Two things that have been largely off the radar of both major parties are at the core of some of our greatest challenges:

1.) Demographic changes: the aging of the populations of the U.S.and our traditional allies as our birth rates are often not high enough to offset our death rate. It will necessitate some sort of dramatic change in the way in which fewer young people will need to care for the elders within the families and the society at large. It is already having an effect on our national defense and economy. It means more major adjustments must be made to increase immigration and naturalization or continuation of the current trend that ships more labor intensive jobs overseas to countries with younger, faster growing populations.

and

2.) Technology's impact: business (industrial, commercial, institutional) and government needs fewer, but more highly educated and trained employees than ever before as large numbers of occupations become dated. For example, a new U.S. plant employing two full-time engineer/technicians and three production lines of robotic equipment can replace an older plant with the same production capability, but employing 100 full-time direct employees. It means every automotive assembly plant that ever existed in the country in 1960 were to reopen, it would be with a fraction of the full-time direct work force and with top pay and benefits for only the most highly educated or difficult to replace. Sales, administrative, military, transportation, processing, construction and other occupations will see the same challenges.More work, but for far fewer people.

Politicians do not want to discuss these problems because while the implications are huge, the issues are complex. It is a lot easier to ignore them difficult choices that these realities pose for us.

Shut up Atkins! Nobody cares what you think.

Shouldn't you be accusing some poor old seniors somewhere of being members of the Ku Klux Klan?

Harold,

I agree with your thoughts on the population. An aging population will be a serious issue. Immigration reform can help.

In Orange County a GOP party leader made filty racist statements and she is still running the GOP! Atkins ain't the racist, you are punk!

David Atkins went on a rant last year accusing some seniors who spoke on a public hearing in Simi Valley regarding the redistricting committee's new legislative districts of being Ku Klux Klan members.

Put away your white sheet, Atkins. You're an embarrassment to the County Democratic Party.

In Orange County a GOP party leader made filty racist statements and she is still running the GOP! Atkins ain't the racist, you are punk!

David Atkins is a disgrace to all Democrats in Ventura County. He gives them a bad name by his constant belittling, insulting, racist remarks.

David Atkins needs to resign as an officer of the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee. He is nothing but a no good punk and a racist!!!

New Jersey Governor Chrissy Christie announced that in prep for the storm he bought 30 buckets of KFC, 29 for him and 1 for his family.

Wow, it's great to see that Obama and FEMA were ready and are already helping people, 1000 times better then when Bush and FEMA did nothing to help New Orleans. Good thing Romney is not in charge because he would only be helping the rich.

David Atkins announced that he is going on a full hood-on campaign to try and muster up some support for Julia Brownley. He can be seen trudging the streets of Santa Monica wearing a white sheet and carrying a torch where and offering to burn a cross on anyone's lawn that will vote for Brownley.

David Atkins can't afford the white sheet or torch without asking his beard for his allowance this month.

The VCRCC can't afford the white sheets or torch because they have spent every penny on Phony Tony and his losing campaign while throwing other GOP candidates under the bus like they did to Gibson last time he ran and lost.