PENNYPAC ISSUES

Americans are diverse but we share many of the same concerns about our country. What are those
shared issues?  A Gallup poll* taken about issues that concerned Americans most formed the
foundation of PennyPAC. As a result, PennyPAC will focus on five key issues, chosen due to
their relevance and impact on everyday Americans: education, energy, healthcare, homeland
security, and economic development.

EDUCATION
Every year, education is a hot issue at the federal, state and local levels. Many people are concerned.
But it’s clear from the survey results listed that there is a gap between what Americans want for our
education system and what we have. 
   
   What they said:
     9% were completely satisfied with their child's education.
     33% were completely satisfied with the quality of education their oldest 
     child is receiving. 
     85% will have a child attending public school this year.

Education solutions to consider:
• Redistribution of funds
• Finding other sources for funding
• Moving from traditional disbursement to new areas
• Alternative educational sources
• Curriculum re-evaluation
• Appreciation of educational talents
• Raising education standards: 
   - Salaries 
   - Attracting better talent 
   - Repositioning status of educational positions
• Increasing competitive global context

HEALTHCARE
Everyone needs healthcare. With healthcare costs continuing to rise, many Americans feel that
healthcare has become an important financial problem. Unfortunately, healthcare costs are
beyond the reach of many everyday Americans.

    What they said:
    16% of Americans feel there is excellent quality healthcare in the country.
     20% are generally satisfied with the total cost of healthcare in this country.
    18% describes the U.S. healthcare system to be in a state of crisis.
    


Healthcare solutions to consider:
    • Access to healthcare for every American regardless of status
    • Recognize the need for healthcare reform without restricting access
    • Patient right to choose products and services 
    • Recognizing the need for a balanced approach that addresses the interests 
      of the physicians and insurance industry.

HOMELAND SECURITY
Issues related to security, terrorism, and the war in Iraq continue to dominate opinion polls
as the most pressing issue facing Americans. In the past years, the issue has continued to grow.
                                     
    What they said:
      23% of Americans feel the terrorist are winning the war on terror. 
      13% of Americans are very satisfied with the way things are going for the U.S. 
      in the war in terrorism.
      50% of Americans feel the war in Iraq to be an entirely separate military 
      action, not a part of the war on terrorism which began on September 11, 2001.

Homeland Security solutions to consider:
• Implement policies that do not impede on the Constitutional rights of ordinary citizens.

ENERGY
In addition to healthcare, Americans also identified energy costs as one of the most important financial
problems. Motor fuel costs and the costs to supply fuel to homes have had a significant impact on
America’s families.
    What they said:
     53% said the Federal Government should regulate the price of gasoline.
     82% of Americans think Congress should hold investigations into the profits
     that oil companies make. 
     61% of Americans have felt hardship do to recent increases in gasoline prices.



Energy solutions to consider: 
• Financial and tax incentives for development of alternative fuel sources
• Financial and tax incentives for development of green concepts
• Identify plan to address the need to decrease reliance on fossil fuels in order to reduce economic
   hardships and catastrophic occurrences.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Aside from homeland security issues, many Americans felt the economy was the most important issue
facing the country. Although economic development is occurring, many people do not feel they are
benefiting. In fact, fewer than 7% of Americans have felt America’s economic conditions were excellent
for three years in a row.                                                                                         
     What they said:
     6% said excellent when asked how you would rate the economic conditions
     in this country today (2005).
     2% said excellent when asked how you would rate the economic conditions
     in this country today (2004).
     3% said excellent when asked how you would rate the economic conditions
     in this country today (2003).

Economic development solutions to consider:
• Reducing regulatory bureaucracy
• One-stop shop, streamline procedures
• Identify new sources of capital
• Incentives for investing in distressed communities
• Global economic approach to non-traditional markets
 

Source: 2005 Gallup Poll Social Series