Here are the issues Boston.com readers want new leadership in D.C. to tackle first
"We’ve got to compromise and meet in the middle."
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Lawsuits and recounts aside, the U.S. seems certain to be welcoming a Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration into office on Jan. 20. But it may not be much of a welcome: Depending on what happens in two Georgia run-off elections Jan. 5, Republicans may retain control of the Senate, and millions of Trump supporters might be very hesitant to get with the Biden program of national unity.
Regardless, the American people will be expecting the incoming president and our representatives in Congress to get things done on a whole raft of issues affecting their lives. We asked Boston.com readers to rank the ones they want Washington tackle in order of importance, and these were the top five:
1.) The COVID-19 pandemic
No surprise here: With the coronavirus raging across the U.S. worse than ever, and cases and hospitalizations surging again in Massachusetts after a relatively quiet summer, our readers picked this as the number one issue Washington needs to tackle. “The virus must be dealt with before we can start repairing the economy,” said Dave from South Weymouth. “Once we can breathe again as a nation can we really tackle the other issues.” For his part, President-elect Biden has already named a task force — with several Boston-area ties — to devise a national COVID-19 strategy. On average, readers ranked the pandemic 2.26 on a scale of 1-13, in order of importance.
2.) The economy
Consider this part two of the one-two punch: With the pandemic showing no signs of abating, its stranglehold on the economy remains a huge issue. As one reader put it, “Nothing will improve until people go back to work.” The economy ranked 4.24 out of 13 in our poll.
3.) Health care
Experts following the Supreme Court arguments on the Affordable Care Act this week have predicted the court seems unlikely to strike it down, which would be good news for the 20 million Americans who could otherwise lose their health coverage. But the pandemic has exacerbated other problems with the current system, and the Democratic Party’s left flank continues its push for Medicare For All even as Republicans remain staunchly opposed.
“Universal healthcare is a right, and should be expanded to every living American,” said one poll respondent. “We have seen with COVID-19 how a weakness in access and treatment is a threat to the care of all.” Readers ranked health care 5.26 out of 13.
4) Healing divisions and reducing polarization
“Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end, here and now,” Biden said in his victory speech last weekend. “The refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another is not due to some mysterious force beyond our control. It’s a decision. It’s a choice we make. And if we can decide not to cooperate, then we can decide to cooperate.”
Our readers seemed to agree, or at least hoped it was possible: Reducing polarization in our divided nation was among the top priorities for many who responded. “As Americans, we need to learn how to compromise, otherwise, nothing will get done,” said one reader. “A Democratic/Republican agenda is not my top priority!” insisted another. “An American citizen agenda is my top priority! I hope both parties can see that!” This issue ranked 5.86 out of 13 in our poll.
5) Climate change
Another major issue facing a tremendous range of opinion — from claiming it doesn’t exist to wanting to spend trillions on a “Green New Deal” to prevent it — it remains a high priority and a huge challenge for our elected officials.
For some of our readers, it was inextricably tied to other issues that need addressing in order to improve things overall: “Curing the pandemic, providing racial justice, moving on climate change, and allowing Medicare for all will mostly fix the economy, crime, and divisions/polarization,” one reader noted. “That’s why those are my big four — because they really fix seven of the issues.” Climate change ranked 6.63 out of 13 among Boston.com readers.
For the full results, see the chart below:
Here are some comments from Boston.com readers about these and other issues facing the nation:
“Exposing Congress for the immature frauds they are. And eliminating herd mentality as the guide career politicians rely on for their long, fat, lazy careers at the country’s expense. Proactive, not reactive! Instead of being prepared for threats seen and un-seen, we have a self-serving Congress, when there is indeed a threat, exhorting 12th and 19th century hopes and wishes as a defense. That is deplorable, negligent, deceitful and criminal.” — Nicholas, Glastonbury, Conn.
“Education and prison reform would be nice to focus on eventually.”
“First and foremost: vote fraud! Nothing is more important!”
“People were against social security. Universal healthcare is a right, and should be expanded to every living American. We have seen with COVID-19 how a weakness in access, treatment is a threat to the care of all. It is time to add universal healthcare. Not only because it is the right thing to do, but with quality care for all, we could better respond to health care crisis, macro or micro. Because need for quality care for one person is still an emergency to them and their family. We pay tens of thousands every year on care, and can still go bankrupt over cancer treatment. Without this, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness is incomplete and a false flag. I do not care if a for-profit health care industry has fewer 4th quarter gains, or makes slightly less. LIVES matter, everyone has inherent dignity and life has value. AOC made the point: Every Democratic candidate who voted for Medicaid For All WON their reelection campaign. EVERY SINGLE ONE. It is time.”
“Enough with the partisanship and far left and right. We’ve got to compromise and meet in the middle.”
“AGEISM … rampant ageism especially in the context of unemployment. As a baby buster (end of the baby boom generation) I am having big issues with trying to get a job — any job — after being laid off over a year ago. The kids have decades to earn back money, I don’t.” — Amanda, Stoneham
“Abolish ICE, stop the wall. Get rid of the wealthy tax cut that raised the national debt $1 trillion.”
“Taxes. i.e. them going up. It is my biggest concern. COVID is a concern, but well on its way to being fixed. Vaccine is on schedule.”
“We also need to fix our crumbling infrastructure.”
“Address the pandemic, health care, and income inequality, and many other issues on this list are addressed as well, especially racial injustice and healing the nation. They also allow us the bandwidth to then address repairing our relations abroad (foreign policy) and domestically (e.g. courts). And then, when we’re functioning as decent human beings again, we’ll care about the environment enough to save it.” — Sally, Worcester
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