LE.
Since I asked, I'll give my take, one at a time.
1. Illegal immigration and a Federal Government which does little to defend and protect our borders.
Agree that the borders should be more closely regulated, and that immigration should be more closely controled. A larger problem I see is this, and I am sure that I will get beaten around the head and shoulder for saying it, but here goes. I don't think the immigrants to this country are as a much of a problem for the U.S. as they are for the country from which they immigrate. The best and the brightest seem to seek out the U.S., and if not the best and brighest, then the most desparate for money for their families. This drain, puts additional strain on their homelands to maintain a decent standard of living, this inducing others to follow. If these immigrants would stay in their homelands and put their energies into making their home nations better, then I believe all would be better off, the U.S. and the source country. Of course there are from time to time, natural or political disasters which create a refugee problem, and I am loathe to turn those away who have a legitimate reason to leave their native state.
2. American Corporations doing business with countries which sponsor terrorism (either officially or unofficially).
In principal again I agree. Sticky issue though on who decides who sponsors terrorism. For example, much terrorism emminates from Saudi Arabia, but I don't believe their government condones it. They are a prime target for being toppled. Citizens of Columbia, a country, which as far as I am aware doesn't habor Islamic terror cells, probably cause more death on American streets, via the drug trade, than any Islamic group ever did. This is an off the cuff observation, I have no numbers to back it up.
3. Elected officials who own shares in companies who do business with those who sponsor terrorism.
Certainly a problem. Elected officials at the highest reaches of the Federal government are supposed to have their investments in a blind trust so that they are unaware of which companies they have a finanical stake. In practice, it doesn't really work that way. Currently the most egregious offender in this category would be the Vice President, Mr. Cheney.
4. Foreign investors from countries who officially or unofficially sponsor terrorism.
See answer to #2. If there is a high probablity that the investor isn't participating in such activities, then I don't see a problem. Case in point, many of those wealthy enough to be investors in pre-Castro Cuba or pre-Revolutionary Iran, eventually came to the US and many have made good contributions to the U.S.
5. American corporations who do business overseas who pay organizations off, (which are listed on the US State Dept official terrorist organization list),so they are free to do business there without being terrorized.
Don't really follow your reasoning here. Might be me being dense. If you are, for example, talking about a Halliburton setting up a subsidiary in the Cayman Islands so that they could do business with Iran/Iraq, then I would agree. If that isn't what you are thinking, then clue me in.
6. Not having English as the official language.
I think English should be the official language of the U.S. But I don't think that if it isn't it will cause the fall of American Civilization.
7. Allowing the court system to legislate from the bench without being challenged by Congress.
Partial agreement, partial disagreement here. I dont see the problem as principally one of the courts. It is more of a legislative problem, in that many of the laws which are enacted are passed as a knee-jerk reaction to some event -- e.g., Patriot Act, without being well thought out. Many of the laws which are passed are in conflict with others, and we must have a strong judiciary to arbitrate these disputes. I rarely see the bench legislating. But judges are human just like the rest of us, and sometimes they mess up, just like the rest of us. I suppose the issue underlying this point is abortion and homosexual marriage in Mass. I would be in favor of a well-crafted law to reduce the availability or abortion, but not an out right ban. I think that if there is credible medical evidence that the life of the mother is in danger, an abortion should be allowed. I know others feel differently. As for the homosexual marriages thing, I really am conflicted about it. A ban on same-sex marriages certainly wouldn't stop the sin of homosexual acts.
8. Our spiraling national debt.
A gigantic, humgous, problem. The number one reason I will vote for Mr. Kerry this fall. Did anyone but me, notice that Democrats are now more fiscally conservative than Republicans. Spin the Bush tax cuts any way you want, but it is nothing but a tax increase on my children and grandchildren.
9. Non-citizens serving in our military
I don't see it as a problem. I did 8 years in the Army, and many of the non-citizens want to become citizens, and many of the non-citzens have a very high sense of obligation to their adopted homeland, more so than many native born.
