Submit Questions for Next Presidential Debate

drmc October 16, 2012 at 10:31 pm

I am a female teacher focused on teaching girls STEM subjects and encouraging their career goal therein. How would your administration help to open the doors these young voters are so excited to walk through?

Donnie Humfress October 16, 2012 at 11:49 pm

Mitt Romney: You have made many promises if elected. My question is how do you propose to accomplish any of them if you are filibustered more than 400 times in your first term (like President Obama has been) requiring not just a majority in the but a super majority. Also seeing how Republicans did filibuster and obstruct this President a record number of times and are the most unproductive Congress ever. How much blame for the slow recovery should be placed on them?

Mel Wildermuth October 17, 2012 at 12:01 am

My question is as follows:
We know that BLUE states pay more in Federal taxes than is received from the Federal Government in return. Red states receive more money in Federal tax dollars while paying in less in Federal taxes. How can the Republican Party justify this dependence on the Federal Government while claiming they will cut governement spending and "talk to those of the 47% that they should be more responsible" (in the RED states).

Ahmed Al-Hujazi October 17, 2012 at 12:10 am

Is it true that candidate Romeny intends to tax the healthcare contributions made by employers to their employees' healthbenefits as taxable income for the employees?

Chris Ellison October 17, 2012 at 12:12 am

For both candidates,
You both claim you want to reduce the deficit yet both have spent millions on yoru campaigns (Obama reportedly 215 million and Romney 89 million). How come neither of you have offered to take some of this money and put it on the national debt to prove you are genuine about saving America?

Robert Elliott October 17, 2012 at 12:45 am

Would either of you consider changing our tax code to a national sales tax of somewhere around 10 to 15%? This would eliminate personal taxes. Only businesses would have to be monitored by the IRS and very much simplify taxes.

Ricky Landeros October 17, 2012 at 02:10 am

Everyone talks about the tax decease everyone has received, yet taxes on military retiree pay was increased. Military retiree pay was also hit, when the current administration stopped COLA. Most recently, retiree health cost was hiked. Who is looking out for United States military retiree?

jaime clark October 17, 2012 at 02:14 am

Regarding unemployement what's each partys stance on six sigma affect on unemployment rate

Andrea Morton October 17, 2012 at 02:26 am

It has been said that those making over 200K or 225K a year should be taxed as they are considered rich... however the only reason why my family makes that much is becuase BOTH parents are working...and becuase of that we get his with the "marriage tax".. or to put it simply we get taxed more than a 1 income family making that much. Has either candidate ever thought about how taxes effect DUAL income families?

Leia October 17, 2012 at 02:27 am

For both candidates, what do you propose to do about the incredible amounts of student debt owed by graduates of both college and graduate programs who now are out of school, with no jobs or low paying jobs. These people are unable to spend in the economy due to staggering debt and many will simply default on their loans.

Jaime Torres October 17, 2012 at 03:08 am

Lack of decipline in schools make it extremely difficult to educate the students as it is more an issue of babysitting without offending the children and their parents resulting in giving the children and their parents more authority than the school teachers and the school administration, thus resulting in the growth in crimes in our communities. As a result teachers do not earn enough to put up with this type of abuse from their students. What can and will be done to correct this problem in schools and reduce our crimes in our communities?

Robert Young October 17, 2012 at 06:26 am

Millions of Americans get tax refunds GREATER than the amount of taxes they had withheld due to the EIC (Earned Income Credits) and Additional child tax credits. The term REFUND implies that someone is getting back what they paid in, but these are actually large GIFTS of several thousand dollars to millions of households courtesy of other taxpayers. If 100% of my taxes as well as that of someone just like me is going to another family just because they have kids, then how do my tax dollars benefit me and go towards the services, protections, and infrastructure that they should be going to? Billions of dollars each year are passed out to these families courtesy of this INVISIBLE entitlement that many Americans don't know about because nobody ever talks about it. Why can't you move these tax credits to the bottom of the 1040 so they can still work against tax liability, yet eliminate being used to refund people more than what they paid in? Thank you.

