The Oceans are dying right this minute.
The perception that corruption is widespread in the US is... well... widespread.
All of our Aggressive Wars, the egging on of strife, have not only failed, they've worsened our Security.
I call these "Major Issues" because they affect everyone of us, regardless of who we see ourselves as.
To delineate the connections:
Dying Oceans
Why are they dying? People have their best guesses; nobody knows. Whatever it is, there'll not be a solution until sometime after we know what things, or combination of things, is at the root of it. (More than in the abstract sense of "climate change," but actual remedies to apply.)
In other words, years or decades from now.
Here's what we know is going to happen. Food supply is going to go down. Combine it with the drought in California off the Pacific Coast and food is absolutely certain to cost more.
Okay, Ms or Mr Candidate for Federal Office: a) do you recognize there's going to be this problem? b) what do you plan to do about it?
Also certain: fishermen and the communities dependent on them are going to lose income. Maybe farmers, too. A lot of people.
I want the recognition of this certain future; I want to hear your plan.
Flimflam Finance
Corruption (and frankly, contempt) is seen in our Business and Governing Communities. Corruption that procedes with impunity in High Finance Circles (aka "Major Backers of Most 'Serious" Candidates")
The corruption destroys not only the resources of the people; it ultimately steals power from them. This has been noted since the Ancient Greeks and demonstrated frequently since.
If you, dear Candidate, fear destroying comity with your fellow politicians over the matter, perhaps you shouldn't be out there bamboozling people that you care about their future. If you fear losing your backers, please, for the sake of the nation, just don't run.
Otherwise, say something about the fact. Offer a course of remedy; some alternative.
Our National Suicide Strategy
If it were a Security Strategy, after more than a decade of pursuing it, our enemies would not have growing numbers, growing wealth, better and more armament, bases in several different states, control large swathes of territory and resources, and be able to field armies.
They can now.
More: we've destroyed our soft power in the world. People the world over wanted to be like Americans, not just in terms of material things, but in terms of a Free Society.
One where torture, aggressive war, throwing nations into chaos are just plainly wrong; One where the Rule of Law trumped any power holder. Well that's down the toilet. yes, I know, more appearance and rhetoric than substance, but still, people stove for that concept because it is worthy of human beings
If you follow economic news in the world, you know that the rest of the nations are having trade conferences where we are not invited; and the result is they trade among themselves without dollars. China, Middle East, South America, Africa, Russia....and in multiple combinations.
Because, though it seems verboten to actually state the bleeding obvious in public among us Americans, the rest of the world knows complete control is our aim. There's trade blocs in existence, others being discussed which cover half the world's population and resources. All the trade conducted in not-dollars. The thing upon which any fantasy of World Hegemony rests.
"Full-spectrum dominance" is not just a catchy phrase our elites toss about. They mean it, and everyone knows they mean it.
Even our European allies are starting to look at us like you would if in a room with the Crazy Uncle who has all the money and guns.
All this misery we've brought, or helped to bring, about for literally tens of millions of human beings. At a cost which just about exactly matches how much money we borrow to fight the wars. Which borrowing leads to debt; which debt leads to pressure of the Social Safety Net, and leaves us with lost opportunity costs our great-grandchildren will be paying. (If the fools don't start WWIII.)
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Seriously, Candidates, you're going to discuss who is weaker and slimier, and more prone to mistakes, maybe some social issues which are three or four tiers down from Major Issues? And completely ignore those Major Issues?
And Big Media, you're going to ignore this too?
Well, we know what the course will be, unless we act differently as citizens and force the discussion. They'll give us a Horse Race with Sideshows, same as it ever was.
You know what? Next time you see a poll results diary please ask them if those "likes / don't like" numbers hold through on the Policy Positions those Candidates hold on Major Issues. And ask, too, if anybody can even identify those policies.
Let's get a reality-based Election for once.