Hey, remember the issues?
You know, the issues.
Taxes.
The economy.
Health care.
Immigration.
National security.
Et cetera, et cetera.
The issues were part of the discussion at the beginning of the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns, but lately most of the talk has been about endorsements, superdelegates and polls.
There are a few places the issues are still being examined: the Web sites for several PBS news and public affairs programs.
Take XChange, the "Nightly Business Report" blog, which is focused almost exclusively these days on kitchen table issues.
Literally.
This week, reporter Suzanne Pratt used the price of her kids' favorite brand of corn muffins to offer a fun lesson in the laws of supply and demand.
Her conclusion: "Maybe my family needs to eat something else for breakfast."
Meanwhile, fellow reporter Stephanie Dhue has shared how soaring energy costs are affecting her household.
Says Stephanie: "I cringe every time I drive by a gas station, thinking I should fill up before the price goes up again. I already take public transportation (those fares have increased, too). We've reduced going out to eat. I plan my routes and don't take unnecessary trips. It's getting harder to save."
Meanwhile, Young Voices, the "Tavis Smiley" site blog for young bloggers, is tackling election year issues such as food prices, civil rights and U.S.-Chinese relations.
One commenter has surveyed the political landscape and boiled things down to three issues.
"The only thing that matters in this election is the economy, the war in Iraq and gas prices," says Patricia Taylor in Virginia.
To really explore the issues, check out You Decide, a new feature from KQED, the PBS station in San Francisco.
KQED describes You Decade as "an online devil's advocate designed to challenge your point of view on current issues."
Visitors are invited to weigh their opinions on questions such as “Should the United States end its dependence on foreign oil?" and "Should the federal income tax system be reformed?"
It's fascinating stuff that's certain to make you think twice – not a bad thing, especially in an election year.
What do you think? Are the issues getting short shrift in this year's election coverage? Do you have "pet" issues that aren't being examined?
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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