Statement of Issue Statement of Issue Obviously we all need to understand the issue or the problem to start with. None of these issues is simple, nor are any of the strategies to solve them easy. In fact, a final solution for any of them is probably out of the question because these are issues (which can never really be solved, but only can be managed) as opposed to problems (which can be solved once and for all). For instance, one might have a problem with a leak in the roof. That can be patched. But the long-term maintenance of the house is an issue. It is never completely solved, but needs to be managed as we go along. So what we have here are issues, rather than problems.

Secondly, despite what a candidate or others say, managing these issues will never be simple or easy. Each one involves conflicting values and therefore conflicts among stakeholders who hold those values. On the immigration issue, for instance, providing the American economy will an adequate supply of low- and high-skilled workers, while at the same time providing them a wage that they could not get in their own country, is a good thing for most people. But one cannot do that without increasing competition with other workers who may want that job. Where is the balance between those two goods? That would be an excellent question to ask the students.