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What Do YOU Want to Ask the Candidates? |
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We’ve seen an outstanding response in the first week of the Working Families Vote 2008 contest, “What Do YOU Want to Ask the Candidates?” Nearly 1,200 questions have been submitted on the issues that matter to you.
All week, you’ve been submitting and voting on questions. The questions that get the most votes will be asked at the AFL-CIO Presidential Candidates Forum, to be held in Chicago on Aug. 7. The forum will be broadcast nationwide on MSNBC, and the contest gives you a chance to choose what questions the candidates will have to answer.
Remember, only AFL-CIO members can submit questions, but anyone can vote. The top questions will advance to the final round on Monday, July 30, so vote today!
By far the biggest issue on your minds is health care, but you also weighed in on education, immigration, foreign policy and campaign finance.
Here’s a sampling of the questions you’ve submitted:
I lost my job last year because the plant closed. I have tried to get a permanent job to get health insurance, but the only thing I can find is temporary, where there is no health insurance. I am 60 years old, too young to retire but too old to find a job with benefits. We need health care for every citizen in the USA. What can you do about this problem?”
—Dianna in Tennessee
As a worker, I see my expenses increasing but my wages stagnant or declining in purchasing power. We are rapidly becoming the haves and have nots and no middle class. How would you address the disparity?
—Jean Love in Minnesota
How can you reassure people who have rightfully earned a pension that they will be able to take advantage of that benefit without descending into poverty? We have seen so many funds go belly up, with payments drastically reduced and medical coverage eliminated in the process—what can you do to ensure that corporate promises are kept to hard-working families?
—Union Lifer in CaliforniaWhat type of a workable plan do you propose to safely and effectively re-deploy our troops home from the war zone?”
—Vonnie in IndianaShould trade agreements require that our trading partners have laws that respect workers’ rights and union organization?
—Jim in New JerseyOne of the things that appears to help broaden the gap between the vastly wealthy in America and the rest of us has been the attempt by corporate America and the Republican party to disenfranchise organized labor. If elected, would you introduce legislation to both to make it easier to join or organize a labor union, as well as increasing penalties for those who are willing to break existing unions or unions in their infancy?
—JD in Connecticut
So, what’s on your mind? Health care? Education? The war in Iraq? To read more questions on these and other issues, and vote for your favorites, visit us today! Remember, the questions that receive the most votes will be asked of the candidates themselves at the AFL-CIO 2008 Presidential Candidates Forum. You have the power to let them know what’s on your mind.
4 Comments
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I like millions of Americans want to know why i have to go through an insurance co. to have healthcare?? Do you candidates have some explanation for this.. and how would, or would you take the ripoff middle man ut of the equation and make things simpler and less costly for all involved. and also get the natural healthcare that actually heals instead of treating symtoms. and would you make drugs for people that need them available from other countries and save americans billions of dollars.
I am a spec education para educator w/ Seatle Schools. I have been trying to get a teaching certificate, but cannot get a masters of spec ed endorsement without taking out further bank loans. I’m already 30,000 in debt just for getting my cert. I cannot take on anymore debt. What do you say America develops a loan fogiveness program for those who work in the public sector? Teachers who teach in public schools, lawyers who work for the public defender, doctors who work for public health, etc. Furthermore, everyone gives lip service to higher teacher pay, but as of yet, I haven’t seen it. A starting salary of $30,000 in one of the costliest places to live, is criminal!
my 17-yr-old son wants to know if any of the candidates will come to a local high school to speak with high-schoolers. He wonders why his school is plagued with mold in the celing while at the same time they spent 9.4 million dollars on a state of the art performing arts center? Our school buildings are crumbling down around us, our teachers are woefully underpaid, the kids are given slop for lunch and must share text books because there aren’t enough to go around. The US ranks around 13th in education quality world wide. We are just ahead of Mexico in education and just ahead of SLovenia in medical care quality. This, the richest nation in the world and we can’t educate our children or adults and a vast number have no access to health care due to the inability to pay for it. This is shameful!
We all have seen in recent news of the three students in NJ Executed by others and an illegal immigrant who had also molested a child. This Patronizing of illegals has run its course, Enough is enough. Most of us feel the same way but are so afraid of being labled a biggot but this is not a racial problem.We have to secure our borders. not only to prevent incedents like this but terrorism as well. If illegal are crossing by the thousands weekly do you really believe terrorist aren’t too or do they only enter through international airports. And how is it that in Charlotte NC can issue them drivers licenses without documentation jobs without social security numbers public assistance and even allow them to open bank accounts. We have no history at all on them you only know what they tell you, But for me born and raise inthe USA i must bring my social security you want employment history credit checks criminal history report etc. and that bull*** that they do the jobs that most americans won’t do is a lie who was doing it before they came. they are doing it now because those that employ them have drastically dropped wages in that field like mne. (constuction) i’ve done it for 9 yrs. because i love it the salary was good But now we must take a pay cut or be forced out because they can hire two people for what they pay me but they will never rehire my passion for the job. Finally we abide and have those that enter our borders abide by the Laws and Traditions of those that came before through Ellis Island.