1. Housing--Everyone needs a place to live

Are there enough houses or apartments for everyone?

Can people afford to buy or rent them?

Are they safe and decent places to live for people of all ages?

Are there enough places to live for people with special needs?

2. Employment/Jobs/Wages--Everyone needs an income to live

Are there enough jobs for everyone?

Can people get to the jobs?

Are they paid enough to be able to provide for their families’ basic needs?

Are they treated fairly at work?

Do people get a fair share of the wealth they help create?

What happens to people if they are hurt on the job?

3. Banking/Financial System--It can help create jobs, businesses and houses for whole neighborhoods

Do people get treated equally and fairly?

Do people from different parts of the state or city get the same treatment?

How do people with less money get the loans they need?

4. Health Care--Everyone gets sick. Some get REALLY sick.

Can people get the health care they need?

Does everyone have insurance?

Can people afford the health care that is available?

What happens when a person can’t pay?

What happens when a person can no longer work, either because of their own sickness or a child or other family member?

5. Transportation--Everyone needs a way to get around

Can EVERYONE get around in the community?

Can people get to work, even if they can’t afford a car?

Can people get to the doctor and to the grocery?

Can people who can’t drive (blindness, disability) get around to where they need to go?

6. Taxes--Taxes pay for all kinds of things: roads, schools, libraries, sewers, police departments, fire departments, prisons, the armed forces, business incentives and loans, government programs to assist people in trouble, etc. 

Are people’s taxes fair, considering how much they make and what services they receive?

Do people who make a lot from the community pay a fair share of taxes to sustain the community?

Do we make sure that taxes don’t cause people to fall into poverty?

7. Education--A good education is one of a person’s best tools for success

Does everyone get an education that prepares them for the future?

Does every child get a quality education, regardless of where they live or how much money their parents have?

8. Unemployment--Lots of people are out of work at some point in their lives because their jobs come to an end. In fact, at any given time, from 5 to 15% of all people are out of work and lots more can’t find a single, full-time job that will pay their bills. That also involves labor costs, the stock market and fears about inflation.

What happens to people who are out of work for a short time?

What do we do about the fact that at any given time, many people are out of work and can’t find a job that will pay their family’s bills?

What happens when there are no jobs in a particular area, but they cannot afford to move to where jobs are?

9. Voting and Laws--Everyone should have a say in the governments that affect us all and be treated fairly under the law

Can a typical, qualified person run for office and win?

If a person can’t or chose not to make a campaign contribution, are they still respected and heard?

Do our laws, courts and government officials treat people fairly and equitably?

10. Retirement and Disability--There comes a time when people can no longer work

What happens to people too old or too sick to work?

What happens when it is clear a person will never be able to work again, but they will continue to have living expenses?

2304 12th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35234

(205) 326-6821  Fax: (205) 252-8458