SnowPeopleRCool October 17, 2012 at 12:25 pm

Presidentl Obama and Mr. Romney, I believe in a government whose administrators are held accountable and whose recipients are held responsible. How will you and your administration live up to this expectation, as our current government seems to lack both?

Cindy October 17, 2012 at 03:27 pm

I am a 59 year old woman, lives alone, working 2 jobs with a total income of less than $40,000 a year. I have had to borrow from 401K to supplement for medical and emergency situations. I now owe an IRS bill of $3300 which will be increased when I file my 2012 taxes by another $5000 because I needed to borrow from 401K again for emergency medical expenses. I have no savings left, I live pay check to pay check as my employer provided medical insurance premiums continue to rise, my copays to physician and pharmacy continue to rise, gas prices are at the extreme high again, groceries, power and even water/solid waste monthly expenses are increasing. I will have to work until I am 75 and then even afraid I will not be able to support myself alone. I listen to the reteric about cutting taxes. What about forgiving me a debt? that will obviously take me years to pay. Why do I have to be penalized for the debt mess President Obama has let get out of control all the while helping the greedy with stimulous and the thieves stealing from the SS and welfare/Medicaid system off my tax dollars!

. October 17, 2012 at 03:37 pm

Cindy, under Obama's plan you would not have had to borrow against your 401K to pay medical bills....you instead would have health coverage. Also, I find it ironic that you want YOUR debts forgiven but anyone else who is disabled or needs help is a "thief stealing from your tax dollars".
Educate yourself instead of looking to blame others for your problems...The Republican health care plan is for you to go to the ER when you are sick (and be charged huge expenses which you will never be able to re-pay) or lay down and die.

Val S October 17, 2012 at 05:25 pm

Following the debate last night I would like to know, once mitt deports all illegal immigrants, is he going to help the agricultural sector fill the holes in their workforce?

Cindy October 17, 2012 at 06:06 pm

Richard - I find your response attacking. Why don't you try to have a little compassion for those of us that are struggling and would like to have a chance to get a break too! Last time I checked it was still my right to express an opinion. According to your statement above you obviously missed that I do pay insurance premiums for medical coverage and I do have increased large deductible with copay due in ER as well as upon admission into the hospital that falls into major medical deductible. Under Obama my premiums have double for my portion I pay through payroll deduction. Prior to Obama my employer covered my premiums because I am a single person with no dependents. By the way, my medical emergencies were cardiac related - maybe I should have died. Obviously you do not live in the deep south where cheating the SS, Medicaid and food stamp system is rampant. Maybe you need to educate yourself on the reality that there are large numbers of people that take without making an effort to contribute and I for one am tired of carrying them.

Clint October 18, 2012 at 12:10 am

Has any or cans any Government leader or one who wants to be leaders explain to us why we should build the Keystone pipeline to Texas?
The numbers I have read is the cost of building the line would be 7 Billion dollars and provide jobs for 5 years! That is great however a little research on the internet and we find it is estimated to cost 2 billion dollars to build a new refinery that meets all of EPA requirements. So why not build a new refinery where the current pipe line ends, plus run a billion dollars worth of pipe line east towards the major cities and then build a second refinery. More jobs were be created and jobs would continue beyond the time frame of the building as man power would be needed to run both refineries and most important the refined gas, diesel and heating oil would be kept in the United States and not shipped from the refineries on the Texas coast to some overseas ports. And there is a 2 billion dollar savings to the oil producer. Looks to me like this would be a win win for the US consumer and the oil producer. The only looser is the Texas refineries that want to ship more overseas.

Anthony Wayne October 18, 2012 at 12:52 am

The national debt is increasing at five billion dollars every day. How can either candidate stand before us and not address spending?

Craig L. October 18, 2012 at 05:16 am

sorry, I forgot 'you'. What is one positive attribute you see in your opponent and one thing your opponent has achieved that you admire?

