On July 5, 1971, the 26th amendment was passed.  That amendment states, “the right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of age.”  I believe this amendment was passed to give young people a say about their future.  Still today, we as young people need to address the issues that will affect our lives.  There are many issues that need to be addressed, but I will address a few of my concerns. 

    My first issue is the economy.  How is the economy going to change for the better?  Currently, we are nine trillion dollars in debt and that number seems to be growing at a rapid pace.  How do you plan on controlling that debt?  Do you plan on giving the American people a tax cut?  If you give the people a tax cut, the government will have less money to spend.  Don’t you have to cut programs if you cut taxes?  Under President Bush’s current tax policy the people who are making $357,700 are taxed at the same rate as people making five million dollars.  Wouldn’t it make sense to tax the people making five million dollars more than the people making $357,000?  On the other hand, does it make sense to tax people only making $16,050, at a tax rate of 10%?   It seems to me that people making $16,050 cannot afford a tax rate of 10%, while people making five million dollars could afford more than a rate of 35%.  So the question is, do you cut the tax rate of the poor and increase the rate of the wealthy?

    What other ways do you plan on helping the economy right now?  Do you try another type of stimulus package?  According to CNN.com, the past stimulus package cost the U.S. about 150 billion dollars.  Was it worth 150 billion dollars to see if the package would stimulate the economy?  In my opinion this was a big risk.  I believe it helped the economy for a short period, but I’m not sure the stimulus package saved the future of the economy.  So, would another stimulus package be effective?                    

    Second, there is a tremendous concern about health care.  According to Barack Obama, forty-six million Americans lack health insurance with no signs of this trend slowing down.  How do you address those issues?  Do we go to a universal health care system?  Going to a universal health care system will provide everyone with health care, however, it is extremely costly for the government.   “Costly for the government” doesn’t sound like a good idea when we are nine trillion dollars in debt.  The other main issue with health care is Medicare.  Over forty-one million Americans depend on Medicare.  We aren’t putting enough money into Medicare for all the baby-boomers to use the current system.  A universal health care system would take care of the problems with Medicare.  So, do we provide universal health care coverage to the Medicare citizens and those without health care, or do we figure out a way to finance Medicare without a universal health care plan?

    Thirdly, what is your strategy with the war in Iraq?  This war has lasted longer than World War I, World War II, and the Civil War.  According to CNN.com, more than 4,000 Americans have died.  According to FoxNews.com, the US has spent 648 billion dollars on this war.  What has been accomplished?  Do we continue to risk lives and spend money in order to finish the job over there, or do we get out now without winning the war?

    Fourth, how do we lower gas prices?   According to John McCain, gas prices are high because some politicians still oppose lifting a ban on offshore oil drilling.  Does that make sense?  We have oil offshore that we could use to make the cost of oil go down.  Along with the price of oil going down, so would the price of gas.  There is a risk with offshore drilling.  In 1969, in Santa Barbara, California, more than three million gallons of oil flowed from a drilling rig blowout.  It covered over thirty-five miles of the coastline with a thick layer of goo.  Is that a risk we are willing to take to lower gas prices?