What are 'the issues'?

[Mairead]

In another thread, msanger asks if there's a site that compares all candidates on 'the issues'. But what really are 'the issues'? Dennis Kucinich has a very large list of issues and his positions on them, more than any other candidate. Should we use his list, or are some of his issues 'issues' only for a subset of people?

Can we create a list of issues that also captures the percentage of people that considers each one an 'issue'?

[DrFunkenstein]

1. I Cribbed This Off The Old Green Party Website

DEMOCRACY
A. Political Reform
B. Political Participation
C. Community
D. Foreign Policy

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
A. Education
B. Health Care
C. Economic Justice / Social Safety Net
D. Tax Justice / Fairness
E. Management-Labor Relations
F. Criminal Justice
G. Civil And Equal Rights
H. Free Speech
I. Native Americans
J. Immigration / Emigration
K. Housing
L. National Service

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
A. Energy Policy
B. Nuclear Issues
C. Waste Management
D. Fossil Fuels
E. Renewable Goods
F. Transportation Policy
G. Clean Air/ Greenhouse Effect/Ozone Depletion
H. Land Use
I. Water
J. Agriculture
K. Biological Diversity

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
A. Economics
B. Re-asserting Local Citizen Control Over Corporations
C. Livable Income
D. Community Involvement
E. Small Business and Job Creation
F. Trade
G. Rural Development
H. Banking For People
I. Insurance Reform
J. Pension Reform
K. Anti-Trust Enforcement
L. Advanced Tech / Defense Conversion
M. The National Debt

[Mairead]

2. Good one! So do you consider all those to be 'issues'?

If so, that's two of us. I can't see anything on there that I don't consider an 'issue'.

[DrFunkenstein]

3. Although I Have A Few Differences (Some Serious)

The Green Party platform is a pretty good starting ground for a progressive ideology. Some don't stand the reality test and have hidden consequences to their well-meaning positions, but in general I think progressive politics is the way to go.

Honestly, I think that progressivism doesn't have to be marginal if it is presented as common sense. That's why I dig Kerry so much. Like Bill Moyers, he can get away with saying alot of stuff that would sound ridiculous or shrill in someone else's mouth. Kerry is cool because he makes progressive issues sound like centrism. IMHO, I think Dean represents the opposite - centrism that sounds like it's progressive. Obviously, people disagree and I guess that's what politics is about.