Another year is gone, and a new year as arrived. What will be the issues, concerns problems and challenges of 2019? In the amount of space dedicated to this blog, it is not possible to include every potential problem or issue. Le me note some that, perhaps, could engender some level of support. Obviously, immigration has been raised to a crisis level by the current administration. There are those seeking political asylum who are being denied that opportunity. There are children who have been separated from their parents, only to be housed in detention centers that offer no emotional support for the youngest of children. There are companies in the United States that are finding it difficult to engage in the work that they do because they do not have the laborers to perform the work. There is the ever-present debate over border security and the “wall” to protect the southern border. The $5 billion price tag seems excessive, especially when other more pressing needs are identified. The United States has been open to those from other countries and cultures throughout its history. There continues to be misrepresentation of facts by the administration—the latest being he claim that 4000 terrorists have entered the country through the Mexican/U>S> border. When confronted this past weekend the Vice President sat with a blank stare on his face and never did provide information to support this claim. It is interesting to note that the most recent available data found that 2554 individuals on the FBI’s terrorist list were stopped from entering the country. The majority, 2170, were at airports, 49 were by sea and 335 were by land. The State Department has also stated that there is no evidence of terrorists trying to enter the U.S. via Mexico. The refusal to allow immigrants to enter the country has contributed to the ongoing divisions among the country’s citizens. We have been a nation of immigrants and to deny entry undermines what the country has stood for from its inception.
The partial federal government shutdown perpetrated by the president on the American people is directly related to his demand for the wall and is creating hardship after hardship for the people of this country. Farmers are not going to receive their subsidies, the food stamp program is going to run out f money in late January or early February, federal workers in prisons, airports and other entities are not receiving paychecks. In many instances those most affected are those who are living close to the margin of existence and make it paycheck to paycheck, but this resource is no longer available. People are bewildered about making mortgage payments, buying food, obtaining medical care for their children or, purchasing gas to travel to work. A TSA employee was interviewed on a recent newscast and she explained that she lives 39 miles, one-way, from the airport where she works. With no paycheck, how will she afford to get to work that she is mandated to perform. A resolution to this crisis must occur without additional delay.
Healthcare will be another problem area that continues to beg for some resolutions. Whether the discussion is about Medicare, pre-existing conditions, single-payer healthcare, Obamacare, drug price regulations, covering mental health problems, focusing on preventive care, the use of medical marijuana, or requiring those receiving Medicaid to be employed, there is much to be done and the challenges are forever present. An argument can certainly be made for universal healthcare and if this did exist, many of the issues would be resolved. The cost of healthcare for all may well be prohibitive, yet as with any decision, choices must be made. In the preamble of the Constitution of the United States, the promotion of the general welfare of its people is one of the salient tenants. Would healthcare for all its citizens be an illustration of promoting the general welfare? More attention must be given to preventive care, and this would have the effect of lowering the costs associated with healthcare.
Education will continue to be a source of concern for parents, students, educational administrations, funding sources, and the general public. Many of us are familiar with the massive student debt that students incur while seeking a degree, certificate, or diploma. Recently, there was an article in the New York Times which carried the title, “A $21,000 Cosmetology School Debt and a $9-an-Hour Job”. Most students graduate with some student loan debt. It is predicted by some that the next bubble to burst in the country will be associated with the trillion-dollar total of student debt. Forbes reported in 2018 student debt was $1.52 trillion an involved 44.2 million individuals. The report continued by noting that New Hampshire had the highest average debt, $36,367 and Utah had the lowest, $19,975. Further, over 12,000,000 people owed between $10,000-$25,000 and a staggering 500,000 plus owed $200,000 or more. In the August 2016 edition of Consumer Reports, the featured story was titled, “I Kind of Ruined My Life by Going to College”. The story was about a woman who eared a degree in nursing and was making $62,000 per year but owed over $150,000 in student debt. A primary reason for the substantial amount of student debt can be attributed to the for-profit programs that exist throughout the country. Many of these programs have folded, but the students are still required to pay off their student debt. Many of those carrying significant student debt cannot start a family, save for a down payment on a house or, purchase a house. There has to be a way to establish some controls on the amount of student debt that any one person can amass. There are a multitude of issues that can be discussed within the educational context, including the predatory practices of the for-profit programs, and I leave this for a future posting.
What has been included are woefully inadequate predictors of what will characterize 2019. In the months ahead, issues related to the environment will be highlighted and will include climate change, fracking, alternative energy sources, and the plastic product bans. Issues related to the infra-structure of the country must require discussion and will include the condition of roads, bridges, and dams, the antiquated nature of sewer, water and gas pipes buried below major population centers. Social issues such as abortion, the rights of the LGBT community, gay marriage, gender workplace diversity, and the death penalty require attention. Domestic policy issues that will include gun control, school safety, social media regulation affirmative action, Social Security coupled with the growing number of senior citizens and whistleblower protection. No doubt, other issues may surface throughout the year.