Most important policy issues for Republicans (R only)

[JA]

Although we cannot see what the future holds, assuming there are no dramatic changes in domestic or international affairs during the next 2-4 years, which of the following issues do you believe the Republican Party should emphasize in the 2018 midterms and 2020 Presidential Election?

The version of this poll for Democrats can be found here.

[Lief 🗽]

White nationalism.

[Person Man]

White nationalism.

That's immigration and CRCL but I guess that isn't something to hide anymore.

[Fuzzy Bear]

The categories are somewhat muddled.  I do think, however, that the most important issues facing America nowadays are a combination of Security (including immigration) and Upward Mobility issues (including housing and healthcare).

There are some issues that I don't know where to begin on.  Education is one of them.  Part of the problem with education in America is that too many American parents AND kids don't understand how significant their present educational opportunities actually are.  On the other hand, our public schools are extremely problematic because of the behavioral issues of the kids there that stem, in large measure, from the problems they have due to the breakdown of the marital family, and the problems that ensue from the types of family structures that take their place.  Intact, marital families, in the aggregate, produce better outcomes for children than single parent families, blended families, etc., and it is, disproportionately, children from these other family structures that bring the most disruptive behaviors into public schools, and their behaviors negatively impact ALL students there. 

The obvious solution is to encourage persons, as strongly as possible, (A) not to have children out of wedlock, (B) not to view divorce as an option when there are children involved and the issues are ones other than infidelity, violence, or other severely dysfunctional behavior, and (C) to recognize that family was meant to be the primary unit through which children were civilized and instilled with the basic traits of what we would consider to be "good citizens" (folks with a sense of personal responsibility, consideration for others, and a stake in the welfare of their country and community).  Unfortunately, we've come so far from these ideals that I honestly have no idea as to how government action would significantly push society toward this.  I really do believe, however, that the decline of the traditional intact marital family unit in America is at the core of a massive swath of social and economic problems.  I also believe that folks' sense of guilt at their own personal choices and defensiveness about this topic is the biggest barrier to beginning a solution. 

[Person Man]

The categories are somewhat muddled.  I do think, however, that the most important issues facing America nowadays are a combination of Security (including immigration) and Upward Mobility issues (including housing and healthcare).

There are some issues that I don't know where to begin on.  Education is one of them.  Part of the problem with education in America is that too many American parents AND kids don't understand how significant their present educational opportunities actually are.  On the other hand, our public schools are extremely problematic because of the behavioral issues of the kids there that stem, in large measure, from the problems they have due to the breakdown of the marital family, and the problems that ensue from the types of family structures that take their place.  Intact, marital families, in the aggregate, produce better outcomes for children than single parent families, blended families, etc., and it is, disproportionately, children from these other family structures that bring the most disruptive behaviors into public schools, and their behaviors negatively impact ALL students there. 

The obvious solution is to encourage persons, as strongly as possible, (A) not to have children out of wedlock, (B) not to view divorce as an option when there are children involved and the issues are ones other than infidelity, violence, or other severely dysfunctional behavior, and (C) to recognize that family was meant to be the primary unit through which children were civilized and instilled with the basic traits of what we would consider to be "good citizens" (folks with a sense of personal responsibility, consideration for others, and a stake in the welfare of their country and community).  Unfortunately, we've come so far from these ideals that I honestly have no idea as to how government action would significantly push society toward this.  I really do believe, however, that the decline of the traditional intact marital family unit in America is at the core of a massive swath of social and economic problems.  I also believe that folks' sense of guilt at their own personal choices and defensiveness about this topic is the biggest barrier to beginning a solution. 

And of course the irony is lost though irony never really helps.

[Young Conservative]

For myself, the most important single issues are those of life ethics (abortion, euthanesia, death penalty, torture) and the end of all of them,, for most its the economy....,

[Coolface Sock #42069]

It honestly depends on what they've already accomplished by then.

If they've already pushed illegal immigration numbers down and repealed Obamacare (and replaced it with something better), I say they should steal an issue from the Democrats and work on criminal justice/sentencing reform for non-violent offenders. It's an issue that should have bipartisan support.

If they haven't accomplished both those things, then whichever they haven't already accomplished.

Also, maintaining/restoring the bipartisan support for Israel that has existed for over half a century should be of paramount importance. Appointing Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel could put an end to Democrats' support for Israel (as a party, not every individual member in Congress necessarily).

Trump could campaign against the current tax structure as well. The people who are most hurt by it are not the rich but people who are trying to be upwardly mobile, particularly those trying to make the jump from middle to upper class, but also those trying to enter the middle class.

[Young Conservative]

For myself, the most important single issues are those of life ethics (abortion, euthanesia, death penalty, torture) and the end of all of them,, for most its the economy....,

Not to take over the Republican thread, but isn't Trump promoting bringing back torture?

He changed his mind thanks to General Mattie, regardless that has nothing to do with my statement.

[Fuzzy Bear]

It honestly depends on what they've already accomplished by then.

If they've already pushed illegal immigration numbers down and repealed Obamacare (and replaced it with something better), I say they should steal an issue from the Democrats and work on criminal justice/sentencing reform for non-violent offenders. It's an issue that should have bipartisan support.

If they haven't accomplished both those things, then whichever they haven't already accomplished.

Also, maintaining/restoring the bipartisan support for Israel that has existed for over half a century should be of paramount importance. Appointing Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel could put an end to Democrats' support for Israel (as a party, not every individual member in Congress necessarily).

Trump could campaign against the current tax structure as well. The people who are most hurt by it are not the rich but people who are trying to be upwardly mobile, particularly those trying to make the jump from middle to upper class, but also those trying to enter the middle class.

I would agree with the issue of criminal justice reform. 

Too many people are arrested for drug possession offenses and tattooed with a felony criminal record which never goes away without a pardon, which is not easy to obtain.  This makes viable employment hard, and makes being shut out of the middle class a lifetime punishment for a youthful mistake.

There are some folks that ought to have a lifetime record, with folks being wary of them.  But there are many convicted felons who are in that status because of old offenses that don't reflect at all the person they are today, and have been.  I would hope that President Trump would do this for large numbers of Federal felons and encourage Governors of states to do the same for such offenders in states who no longer pose threats.

[RINO Tom]

Taxes and regulations, trade, the economy, debt and deficits and cybersecurity, terrorism and foreign policy.

The ones that affect me most, naturally.

[Blue3]

No surprise it's the economy, immigration, and ISIS so far.

For the Democrats, it's affordability, discrimination/liberty, environment.