Craig L. October 18, 2012 at 07:46 am

I can understand how someone might be upset about the US losing jobs to China. But, it seems odd for Americans to criticize a company for moving to China while they continue to buy the products that they manufactured there. I don't know if you are culpable in this regard, but the fact is we live in a global economy in which the US buys a lot of stuff from countries like Canada, Mexico, and China,but it also ships a lot of stuff to these countries. So there are probably positives and negatives for all sides involved in these arrangements.
However, speaking of hurting American companies, what is most egregious is when American consumers damage a company's earning potential and brand image by knowingly buying knockoff products from China, such as luxury handbags or watches, in order to save a few bucks. Investing in these phony product also hurts jobs and often times it provides funding for criminal activity. Not only have Americans companies come to rely on cheap labor from countries like China, but American consumers have also fueled a demand for cheap products, both of which have benefited some while arguably also hurting the American economy

Jedediah Johnson October 18, 2012 at 07:49 pm

What if your plans for America don't work? What if you are wrong?

Jedediah Johnson October 18, 2012 at 07:50 pm

What if your plans for America don't work? What if you are wrong?

danny ray vasquez October 19, 2012 at 06:35 pm

The American People are blind from the Financial Civil War we Have today with Companies pick pocketing from our nations main Resource.
"The American People"

danny ray vasquez October 19, 2012 at 06:42 pm

Obama and Romney. Why not create government jobs? When government jobs will stop companies pick pocketing from the governments main resource, "The American people" example! security companies use the American people to profit money from business who need & want security. Why not create a gov. security job and those profits can be going to cutting our nations debt in half. As i put time to calculate the profits, and math proves just security alone can revenue $2.7 trillion in one year.

danny ray vasquez October 19, 2012 at 06:45 pm

I am not saying every job should be a government job! only pointing out security should be guided in the write path to support our nation's dept. you might not understand that The American People are blind from the Financial Civil War we Have today with Companies pick pocketing from our nations main Resource.
"The American People" u must understand the government will start giving more more to banks and etc.. to help better our economy. when government opens up doors and guide's the American people to these doors and say let's fight back. Fight back how? Compete against the security companies that are using our American people to profit money. when the government should understand that too, "we can be using that profit in much better use in this nation"... "The greatest knowledge known to man-kind is The Truth" Danny Ray Vasquez...

danny ray vasquez October 19, 2012 at 06:47 pm

READ THIS ITS VERY IMPORTANT To Us All!
All security companies combined total of the American People who are Security Guards certified and working is 1,177,391 as of 2012. When the security companies charge businesses $20 an hour per guard. I have done the research myself as there is not an exact/correct number to use in any website. Math Proves from my knowledge and years of research that 1,177,391 x $20 =$23,547,820 So in one hour as we speak, all companies combined revenue $23,547,820 hourly $23,547,820 x 8 hours = $188,382,560 per shift $188,382,560 x 2 = $376,765,120 16 hours/2 shift's Now in one year going on average 2 shift's a day not including grave yard 376,765,120 x 365 days = $137,519,268,800 per year The percentage of security guards is less Than 1% of 314,603,417 American citizens. Creating government security for businesses who need and want security is the right path for our nation to be redeemed. We can hire more security up to 16% of the nations population and revenue 2.7 trillion a year. and at the same time welcome legal immigrants. using our population as an advantage. problem solved in just 4 years we can cut our nations dept more than half. 2.7 trillion x 4 years= revenue $10.8 trillion. The American People is this nations greatest resource to build our nation strong again.

Mark October 20, 2012 at 05:01 pm

Education for todays youth is a priority in our economic structure of the federal budget. My question is this. Today we hear more and more frequently of our children being bullied. At school, on the internet, etc. What steps would you propose be taken by our government bodies that would protect our children from such acts that are compelling them to take their own lives as their solution to bullying???

edufan October 20, 2012 at 08:59 pm

Good questions, Mary!

edufan October 20, 2012 at 09:04 pm

GREAT Question!