"You Asked and We Listened"

Friday Forum - January 7, 2011

On Wednesday, the 112^th Congress was sworn into office. Which of their campaign promises are most important to keep?

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on January 7, 2011 at 4:44pm

Reduce regulations & stop allowing our freedoms to be stolen from American citizens.

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Permalink Reply by Teri Davis Newman on January 7, 2011 at 5:03pm

They better keep ALL of them or we'll send another message in 2012.

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Permalink Reply by Daria Novak on January 7, 2011 at 5:46pm

This Congress needs to look at what bills (or proposed bills) moved parts of the economy under government control and then reverse the process and recreate a thriving private sector. It includes healthcare, banking, cap and trade, Internet, etc. It is not only the size of government that must be reduced, but it is critical we reduce its scope, too. In addition, we need to ensure unions their ballot is private again. Finally, if these issues are addressed we will have the ability to secure our nation's borders because we will have the funds and political will to do it.

This Administration attempted to ram through as much legislation as possible, flawed or not, before Republicans took back control of the House.

My suggestion is that we also take a look at redefining citizenship to align it with the European definition that includes "blood" (meaning of American parents) but not "blood and/or territory" as in America now. If it takes a Constitutional amendment, so be it. One of the criteria utilized for declaring a place a country a sovereign nation-state is effective control over the geographic territory. We need to seriously consider what it means to be American and then defend it against all enemies of the state domestic and foreign.

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Permalink Reply by Shirley Martin on January 7, 2011 at 7:04pm

Adhere to the Constitution whilte balanceing the budget.

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Permalink Reply by Marie Furmanski on January 7, 2011 at 8:02pm

Obamacare is killing the economy and repealin and replacing needs to be the priority.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Harrell-Paul on January 7, 2011 at 8:45pm

Cut spending and reduce the deficit by eliminating useless programs, and reducing forgein aid to countries who use aid for war.

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Permalink Reply by Diane Scott on January 8, 2011 at 12:19am

Healthcare reform, Cut out fraud and all the wasteful spending. Cut the size of programs like the EPA,FDA, FmHA clean up the fraud in these programs. And bring back the respect that the Constitutions was met to have. I could go on but I think this is a good start.

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Permalink Reply by Carol Greenberg on January 8, 2011 at 1:14am

Repealing Obamacare.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca McCarthy on January 8, 2011 at 10:33am

I want the Republican party to look into the Obamacare program. I think their healthcare was to drive people out of their health insurance to go onto a govenrnment insurance program of some type. My health insurance company took advantage of everything and is now charging me $523.47 a month for my insurance. I am retired. I am not over 65. I have some health issues but I am not taking advantage of my insurance for fear that they will charge me more next year. I receive a retirement check of $1450 a month now after working 27 years for the government and cannot apply for Social Security. This is typical of what government can do to a person. I think it is criminal. It is the same as stealing food or other necessities from my house.

I do not believe the Republicans can fix the damage that has been done to so many Americans!

Where did 14 trillion dollars go? Who got the money? Who will get the benefits from all the money they took? Our children cannot pay this debt - not working for some service provider industry.

We have got to start making this country an industrial country again. Put our people to work and find out where that money went! Who ever took the money must pay it back and if the democrats took it for their pet projects they should be held accountable - personally or should be have their money taken from them as easily as they had it taken away from many Americans!

Let's get that money back, let's get the jobs going; and for those that have to pay for their health insurance at a higher price should have it repealled and have health insurance companies investigated. How much money did our policitians get under the table for this mess!

And then make it public to all on TV and the internet.

Rebecca McCarthy

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Permalink Reply by Sally Johnson on January 8, 2011 at 12:55pm

We can not trust Big Business either. It bothers me that the Health Insurance lobbey is spending millions fighting Obama Care - makes me wonder. Obama care has helped middle class and lower income families - my son goes to college part time and works many hours, however, his employer does not provide health insurance. Thanks to the new healthcare law, we are able to keep him on our insurance so he can finish college (while working 30 plus hours a week). The elimination of the doughnut hole has helped older folks and some the the laws about pre-existing conditions can help those who have lost their jobs and are trying to start their own businesses - just because you had a heart attack doesn't mean you shouldn't be insured. Let's watch out for business too!

The Constitution did not outlaw smoking in public places, it did not set speed limits etc. We need freedom! Sarah Palin is proud of her overweight daughter and she thinks that if we want our kids to be fat, we should be able to let them eat all the candy and cookies they want. Obesity and guns are the American way!

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Permalink Reply by Kathryn Laesch on January 8, 2011 at 12:46pm

Cutting spending will also include getting rid of the unconstitutional and unaffordable Obamacare plan. It will influence every promise made and every action of Congress made on those promises.