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What others say about Heather and The Progressives’ Handbooks

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Questions for Politicians

Wondering what to ask your politicians before giving them your vote in the next election? Here are some starters...

Have any questions you'd like to add to this list?
Send them in to ideas@progressiveshandbook.com
(let us know if we should include your name and/or location)

From Ray Thornhill

Some questions for all that are running for President of the United States:

If you are elected President will you continue putting together the North American Union following President Bush's plan? Will you have open hearings or will you stay behind closed doors as President Bush has done?
These things are important to the American people and should be out in the open. Do you not agree?
Are you a member of CFR or Trilaterals? Will you appoint those that are to high level jobs?

From Paul Melonas, Illinois

We employ a private company to print our money and we are charged interest for using the money they print. We guarantee the payment of that interest by taxing our citizens income. If elected, what will you do to abolish the FED and rescind the income tax law?
The law REQUIRES that an inventory of FT. Knox gold be done annually with the results reported to Congress. No inventory has been done since the Eisenhower administration. If elected will you demand an inventory be done and reported?

From Frank Blair, Wisconsin

These questions are primarily for incumbents seeking re-election to federal office or for persons running for the first time for president or as a member of the Congress:

In August of 2006, 61% of the American public was opposed to the war in Iraq. Since we will be leaving sometime in the future, what in your opinion is a realistic timetable for our withdrawal?
What do you see as the primary motivation for our presence in the Middle East. Since we invaded Iraq "pre-emptively", do you feel that the United States has further plans for more war. Do you feel we have visions of an "empire"?
The previous question causes concern about Iran. Since that nation is not likely to abandon its nuclear development, should the United States consider military action against that nation?
Do you think that a draft of young people is inevitable?
Many reputable people...academics and journalists and just plain citizens, are concerned about the present administration's attempts to dilute our Constitutional rights, for example, warrantless wiretaps, the president's tendency to employ "signing statements" in an effort to not allow legislation or parts of it to be put in place and other methods. What steps would you take if any to counteract these? Or is this something we have got to live with?
There is a strong feeling among many people that the government is promoting the concept of "fear" to promote its goals whatever they may be. Do you have any opinions on this? What would you favor doing in order to counteract these negative ideas?
There has much been said and a good deal of evidence to substantiate it, that the attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) were known in advance by the United States government and may have let the attacks happen. Should there be a further investigation to look into this matter? The 9/11 commission seems not to have fulfilled its task satisfactorily. What would be your answer to this troubling question?
Some of the best scientific evidence available (the Gore film as an example) is making significant and troubling statements about global warming and its probable future effects on our environment. What do think would be the best way of combating climate change to forestall what is already happening?
Related to the above: The nation and the world are rapidly exhausting the available supply of renewable energies. What role should the government be playing to help solve this critical problem? Shouldn't the government have a workable strategy to offset this and what would be your strategy?
One of Osama bin Laden's aims was to have U.S. military forces removed from his native land, Saudi Arabia. Since they have been removed to Qatar he has not been heard from directly. He was reputed to be suffering from kidney problems requiring dialysis two or three times a week, a difficult feat in the caves of Afghanistan. Do you have an opinion as to whether he is still alive? Since the Americans have given up on him (President Bush), what in your opinion is the current role of al Qaeda? Are they, in your opinion, still the primary threat in the "war on terror"?
There is considerable dissatisfaction with the policies of the current adminstration whether it be the ongoing wars which may be endless; the threat to our citizens' Constitutional rights or the flagrant and probably immoral treatment given to "terror" prisoners who are in our charge. Short of violence what should be the best approach that the American public must take? Or is violence an option in the spirit of 1776?
The concept of the "common good" is becoming widely used by people who are "progressive". The phrase means that the instruments of society should be geared toward satisfying the needs of ALL the people. How do you feel that this concept should be utilized, for example, in the areas of education, health care and matters pertaining to the economy?

From Mary Wilson, Texas

I'm a mom of two school-age kids and unhappy about the cut-backs in education. What are you going to do about getting our schools properly funded?
My 6-year-old daughter came down with a respiratory disease last month and I think it's because of the bad air quality. What are you doing to clean up our air?

From Mark Hoffman, New Jersey

You voted for the Patriot Act, and I think that was a mistake. Give your reasons. Ditto for the invasion of Iraq.

From Kathy Quinn, California

How will you protect reproductive rights?

From Doug Johnson, North Dakota

How could you have signed the Military Commissions Act of 2006? How can you justify having US citizens charged as an enemy combatant?
What are you doing about the fact that Homeland Security has been monitoring peace groups and reading their emails?

From Marla Hanson, San Francisco

The federal minimum wage is stalled at $5.15 an hour. What are you doing to increase it?
Over 45 million Americans have no health insurance. What is your plan to combat this travesty?

Heather Wokusch is a blogger and the author of The Progressives' Handbook: Get the Facts and Make a Difference Now series. Her political awakening came in 1986 when she spent a year doing development work in the Philippines and witnessed the People Power Revolution firsthand. Her commentary is regularly featured on major progressive sites and her articles have appeared in publications such as The Baltimore Sun, In These Times, Foreign Policy in Focus and Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung. Heather's a former jazz singer, has an MA in clinical psychology and more than 20 years of experience in education.

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