September 25, 2008
NJ Jewish News is asking Jewish community leaders what issues they would like to hear the candidates address and what questions they want to have answered in a presidential debate. For previous installments in the “What’s at Stake” series, see www.njjewishnews.com/whatsatstake.
“What’s at Stake” will be a regular feature between now and Election Day.
Carol Simon, attorney, graduate student in Christian-Jewish studies at Seton Hall University, Holocaust Council of MetroWest volunteer:
A vast and overwhelming array of profound problems faces the United States today — an imploding financial sector, a deficit that is beyond stratospheric, rising healthcare costs, broken Medicare and Social Security systems, rampant pollution and escalated global warming, foreign relations in which our political allies have been alienated and our enemies radicalized and energized, seemingly unending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a rogue Iran on the verge of acquiring nuclear capability with an attendant missile system capable of reaching the West Coast of the United States, a volatile situation in the Middle East, a resurgent Russia with the ability and desire to use militaristic means to achieve its goals, an urgent energy crisis resulting in highly volatile fuel and gas costs that are controlled by questionable (at best) regimes, a deteriorating educational system that ranks appallingly low on the scale of industrialized nations, and a highly polarized society with an increasingly vast divide between the haves and have-nots. Given the range and scope of these critical issues, if you were president, what would you consider most urgent? What do you contemplate will be your priorities for your first 100 days in office? Your first year?
President Bush has vastly enlarged the scope of presidential power and accordingly reduced the ability of the judiciary and the legislative branches to act as checks or balances. Do you agree with this expansion of the president’s role? How should the three branches of government operate effectively with each other? What actions will you take in this regard?
Vice President Cheney has had an unprecedented amount of power within this administration. What role do you expect your vice president to fill? Will he/she have a more conventional role or do you see her/him as more of an equal partner? What specific areas or tasks do you expect your vice president to handle? How has your view affected your choice of running mate?
How do you balance the rights of the individual versus the rights of the nation? What is your view of the Patriot Act and individual rights, including habeas corpus? Do you believe we should countenance acts like water boarding? Should governmental agencies be empowered to wiretap U.S. citizens?
How transparent should the presidency be? President Bush is known for his secrecy and unlimited assertion of executive privilege to conceal his staff’s deliberations and actions. How open and accountable do you think the president should be? What actions will you take in this regard?
How do you feel about the politicization of civil service job hires, such as what occurred in the Justice Department? Currently, it is illegal. What, if anything, would you do to ensure that it does not happen on your watch?
Jacob Toporek, executive director, NJ State Association of Jewish Federations:
With the ongoing economic situation, there is little doubt that all Americans — poor, rich, middle class — are concerned with their future economic well-being and their ability to keep their lives and their families safe from the residuals of that turmoil. In this respect, the Jewish community is no different from every other citizen. Each of the candidates must show leadership in this area by addressing the challenge of economic viability for our nation and our citizens with concrete and constructive initiatives. The concerns of the economy should not be belittled by partisan sniping through negative ads. We as Jews, we as Americans, deserve as much.
Israel’s security and statehood is always a priority for our community. I am pleased that both candidates have committed to continuing and strengthening the bonds between the United States and Israel. The pressures to find a peaceful solution to the conflicts of the Middle East will place a heavy burden on the principals directly involved but will also demand that the next president be engaged in the road to peace from the very first day of the administration. Hard choices will have to be made by both the Israelis and the Arabs. The new president’s view of the road map to peace and plans for engagement in the process are of major concern to our community.
Relatively little has been said by both candidates as to the future well-being of Social Security and Medicare. New Jersey is one of nine states with a senior population in excess of one million. Reports indicate that the numbers will grow to 2.5 million by 2030. The oft-voiced prediction of future shortfalls in funding both Social Security and Medicare greatly affects our community because many of our aging population in New Jersey are members of the Jewish community or are beneficiaries of the services provided by Jewish community agencies. Yes, the predicted failures of both are a number of years away, but the American public demands a solid proactive approach. Dealing with the repercussions of a Lehman Bros. or AIG “wait till the day it happens” approach, we are learning too well, is the wrong way to conduct business. What are the candidates’ plans to save Social Security and Medicare? What are their plans to address the concerns of the growing aging population in America and the resources required to assist our seniors to live out their lives in dignity and as contributing members of society?
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