headed toward a recession…although i believe that we already are in a recession…

41.

JUDAH

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I would like to hear each candidates views on the disparities evident in the differences of the treatment between the blacks and hispanics, the other races, and the caucasians. I would like to hear each candidate explain how their tenure is going to change, in any way, the social strata of this society. I want to know what sets their campaign and agenda apart from their predecessors and exactly what the plan is without the uses of slogans and catchphrases. I want to know who they plan to appoint into their cabinets, those peoples’ social upbringing, their family and educational history, and their accurate history on “race relations”. I want to know how they plan to qualify the intent of America to assuage gays and lesbians and yet appeal to believers in the Most High’s Word. I would be interested in hearing why there is still a “War on Terror” when the focus is no longer on the “capture” of Osama Bin Laden, if it ever was. I want to know what their aggressive plan of attack is in regards to the black community’s “control” of 0.5% of the American economy (the same percentage since slavery). I want to know why Americans are allegedly encouraged to be color-blind when the newspapers and news outlets report statistics based on race. I would like to know why there is a stronger onus on the representation of the homosexual and lesbian on television than there is of black males that aren’t dysfunctional. I would like to know why the F.D.A. has legalized the consumption of cloned fruits and vegetables when they obviously have led to the gross obesity of the average American. I’d also like to know, how can America fight the war on drugs when America generates the war on drugs and the subsequent systematic incarceration.

42.

08 baby

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

i said economy
we out here stravin lol.

.
http://theflyest.wordpress.com/

43.

B.Real

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Should b able to choose more than one… at least two…

44.

ttt

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

IMMIGRATION, economy and education are my top picks.

45.

Staci

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I’m looking foward to your posting!

46.

ttt

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Foreign relations is important too we just need to keep the fools out of the presidental office that want to go around the world starting fights with people and trying to invade them for no good reasons. If and when Bush pack his sh*t and get the heck up out of the white house we will be alright. But it is going to take alot of time to undo the damage he has done and caused in regards to foreign relations and everything else that he has screwed up.

47.

AIM_YUNGMA135

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

ALL OF THESE MATTER THATS THE PROBLEM WITH THE USA WE ALL GOT OUR MINDS SET ON ONE THING EXCEPT WHICH OF ALL THAT MATTERS WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL WHERE DIVIDING THESE ISSUES THAT ARE ALL IN THE SAME PERSONA OF MAKING OUR NATION A GREAT NATION

48.

STOP THE HATE!

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

“I would like to know why the F.D.A. has legalized the consumption of cloned fruits and vegetables when they obviously have led to the gross obesity of the average American.”

Judah you’re kidding right? Do you really think that fruits and vegetables have anything to do with causing obesity?? If anything I’d think it’d be the lack of fruits and vegetables…

Supyall is absolutely right, and I’m scared because it’s true! I fear for the future safety of this country, we got N. Korea on our ass, the middle east, China- the biggest powerhouse can turn against us one second and bam! we’re screwed! We need to go back to creating fruitful relationships with other countries before WW3 goes down. Obama can do that, out of all the presidential candidates I can only see him being able to talk with other countries and peacefully resolve some issues that none of the presidents could resolve. He’s all about compromise, if he can do it with the Republicans then I can see him to do it with the other nations. I want a peacemaker not a bully…

I know Ron Paul supporters will come in and exclaim Ron Paul 2008, but how can he effectively change this nation? All I see him do is criticize the Bush Administration, that’s great,but what is he going to do to change America that will benefit ALL Americans?

49.

Unity Is What We Need...

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

Obama FTW, fuck what you heard….

and use a fool if you think the majority of whites will not be voting on the basis of race or gender….

This is our greatest chance of making history and having positive change….. Vote Obama

50.

***Gorgeous Black Women***

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

1. Reproductive rights
2. Economy
3. Iraq (mostly because I have people in the military)
4. Healthcare
5. Foreign policy

51.

ms_mac

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

I’m surprised that education is trailing health care when there are so many dumb Negroes still walking this planet.

