Contemporary Issues Topics - Controversy and Solutions

Contemporary Issues Topics - Controversy and SolutionsContemporary issues topics were the subject of much discussion at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Many of the most controversial and impassioned addresses focused on abortion, health care, gay rights, and foreign policy. In this brief essay, I will look at some of the most influential contemporary issues facing the country today and offer an analysis of the major speakers' efforts to connect issues with each other and to articulate both the importance and necessity of solutions.The most prevalent controversy at the convention was over issues regarding social programs. In response to remarks by two African American delegates who cited their difficulty in obtaining medical care from minority hospitals, Ann Romney explained that it was not their fault that they could not access a hospital. In her words, 'You have every right to be concerned about healthcare and the medical care that you receive.' While she is correct that healthcare is an issue of great importance for all Americans, she also conflates issues of care, availability, and funding.Healthcare as a social issue can be resolved by addressing the challenges that minorities face in accessing quality healthcare. One of the challenges that minorities face is finding healthcare providers that are racially diverse. However, while the Affordable Care Act has created some medical insurance exchanges that assist patients in finding quality health care providers, the Act does not resolve the crisis of inadequate healthcare that minorities face. Besides seeking affordable healthcare options, which may include Medicare or Medicaid, minorities may wish to discuss concerns with family members and friends about how to locate primary care physicians that are open to receiving insurance coverage.Given the rapid expansion of science and technology, healthcare issues continue to evolve. As a result, many of the most contentious issues of the day are tech nological in nature, such as, advances in healthcare, energy, energy policies, and transportation. A presidential candidate has no business speaking on these topics without addressing the nuances and potential impact that such technological advances could have on the lives of future generations.The aforementioned technology issues are addressed by many different candidates during the campaign cycle. Each of them has developed his or her own platform for addressing the challenges of our technological age. Hillary Clinton's campaign highlights the need to 'create more good-paying jobs with good-paying technology jobs.'Jeb Bush has articulated a platform that stresses the importance of innovative industries and the importance of 'providing resources to those areas where they are most needed.' This calls for attention to the large number of underfunded technology sectors, such as educational institutions, technical training programs, and research facilities. Additionally, Mr. Bush state s that he will 'actively encourage new scientific breakthroughs in energy, health care, telecommunications, and the Internet.' In this respect, he is calling for a broader base of government investment, such as grant funding for the development of advanced technologies.The issues of gay rights and civil unions, which have been a central topic of discussion within the last ten years, have resurfaced within the political arena as well. In response to his debate performance, Mr. Bush stated, 'Americans don't have a gay marriage problem,' but instead a problem with our country's definition of marriage. He further commented that our nation must come together to affirm the 'core belief', 'Marriage is a union between a man and a woman.'While addressing the issues of gay rights and reproductive rights, Mr. Bush and his allies have touched upon subjects of religious liberty, the sanctity of life, and religious freedom. For these reasons, the issues of healthcare, immigration, and the economy continue to have a significant influence on the debates surrounding the upcoming election. As the 2020 presidential election looms closer, a clearer picture of the real differences between each of the candidates will emerge.