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Jeff Dorris

Deliberations from Dorris

Jeff Dorris is the Editor of the Delta Dunklin Democrat

Editorial

Poll finds immigration is our biggest problem

Saturday, January 5, 2019

At the beginning of a new year I like to look back on issues that confronted our country and see where we made progress or what issues need more attention from our leaders.

I found the statistics in the following poll interesting.

According to a Gallup poll immigration has risen to the top of the list when Americans are asked to name the most important problem facing the nation.

Immigration edged out government, which had been the top issue each month since January 2017.

This is quite an increase since immigration as the nation’s most important problem has averaged 5 percent over the last 17 years.

As of July 2018 American’s views of the top problem facing the U.S. were as follows:

Immigration 22 percent, Government/poor leadership 19 percent, Race relations 7 percent, Unifying the country 6 percent, Lack of respect for each other 6 percent, Economy in general 4 percent, Healthcare 3 percent, and Ethics/Moral/ Religious/ Family decline 3 percent.

As I looked over these poll results I discovered some fascinating facts.

For one the economy is no longer an issue for most Americans.

That’s a huge takeaway for me.

Just 4 percent of Americans say the economy is the top problem.

According to the Gallup poll economic issues were the top problem in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

Also healthcare not an important problem for most.

In fact looking at this poll immigration and government were the only issues in double digits.

It appears that immigration will continue to be the focus for quite some time.

President Trump was elected in 2016 in part because of his controversial polices relating to immigration and immigration has been a significant concern among Americans for a number of months now.

It’s likely it will remain so as campaigns begin to gear up for the 2020 election.

Whether the government, unemployment, foreign conflicts, health care, education or the environment is the perceived top problem, one wonders if the cure may be found in the bottom of this list.

If as a nation we began to concentrate on the decline of family and moral issues we may find our way back to a country that invokes the spirit of our forefathers.

Sometimes it’s not about building a wall around our property but taking a look at our own backyard.

Immigration is a problem to be sure but I don’t see it as topping the list of our nation’s concerns.

As Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Amen.

I hope that we as Americans remember what made our nation so great and hold fast to these ideals as we enter 2019 and beyond.

See you out there.

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