Anyway, hate to sound cold but whatever. Let me just say this. There’s nothing wrong with having money or the means to get what you want. The problem, however, is that too many Blacks can get the money but have no idea how to keep it in their pockets, make it grow or create a legacy with. True enough, the creation of wealth is what we all yearn for. But what about having the good sense and knowledge to know what to do with that money??? It kills me how having money seems to be the be all and end all for most folks. But these are the same folks that can’t even string a coherent sentence together or write proper English if their lives depended on it.

Anyone can get rich (the lotto, steal it, sell a million records). The trick is keeping it and there aren’t enough Black folks who know how to do that — even after 100 years of being “free.” The rich don’t stay rich because they have some magic formula we don’t know about. They stay rich because they know (key word here) things that the poor don’t know. And the poor fail to know these things because they fail to get knowledgeable. After all, knowledge is power.

Too many Blacks are too busy selling their children on the idea that they’ll be the next 50 Cent, Diddy, and Michael Jordan as long as they dress the part rather than instilling the value of a good, solid EDUCATION. Money comes and goes but your knowledge can never be taken from you.

My other gripe with the economy being at the forefront of a reason for voting for someone is the fact that no matter how many pipe dreams we have, Blacks will never CONTROL the economy because it’s a system designed to keep us institutionalized, marginalized and dependent. When you speak about the economy, look and think beyond the mere creation of jobs. Think about how those jobs will affect the GNP, gas prices, housing prices, your taxes, Medicaid, Social Security, etc. Don’t just think of it as the way of working to collect a paycheck. The candidate you select will not get you a job nor create a job for you. They will merely facilitate the creation of policies that ultimately benefit the top 5% of the money makers. The key to undermining that system as far as I’m concerned is becoming educated.

Even beyond this political race, my hope is that people really THINK about their choices before blindly making them.

52.

ms_mac

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

One last thing This was a really good idea to do this poll Angel/J. Dakar. I can dig it. Very rarely do people get to vote on something of substance. Generally I can really give a damn about who rocked it better. lol.

53.

bklyn-bella

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

They need to come and clean up the ghettos and stop asking why these children are selling dugs to get by

54.

Emma V's Great- Grandaughter

Thursday, January 17, 2008 /

My biggest concerns are education, health care, crime/death penalty/drugs, economy and the war.

I can’t wait for the presidential election.

55.

lucky B

Friday, January 18, 2008 /


57.

***Gorgeous Black Women***

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

“I’m surprised that education is trailing health care when there are so many dumb Negroes still walking this planet.”

The federal government pumps a high amount into K-12 education. I’d like to see universal full day pre-K included because it would immensely help middle and lower class families. With my student loans, I’d hope that there would be reform on lending laws which really do keep a lot of bright people from pursuing an education. States and local government need to develop their own systems because there’s no one-size-fits-all related to solving these problem. In the places where the education between the classes are widest, the schools that need reform the most are instead made to teach standardized tests so their schools don’t lose money. End result: people on the people on the bottom and some people in the middle still come out not knowing what they need to know. I’m happy that some states have defied it. There needs to be accountability but the impression that the problems in the education system in Los Angeles, NOLA, Philadelphia and Omaha can all be fixed in the same manner is ridiculous. People should start voting and voting more carefully on their state and local officials instead of looking to the president. It would also help immensely if parents got more involved instead of expecting schools to raise their kids for them. This is a problem I’ve seen in every income bracket, race and family set-up.

As for health care, the reason is because things are going to have to change whether we like it or not. Reform is going to happen in some shape or form. We spend the most on health care for any country in the world and we’re on the bottom rungs for developed countries. Individual responsibility matters greatly, but as I see it, our culture has become one that sets us up for huge medical expenses. Other cities and states need to follow NYC (and to some extent, NY)’s lead on this. P.E. classes should not be canceled in schools (thank No Child Left Behind for taking it from bad to worse) so that teachers can teach students tests some more and cut costs. Many go home and sit in front of the TV so encouraging this is essential.

I have some relatives who have their kids in private school. Compared to public schools, it’s day and night in so many ways. More black people need to explore those options. A lot of them have scholarships for families that need them and exceptionally bright kids. There’s also “A Better Chance” and “Prep for Prep,” two programs that can dramatically change the course of your child’s life.

