Difference Between Issue and Problem

Issue vs Problem

What strokes the most prominent difference between issue and problem is the solution. When
you have an issue, you generally can readily come up with the solution. Often, you even know
how you would solve an issue before it even presents itself. A problem, on the other hand, is not
something that you can solve without forethought, and even a certain amount of guesswork.

Size often dictates the difference between an issue and a problem. An issue is smaller, not life
altering, and it doesn’t present such a degree of difficulty that you have to seek out the counsel of
others in order to figure out the impact of the issue. A problem is larger in scale, often large
enough to alter your life either temporarily or permanently. A problem can easily require the
advice and guidance of those around you, in order to solve it.

An issue is a factor that might cause you some annoyance. A problem can impact people and
situations around you, even if they are not directly related to the problem. For instance,
forgetting your lunch is an issue, but losing your job is a problem.

On a corporate or governmental level, an issue is something that can be handled behind closed
doors, impacting no one but the people of highest authority in the situation. A problem involves
information that must be released, because there will be cause to involve employees, or citizens,
in the solution to the problem.

An issue also holds potential. When you discover that there is great potential for a situation to
have a large impact, it is still, by definition, an issue. The issue mutates into a problem when the
potential is realized. For instance, when a restaurant chef realizes that part of the batch of fish
they are serving for the night has gone bad, they have an issue, because it holds the potential to
make a lot of people sick, cause people to sue, and ruin the establishment’s reputation. If no one
has eaten, or has had a bad reaction to the fish, then it remains an issue. Once someone becomes
ill and accusations start to surface, the issue is now a problem.

Summary:

1. An issue has a readily recognizable solution.

2. Problems are life altering, temporarily or permanently.
3. Issues bear only a slight impact.
4. Issues cause personal annoyance.
5. Problems cause others to be affected.
6. Issues can be handled privately.
7. Problems must be handled openly, in order to resolve them in government or business
capacities.
8. An issue may have the potential to cause harm.
9. A problem develops when the harm or impact begins to surface.
Reasons why RH bill must not become a law

John Paul Atienza October 28 at 7:45pm

To: Congress of the Philippines.

We strongly oppose the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill (HB5043 for
the following reasons:

1. AS EMPLOYERS, we do not want to be compelled to provide free reproductive health care

services, supplies, devices and surgical procedures (including vasectomy and ligation) to our
employees, and be subjected to both imprisonment and/or a fine, for every time that we fail
to comply. (Section 17 states that employers shall provide for free delivery of reproductive
health care services, supplies and devices to all workers more particularly women workers.
(Definition of Reproductive Health and Rights Section 4, paragraph g, Section 21, Paragraph c
and Section 22 on Penalties)

2. AS HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS, we do not want to be subjected to imprisonment

and/or a fine, if we fail to provide reproductive health care services such as giving information
on family planning methods and providing services like ligation and vasectomy, regardless of
the patient's civil status, gender, religion or age (Section 21 on Prohibited Acts, Letter a,
Paragraphs 1 to 5 and Section 22 on Penalties)

3. AS SPOUSES, we do not agree that our husband or wife can undergo a ligation or
vasectomy without our consent or knowledge. (Section 21 on Prohibited Acts, Letter a,
Paragraph 2)

4. AS PARENTS, we do not agree that children from age 10 to 17 should be taught their sexual
rights and the means to have a satisfying and "safe" sex life as part of their school curriculum.
(Section 12 on Reproductive Health Education and Section 4 Definition of Family Planning and
Productive Health, Paragraph b, c and d)

5. AS CITIZENS, we do not want to be subjected to imprisonment and/or pay a fine, for

expressing an opinion against any provision of this law, if such expression of opinion is
interpreted as constituting "malicious disinformation" (Section 21 on Prohibited Acts, Paragraph
f and Section 22 on Penalties)

6. We also oppose other provisions such as losing our parental authority over a minor child who
was raped and found pregnant (Section 21, a, no.3)

7. We also do not agree to the provision which reclassifies contraceptives as essential

medicines (Section 10) and appropriating limited government funds to reproductive services
instead of basic services (Section 23)

Thus, we urge you to immediately stop deliberations on the bill and stop wasting taxpayers
money.