Health Care, Iraq, Jobs Are Top Issues in Working Families Vote 2008 Forum

by Mike Hall, May 11, 2007

What issues will get working family voters to the polls in November 2008? That’s what the AFL-CIO’s new interactive Working Families Vote 2008 website asked visitors earlier this month. Now you’ve made your voices heard, sometimes quite adamantly.

Opinions varied widely, but topping the issues agenda are health care, the war in Iraq, jobs and the economy, trade and environmental concerns.

(Click here to read all the responses and here to answer the newest forum question: What must presidential candidates do about the nation’s health care crisis?)

Our unscientific analysis shows health care as the most-cited concern among visitors, with 44 percent of those who responded saying it’s an issue that will turn them out to vote. Most are calling for guaranteed, affordable health care for all. For example, Lentz writes:

The definition of the best health care has to take into account the availability and cost to all!!!!

Ending the war in Iraq was brought up by 39 percent of respondents. June Rosenberg says “ending the war and foreign affairs” are her most important issues. IROC_Z says:

Getting out of IRAQ Now!!!!! We never should have gone in the first place.

But a small minority (6 percent) favor staying in Iraq or expanding the war.

Jobs and the economy are on their minds of 36 percent of those who wrote, while the closely related issue of fair trade drew a 32 percent response. Visador says:

The national party must have a vision beyond the global economy. It must include an economy that makes America number one. Our jobs must be protected. We cannot survive as a service economy.

Dennis also draws a connection between jobs, the global economy and trade:

I would like to see more done to protect working families and their jobs; more and more companies are closing their factories and moving them to some other country for cheaper wages; more and more, you see too much corporate greed. I’m for the candidate who cares for working families and UNION WORKERS OF AMERICA.

OB calls for:

Fair global trading rules that don’t cost Americans their jobs.

And janilyle succinctly sums up her issue:

It’s the ECONOMY, stupid, again!

The environment, global warming and alternative energy are on the minds of 30 percent of the Working Families Vote 2008 respondents. Sarah has a strong opinion:

HELLO, people! We are killing the planet; it can’t breath. Let’s back away from fossil fuels so we can save our planet and stop lining the CEOs’ pockets. Not to mention the cost of gas is outrageous. People should be picketing in the streets in protest.

Other issues that are on potential voters’ radar screens include: education, immigration reform and secure borders, rolling back President Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy, worker rights/labor law reform, retirement security, corporate accountability, impeaching various members of the Bush administration and civil and equal rights.

Proud Tax Paying American Union Member notes the importance of unions and workers’ freedom to organize:

I have several things I’m looking for in the next president. The [Employee] Free Choice Act and the belief in Unions. A lot of politicians think that because we want a fair wage guaranteed, it’s a crime.

Chicanowobbly wants to:

Roll back the tax credits given to the wealthy in 2000!

Brad’s says retirement security must be improved with:

Pension protection legislation that forces all companies to pay 100 percent of promised pensions to its retirees….Protect Social Security forever. The government must be made to live up to its promises made to American workers.

Come November 2008, when it’s time to pick a new president, tonyd says:

We must decide who will support organized labor, support them and then hold them accountable for their actions. We can make a difference, but it will take more than just talk.

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