Rock the Vote!

It’s an election year <sigh> and I am just beginning to scratch the surface as far as digging deep into current issues and how the presidential candidates are responding. I have narrowed down the top 6 issues and expanded on the 3 with the greatest amount of personal importance:

CLIMATE

Climate change is moving to the front burner for many of the candidates vying for the Democratic and Republican nominations in 2008. The new awareness results from several factors: A growing consensus among Americans on the left and right that global warming issues must be addressed; concern over imported oil from the Middle East; and the newfound muscle of California’s eco-voters, thanks to their state’s early primary this year.

ECONOMY

Last fall, as the subprime housing crisis intensified, the economy replaced the war in Iraq as the top concern for Americans. It’s quite possible that the economy will remain the top issue until the elections. That’s because the bad debts generated by the subprime debacle have caused a credit crunch that, along with record high energy prices, appears to be dragging the U.S. economy into recession. There are even fears of a global downturn.

These concerns have caused wild gyrations in the financial markets, dramatic interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and efforts to stimulate the economy by the White House and Congress. The economic situation has compelled the presidential candidates of both parties to hone their economic positions and provide their own ideas about how to avoid a recession.

IRAQ

Few issues divide Republican and Democratic presidential candidates more than Iraq. The Democrats talk about “ending the war” and “bringing the troops home.” Republican candidates talk about “success” and “victory” in the region.

But go beyond the bumper sticker quotes and it gets a little muddy.

All the major Democratic candidates say they want to bring the troops home. But they also want to keep some U.S. troops in Iraq to go after al-Qaida, protect diplomats and aid workers. They are vague as to how long those troops would stay. And the Republican candidates talk of success and victory, but with little detail.

I need to dig deeper into the issues and how the candidates are addressing them, but at least I have a place to begin my (in)decision. Last but not least my decision will be based upon:

HEALTH CARE
IMMIGRATION
ENERGY

Maybe this post will help spark some of your own thoughts as to what concerns you will focus on this election year.

Happy voting, everyone!