The Wall Street Journal-20080111-We-ve Got Big Problems -- Do You Have Answers-
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We've Got Big Problems -- Do You Have Answers?
In regard to Fred Barnes's op-ed "The Seinfeld Campaign" (Jan. 3): I'm searching for a reason to cast a vote for our highest office. Mr. Barnes identifies three pivotal issues this country must deal with in the next four years: Iraq, immigration and entitlement. (Global warming, universal health care, budget balancing and abortion rights are significant issues, but not on my list of first things first.)
Why would any thinking citizen cast a vote for presidential candidates who haven't stepped up to the plate with action-oriented answers as to how they'd deal with the highest priority issues this country faces?
To be anointed by a board of directors, CEO candidates must outline their plans for accomplishing their objectives. No one gets chosen by trashing opponents, rehashing their resumes or mouthing platitudes about themselves as agents of change.
Following Mr. Barnes's lead, I'd present each presidential candidate with a single sheet of paper entitled:
Pivotal Issues Your Administration Must Deal With in the Next Four Years:
1. Exiting Iraq with honor.
2. Stopping the influx of illegal immigrants.
3. Placing Social Security and Medicare on sound financial footing for future generations.
Please tell us how you plan to accomplish these critically important objectives.
"Changing Washington" doesn't cut it. "When I'm sworn in, I will bring our troops home" doesn't cut it. "I have so many ideas for this country, and I just don't want us to fall backwards as a nation" doesn't cut it. Bromides like "the politics of hope, not fear" don't cut it. That's all boomfog.
Spike Bragg
Long Beach, Calif.
