There's the economy, health care, pollution, weapons production and terrorism. And to make matters worse, we've managed to add a few more to the list. There's the increasing government assault on civil rights, and our inability to control the spread of diseases.

But I don't like to be always critical of our leaders. In fact, it gets tiring because they never listen. With a new year beginning, however, I thought maybe the president and Congress could use some constructive advice. So I offer here five reasonable new year's resolutions for BCR (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld), other cabinet members and lawmakers, too.

They are not the kinds of suggestions that would line the pockets of their buddies in the corporate world. But they're important not just for saving our nation, civilization or the planet; they might help these guys get re-elected. In order of importance:

1. Create an affordable universal health-care system.

Everybody knows we have to do something to make health care accessible and affordable for all our people. We knew it 15 years ago, 10 years ago, five years ago and today. But nobody does anything.

Tens of millions of people can't afford health insurance and face catastrophe should their families have a serious accident or medical crisis. For the lucky ones who do have health insurance, rates are going up 10 to 20 percent a year. Employers can't afford the hikes and pass them along to employees, who even with raises end up taking home less money each year.

And then everyone gets hit again with taxes to pay for Medicaid, whose costs are skyrocketing annually despite the stable number of low-income people who qualify.

Health care should be the major election issue this year, but will it?

2. Bring the troops home and don't invade any other nations.

As of this week, 475 Americans have died in Iraq, as have tens of thousands of Iraqis. The United States should not be a first-strike, aggressor nation and must not do it again. If we in our godlike fashion decide a nation needs a regime change, then we have to be patient and work toward it diplomatically without a military invasion and occupation.

3. Raise the minimum wage.

The national minimum wage of $5.15 means millions of workers nationwide and about 600,000 New Yorkers are making $10,700 a year. That's poverty and it's shameful.

Lawmakers in New York and many other states have refused to raise their minimum wages because they say it should be done at the federal level, where it has remained at $5.15 since 1997. Have food, shelter and gasoline costs stayed the same in the last six years?

The economies of our neighbors in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont where the minimum wage is $6.75 or more are not floundering. It is time to do the right thing in Washington, since leaders won't do it in Albany and other state capitals.

4. Take global pollution seriously.

From fossil fuels to the additives in our food supply, our leaders must recognize before it's too late that we are polluting ourselves to death.

The Bush administration has acknowledged that global warming could have a significant effect on the environment and that such climate changes are caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. But our leaders do not see the problem as serious enough to do anything about it.

In addition, recent studies have linked not only global warming but our chemical-laced foods to diseases and syndromes whose spread will only get worse unless we take action. Signing on with the Kyoto Protocol would be a good start. Tackling our food supply requires some initial, difficult steps — on the toes of the food and chemical establishment.

5. Make a real difference in education.

The administration says it doesn't want to leave any children behind. Unfortunately, you don't success in that goal by threatening educators and slapping schools around with ridiculous penalties.

To improve education, you don't start in the classroom but rather in the kitchens and living rooms of students' homes.

It's quite clear that children learn better when they're not hungry. Want to help? Then help their parents get out of poverty and show them it's important to be literate. See No. 3 above.

For the children whose bellies are all too full in their affluence, help their parents get them away the television and the video games. If the kids are going bonkers, then feed them better food. See No. 4 above.

As we slide into a new year, we might be able to keep our balance more skillfully by facing to the left or the right. It's not always best to try to dodge the bumps and bruises looking forward, feet straight ahead.

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Cary Brunswick is managing editor of The Daily Star. He can be reached at cary@thedailystar or (607) 433-3055.