If the American people were running the Republican debate Thursday night, here are the questions they would ask the candidates -- based on our latest assessment of what the people say are the most important problems facing the country today.
No gotcha questions or efforts to stump the candidates or push them off their talking points, just sincere questions from the people to help them understand how these individuals who want to take over as the people's chief executive would handle the issues the people deem most important.
First question: How do you propose to fix the U.S. economy?
Second question: How do you propose to deal with the people's record-low confidence in Congress and the elected representatives they send to Washington?
Third question: What do you propose to do about race relations in this country?
Fourth question: What do you propose to do about immigration and individuals living in this country illegally?
Fifth question: What do you propose to do about jobs?
Sixth question: How do you propose to deal with declining moral, family and ethical values in this country?
Seventh question: How do you propose to deal with the federal budget deficit?
Eighth question: What do you propose to do about poverty?
Ninth question: How do you propose to deal with crime and violence?
Tenth question: How do you propose to improve the education our children receive?
Eleventh question: How do you propose to make healthcare more accessible and affordable?