58.

ms_mac

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

I feel you #57. Good points. And I’m not sying the other issues aren’t important. I’m just saying that there has to be some measure of relevancy for candidacy beyond the dollar bill.

PS, I’m sorta mad that this post (probably one of the best I’ve ever seen on this site) only got 58 comments. SMH.

59.

Ayanna

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

I wanted to vote on soo many things…but I picked Foreign Relations….b/c it’s a topic that affects the economy……

I’m surprised that a lot of ppl voted on crime & drugs….like really?

60.

Ayanna

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

thank u # 32….

61.

Ayanna

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

I really dont understand why education is such a huge topic….IMO we already have a good eductional system in the US but what I dont see is a lot of parental/community involvment…we arent holding our children up to the right kind of standards….

Education is one of the last things on my list that I care about…

What about immigration..?? Do u guys think that if we kick the illegals out our ecnomy would get better???

62.

kaykay6

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

Wow. Must not be too many teachers or former teachers in our CL world. The children must be properly educated & taken care of. With a good education, crime would decrease, children would grow up and contribute to a growing economy, not put a drain on it, children will be wise and not vote for or participate in war…GOOD education would put this country in an upward spiral :)

63.

blacsapphic

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

As critical as this issue is, I can’t believe you would leave off civil rights for the gay and lesbian community.

64.

Talkin_Now

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

I’m torn and couldn’t pick just one.

65.

Dame

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

President Bush will address the economy today in a speech.

66.

JUDAH

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

@48

Pardon; I meant cloned animals, fruits, and vegetables.

67.

YOU TOLD HARPO TO BEAT ME???

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

I really like what Obama has been saying. I think its definitely time for a change. Time to break the Clinton/Bush trend we’ve been having for the last 2 decades.

68.

Ney

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

Health care is a very important issue for me since I plan on working in the medical field. The United States is 37th in the world for health care. We have one of the highest infant mortality rates. This just doesn’t make sense to me. People in cuba are paying a dollar for their medications and we pay hundreds for our medications here. Our country is run by lobbyists for insurance companies and many people fail to recognize it. To improve our health care system, we need universal health care….I recommend that everyone watch Michael Moore’s film “Sicko”. It’s a really good documentary that opens your eyes to the issues going on around us.

69.

Sharonda

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

Obama 2008!All those issues matter to me.But little by little we can improve those issues together.I think I would place healthcare first.

70.

TXAGGIE

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

It’s so hard to pick just one…so I chose Healthcare. But don’t get me wrong all of the issues are equally important. Since pretty much everyone before me said what I wanted to say plus more, I won’t waste space for someone else to say something with being repetitive.

71.

TXAGGIE

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

One more thing…it’s feels good to be on here (CL) on a Friday and us Blacks people are coming together for the same causes that are beneficial to us. It shows that we can congregate for something besides fooliness.

72.

ms_mac

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

” … I really dont understand why education is such a huge topic….”
Huh? Are you serious? lol.

Maybe because all of this “good eductional system” is lost on students who are destined for failure when they can’t even get heat in their classrooms in the wintertime (DC public schools). How about teachers not gettting paid enough (NY) or having sufficient supplies to drive their curriculum (LA).

I’m not suggesting that there isn’t some level of importance with all the topics. Immigration, the economy, foregin affairs all play a major role in our daily lives. I’m just saying that there are more pressing issues on the table that have a greater long term affect. Just look at any country with a high illiteracy rate or poor educational system and see how their government runs or has run them into the ground.

73.

sADbutTruE88

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL NIETHER OF THEM ARE LESS OR MORE IMPORTANT THE COMPLETE EACH OTHER WE WONT THEM ALL TO BE INORDER OR WILL BE QUICK TO LOOK 4 ANOTHER CANIDID 4 YEARS 4M NOW BECAUSE WE ONLY FOCUSED ON ONE ISSUE

ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL OF THEM

74.

Ayanna

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

I see ur point Ms_Mac but I think the failure of our schools has more to do @ the local and state level and the community than the federal gov’t.

75.

H-Town Chic***

Friday, January 18, 2008 /

ECONOMY!!!

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