Healthcare Crisis Forty-seven million Americans are uninsured, of those insured, citizens and companies are paying ever-rising premiums and offering less coverage.  How can the U.S. create a national healthcare plan, providing medical/insurance coverage to all Americans?

Subprime Mortgage Lending Crisis Seven million-plus "balloon" mortgages may force eventual $1.5 trillion collapse and federal bailout.

Record Federal Budget Deficits There is a lack of consistent and coherent, long-term economic policies, leading stock market convulsions and draining the lending market.

Sagging U.S. Economy The first thing that comes to anyone's mind is home energy and gas prices -- affecting overall transportation costs and the passed-along costs for distribution of food and durable goods.  The credit crunch -- people living on credit cards and overleveraged with debt.  Fewer and lower paying jobs.  The cost of health and life insurance.  Heavy government borrowing -- tightening up the credit markets.  Growing trade deficits with emerging industrial powers around the world. What kind of concerted efforts can we make to reverse some or all of these trends and more?

Unemployment and Outsourcing of Jobs What can our government do to provide businesses with local/regional economic incentives and to create and keep jobs in America?  Should companies look less at maximizing immediate profit margins and look more at the long-term stability of their company and their community? Since when did "over 40" become too old to get a good job?  What happened to "the more experience, the better?"  Is ageism becoming more of a prevalent, unseen practice than racism in hiring policies?

Long-Term Solvency of Social Security Aging population, pressures on younger segments of workforce; is there a better route than "privatizing" America's "safety net?"

Revamping the Federal Tax Code Is there a way to greatly simplify federal Internal Revenue Service tax codes and regulations; weighing set tax "bracketing" to collect more from upper-income citizens versus a "flat federal sales tax?"

Local/National Infrastructure Projects A priority agenda should be set to address the repair or reconstruction of highways, bridges, dams, flood-containment walls, sewage, and mass transit systems in need of immediate attention.  Are we going to wait until another disaster hits before we start addressing these matters?  If these matters have been addressed, what is it going to take to put them into action?  Who is going to take ownership and responsibility to see these projects through?  How is the municipal and state governments going to best prioritize and utilize federal funds to address pressing infrasture projects?

Equitable Free-Trade Treaties Are many of the "emerging" industrialized nations giving U.S. exports fair and open access to their markets?

Federal Response to Natural Disasters The tepid, delayed rescue and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Katrina point to serious flaws and failures on the part of Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the Executive Branch.

Immigration Policy Languishing gridlock and division marks the debate in how to address America's growing illegal immigration crisis; should the U.S. grant immunity to current undocumented immigrants and devise an "equitable" immigration system?  And how do we tighten America's borders?

The Environment and Global Warming What efforts can the government, private sector and citizens do to conserve energy?  Should the U.S. finally join many other industrialized nations in signing the Kyoto Treaty -- looking to address "global warming" issues?

Energy Policy and Development of Alternative Energy Sources How should we regulate fossil-fuel exploration and nuclear power plant construction?  Should the U.S. deepen funding and incentives for greater research and development of a host of "alternative" and renewable energy sources?

Election Finance/Campaign Funding Reform Is there a way to mitigate or eliminate the influence of Special Interest/Lobbyist electron contributions to candidate's election funds?  Can a new system of government and/or private funding of campaigns be devised -- something similar to the current federal matching funds system for Presidential elections?