Question for flist!

[guingel]

Helloooo, friends list! (Or anyone else who stumbles across this entry!) I have a question for you.

What issues are important to you? There are so many things that need changing, cos, you know, that's what humans do when they interact - get screwy. ;) But what are the MOST important things to you?

I'm partly thinking about, like, what causes would you donate money to or protest about, but more precisely and practically, what sort of legislation would you like your government to pass?

For me right now, in the U.S., the things that come to mind are:

-Health care (haha ::sigh::) and particularly child mental health care

-The environment, preventing global warming

-Pro-choice legislation

-Better public schools

. . .But I know there are loads more. Gay rights of course, reform in the military and our international policies, food and farming reform (if I knew more about that, it might be in my list above), campaign finance reform (ha!), stem cell research, loads of others that I can't think of. Please share yours! Maybe your country has different issues of import?

And on a more international level, international adoption reform, improvement in the state of women's rights across the globe. . . I also have many concerns about violence, starvation, and certain government regimes. Haha, there's so many things. I guess there are some things that seem systematic - that I want to "change" - and other things that I want to "fix" or "end". Slightly different feeling, different way of thinking about it. Some problems primarily require money, others require new ways of thinking.

And on a more social changes rather than legislative changes level, I'd like some changes to our rape culture, more complex and non-sexualized portrayals of women in the media, more women and POC behind the cameras in the media, and overall a greater ability for people to empathize with and care about those not in their demographic group. That's just a start! ;)


I ask because I always come across different issues and I'm like "OH MY GOD THAT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL" but then I forget and the next thing I see is a big deal. So I guess I want to be able to see what other people are thinking. (And yeah, all my suggestions are probably from one side of the political spectrum, but. . . that's what being a progressive is about, right? Wanting change, rather than the status quo? Also wanting the government to have more spending power. >.>) [edit: Have realized that when I say "come across different issues" i mean "come across different guests on the Daily Show and the Colbert Report who have written books about solving the issue that they think is SUPER IMPORTANT - and they all are. But how do people process these different needs? Actually a quick look at this list has me adding "fiscal regulations" to my list of potential concerns.]

So, I know you're not a particularly political bunch, but is there one or two (or more - as many as you want!) things that really concern you, that really get your goat and that you'd really like to see change? That you want your government to get on top of?

Comments

Part 2!

[kegom.livejournal.com]

2.) Inclusive school system for children with disabilities and/or a migration background. Germany has such huge problems with the inclusion of both still, and it's such an important topic, because it's not acceptable that children are put into special schools when they don't even need special facilities (I understand that a special school that offers physical and/or psychological therapy sessions and comes equipped with all the stuff that blind/physically handicapped students need might be the best solution sometimes), just because their teachers don't know how to deal with them and have no person they can talk to, because the school system still segregates students into different schools according to grades and there are just too few specialists (like special needs teachers) employed in normal schools; and it's also not acceptable that the job a child's father has, and the question whether this child has German parents or not, is basis for the decision of which school to put the child in. - Inclusion is actually a global theme, of course, but I mostly want to change my own system before I tackle any other system. ^^" We're in the middle of trying to get my city to accept a six year primary school instead of the (still normal in Germany) four year one, and it really is a huge issue for me, because there are so many (blindingly STUPID, if well meaning) parents who're afraid that their children might "suffer" from spending more time in primary school. (Damn you, German school system and your roots in 19th century that are still in people's heads!)

3.a.) Fair prices and work for local farmers, especially dairy farmers who often can't keep their farms because they get less for the milk they sell than they need to feed their animals. Coupled with this, a "Local Products" section at at least the better grocery stores, especially for meat, because I don't have a problem eating a dead animal, but I feel that it's my duty to at least honor the animal in question by making sure that it had a halfway decent life before it died for me. I can't do that when I can't visit the farms the animals came from.
3.b.) A big "NO" to gene-altered food, especially corn. I want Monsanto to stay away from our fields. That's one of the things that I want the goverment to be very clear about.



There are more issues, other issues both in my country and internationally that are very important, but those are the ones that I'm involved with myself, at the moment. As you know, I read your posts on feminism and racism, and they have made me more aware of what I say, do and think; but they're really huge concepts and I mostly tend towards the smaller stuff that I can ...tackle, somehow. Not very political or grandiose, I guess, but I always feel that someone has to be concerned over the little things as well.

Re: Part 2!

[guingel.livejournal.com]

it's also not acceptable that the job a child's father has, and the question whether this child has German parents or not, is basis for the decision of which school to put the child in

Whoa! What? That seems kinda blatant. Which school how?

I wonder what these inclusion issues are like in America. Probably not great although I know some kids with disabilities had an individual "assistant" sort of person. Or there were special ed classes within the school. . . I don't really know anything about it, though, and I come from a moderately wealthy area.

I think it's smart to focus on the smaller stuff. A lot of it is like focused versions of the big isms - (2) is about ablism, (3) is about concerns about corporations (ok, not an ism, but I think of it like one) and who our economies really help, and also health issues! ((1) is obvious!) So breaking it down into one issue that you can focus on and change seems smart! Much more practical and effective.

edit: Also! Thank you for responding! My answer is so short. XD But you know, it's cos I pretty much just agree with you!