National Concerns
In 1989 CQC identified 32 actual and potential weaknesses in the American way of life, which we listed as Significant National Concerns. CQC then prioritized the list, choosing for first attention the need to improve education, and choosing health care and its financing for next attention.
CQC's list continues to serve two practical purposes: (a) a resource of possibilities for focus and action, and (b) a checklist to safeguard against neglecting possible side-effects on related policy areas while working on a particular area.
The list provides a counterweight to the news media's emphasis on celebrities and scandals, leaving more important things on the back burner.
You are invited to review the list and give us your comments on possible changes and priorities. A summary of CQC's Significant National Concerns follows:
1. Alcohol and drug abuse
2. Inadequate criminal justice systems
3. Education: the need to improve it
4. Inadequate transportation systems
5. Inadequate systems of health care and its financing
6. Need for a better balance between personal freedom and civic responsibility in areas such as, e.g., guns
7. Need for attention to national interests in the light of globalization
8. Increasing disparities of income and wealth, in relation to the overall well-being of society
9. Environmental matters
10. Energy policy (this was acute in the 70s, was neglected in the 80s, and is now becoming pressing again)
11. Poor management in both public and private-sector organizations
12. Waste and misallocation of talent
13. Population problems
14. Problems of working mothers
15. Weak self-esteem of the less fortunate
16. Burdens on consumers from increasing complexity caused by technology or by ideology-driven policy changes
17. Risks of nuclear war and of terrorism
18. Bigness issues: size and growth in business and other matters in relation to sound policy and the quality of life.
19. The no-one-in-charge perception as regards trends in national and world affairs.
20. Need to balance competition with cooperation in various areas
21. Need to evaluate the role of professional sports in American life
22. Corruption of core values at high levels in all fields, including some such as science and religion that are usually assumed to be free of corruption
23. Accumulating hassles in daily life: traffic and parking, telephone holds, over packaging, unclear consumer product manuals, etc.
24. Weak child-rearing practices
25. Difficulties in the broad area of national security
26. Housing and land use problems
27. Need to evaluate the role of commercial entertainment in American life
28. Political election problems: voting procedures, campaign financing, debates, etc.
29. High finance: avoiding the need for future S & L bailouts, protecting the public interest in mergers, monitoring the levels of government, corporate and consumer debt, monitoring investment, speculation and savings for productivity and for personal security
30. Demographic trends: migration to coastal and metro areas; immigration; aging populations
31. Tax policies
32. Privatization of traditional government functions.
NOTE: Some years ago CQC explored items 22 and 23 above, but stopped further efforts when we failed to see sufficient prospects for developing constructive actions.