The most important issues in the presidential election

26 September 2024

Source

I am the CEO of a small publishing business with 24 employees and 50+ paid editors, but essentially, I am a manager. I have to focus on getting things done. It also means I have to recognize the major issues that I should focus on. There are minor issues that I feel strongly about but I recognize that they are not important enough to interfere with the major issues.

In this election, there are many major issues in which Harris / Democrats and Trump / Republicans have profound disagreements and will greatly affect the future of this country. If we are rational, we should judge the candidates based on these issues. Making decisions based on minor issues will be harmful when they have only a minimal impact on the country compared to the major issues.

These are the major issues to judge the candidates and their positions, in my opinion:

1. Is supporting democracy important OR not so much? This includes:

   • Honoring the results of the election with a peaceful transition of power

   • Belief in the rule of law

   • Not using governmental power to punish your political enemies.

     Yes - Harris / Democrats, No - Trump / Republicans

2. Do we trust women and their physicians OR governmental officials to make the proper decisions about the reproductive healthcare of women / girls, including abortions, pregnancy complications, birth control and IVF?

   Women / physicians - Harris / Democrats, Governmental officials - Trump / Republicans

3. Is climate change a major issue to be tackled OR a hoax to be ignored?

   Major issue - Harris / Democrats, Hoax - Trump / Republicans

4. Should our economic policy be directed toward promoting the interests of the middle class OR the wealthy / big corporations?

   Middle class - Harris / Democrats, Wealthy / big corporations - Trump / Republicans

5. Is gun control important to reduce gun related deaths OR are these deaths just a necessary side effect of our right to bear arms?

   Important - Harris / Democrats, Necessary side effect - Trump / Republicans

6. Is it important or not important that candidates are free of civil judgments for fraud, criminal judgments and indictments, and are supported by those who worked with them?

   Important- Harris / Democrats, Not important - Trump / Republicans

7. Is it important that candidates are committed to the truth and honesty OR is it enough that voters trust the candidate for any reason?

   Truth and honesty - Harris / Democrats, Any reason - Trump / Republicans

8. Should candidates try to unite Americans or divide us into classes pitted against each other?

   Unite - Harris / Democrats, Divide - Trump / Republicans

9. Should bigotry and hatred towards immigrants, non whites, women and LGBTQ individuals be condemned or is it acceptable as a political strategy?

   Condemned - Harris / Democrats, Acceptable - Trump / Republicans

10. Is it important that candidates sound respectable and rational or is it OK if they “tell it like it is” no matter how offensive and irrational they are?

    Respectable and rational - Harris / Democrats, “Tell it like it is” - Trump / Republicans

As a manager, I know we cannot “have it all”. We must focus on what is really important to be successful and not be distracted by minor issues, even if we have strong emotional attachments to them. I hope voters do the same.

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