Chronicle poll results: America’s next 250 years
We asked our readers what America’s priority should be in its next 250 years. Here's what they said.
Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Looking ahead to America’s next 250 years, what should be the nation’s highest priority?” Of the 201 people who responded, 49% said “strengthening democracy”; 21% said “combating hate, including antisemitism”; 15% said “building greater national unity”; 11% said “improving education”; and 4% said “growing the economy.” Comments were submitted by 68 people. A few follow.
Building greater national unity covers all of the above.
There are lots of very ignorant Americans these days. Education is everything. The rest follows.
I think we need to work on all of them.
Reestablishing and securing the boundaries and authority of the three branches of our government should be the top priority.
National healthcare should be on the list.
National security should be the top concern. Too many countries are creating weaponry that could threaten our country. Wars will never be the same. It is more difficult to fight as new weaponry is developed.
It is truly a challenge to select just one. Combating hate hopefully will lead to a stronger democracy and greater national unity, based on democratic principles.
You can’t achieve any of the other goals on this list without a vibrant democracy. Ours is under attack by a right-wing autocrat preaching hate and trying to restrict voting rights. Democracy must be strengthened in the wake of Trump’s disastrous corrupt administration.
Building national unity means combating antisemitism.
Truth be told, the highest priority should be that of global warming. If we don’t solve that problem, there will be no nation to worry about!
Building unity is the way to a stronger democracy. Congress is largely ineffective because its members are afraid to be seen as collaborating with the “other” side. Moderate candidates have a hard time getting elected because the current primary systems allows the ones who are on the fringes of their party to decide, and people would rather vote party line than consider anyone else.
I believe ignorance is the bedrock of hate, greed, discrimination, poverty, injustice, war and the loss of hope in the human spirit. Education is the seed to grow a kinder, safer and more just world. PJC
comments