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posted by cmn32480 on Saturday September 24 2016, @11:02AM   Printer-friendly
from the riddle-me-this-batman dept.

The New York Times has an article asking readers to select (from their list) what questions they'd like to ask the 2016 presidential candidates.

It's clear that both candidates haven't given specific answers to questions about issues which directly affect us. What questions would Soylentils ask the candidates (your choices, not mine as in the NYT article) to identify their positions on issues which matter to you?

Some of the questions I'd like to see answered are:
How would you work with a Congress which isn't aligned with the goals of your administration to actually get something accomplished?
Does money equal speech? If so/not so, why and how?
How will you rein in our intelligence agencies that are unconstitutionally spying on U.S. citizens?
What specific steps would you take (if any) to combat anthropogenic climate change?
Would you allow non-American foods to be cooked in the White House kitchen? If not, what steps will you take to reduce the obesity problem that will inevitably ensue?

What about the rest of you? What questions would you like to see answered by the candidates?


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 24 2016, @07:35PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 24 2016, @07:35PM (#406021)

    a libertarian who supports the TPP

    Earlier this month, you and I were involved in a related discussion. [soylentnews.org]
    ...to which I responded with a link to an infographic about Dr. Stein. [blogspot.com]

    If your goal is simply *less* gov't, maybe she isn't your cup of tea.
    If what you want is **better** gov't, I think she is a viable choice.

    .
    My question to a candidate would be:
    What are a few names of individuals from whom you will seek advice on $Topic?
    In Jill's case, a pretty good indicator of that is her Green Shadow Cabinet. [greenshadowcabinet.us]
    Note: That list is in alphabetical order by surname, so "President" (Stein) is way down the page.

    -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

  • (Score: 2) by JNCF on Saturday September 24 2016, @09:08PM

    by JNCF (4317) on Saturday September 24 2016, @09:08PM (#406042) Journal

    If your goal is simply *less* gov't, maybe she isn't your cup of tea.
    If what you want is **better** gov't, I think she is a viable choice.

    Federally, no government. I'd vote for considerably less as a nudge in the right direction.
    Locally, better government. As you already know I'd vote Stein for Mayor in a heartbeat, though of course I have disagreements with her on some local policy issues. I agree with her on many things at a local level, and I think she means well and could be reasoned with.

    My question to a candidate would be:
    What are a few names of individuals from whom you will seek advice on $Topic?

    Good question. I don't think that Johnson's fuck-up on Aleppo is nearly as damning as the amount of time that Trump stalled before naming any foreign policy advisors. Being able to humbly accept advice is much more important than knowing any specific piece of information, though of course knowing things is ideal. It seems vastly preferable to admit ignorance than to feign knowledge, as some politicians did when asked for their opinions on the ethnic cleansing in Freedonia. I'd want to ask a question that would really make them squirm:
    "You're allowed to use your phone or any other computer you or your aides have with you for this question, but you can only use search engines and reference websites, and you have to turn so that the cameras can clearly see your screens. The capitol of Seychelles has a set of coordinates in degrees minutes format. If we take only the numeric characters from these coordinates and run them together into one number, that number will not be prime. What is the next largest number that is prime? Whoever is ready first can feel free to answer. Tick, tock, tick, tock..."

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 24 2016, @10:36PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 24 2016, @10:36PM (#406058)

      In my book, getting/keeping the economy healthy is a big part of the Chief Executive gig, regardless of governmental level.
      Unemployment is dominant in that.
      The only time USA has pulled out of one of its numerous depressions[1] in under a decade was when FDR put folks on the public payroll.
      Jill has a similar idea (a Green New Deal) which I would like to see discussed in nationally-aired debates.

      [1] Depression is now an obsolete word, only referring to The Idle Rich who are already wealthy enough to speculate on the stock market (while PRODUCING nothing)--while completely ignoring The Working Class.

      I have previously mentioned the Maracora Law, which Italy enacted in 1985.
      It allows (10 or more) people who are eligible for unemployment insurance payments to pool their due in a lump sum and start a worker cooperative.
      It's been very successful for them and I'd like to see that tried here.

      Bernie has mentioned co-ops in passing, but never acted on that.
      To my knowledge, Jill has never even used the "C" word ("Capitalism"), so one would logically assume she hasn't given any thought to boosterism WRT co-ops.

      Aleppo

      Aleppo is one of the worst examples of ongoing human rights abuses.
      70 percent of the casualties there are non-combatants.
      Aleppo represents a huge USA foreign policy failure.
      I would expect a guy running for the top job to be aware of all of that.

      It pains me that among the 4 who could get 270 electoral votes (according to their ballot access), only Hillary has any experience in foreign affairs--and her solution to everything is "Let's bomb them".

      Jill at least has a demonstrated level of empathy: physician, mom, activist (arrested several times at protests).
      I would trust her instincts and her ability to associate with like-minded people who have related accomplishments.

      really make them squirm [...]
      What is the next largest number that is prime?

      8-D   I like your idea and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

      -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]