by Teri Hooper

Created on: May 03, 2008

"It's the economy, stupid!" That's the battle cry that is once again being heard around the country. That's the collective chant arising from the depths of the masses of the working populace. That's the message our elected officials don't seem to be hearing.

The presidential candidates are listening though. Their elect-ability depends on hearing this message. But what pocketbook issues are voters screaming about the loudest? The economic priorities depend on where and to whom you are talking. One thing is for certain; the three main concerns are healthcare, jobs, and the Iraq war. And all three issues are complex. They will be difficult and expensive to solve.

Healthcare has been in crisis for some time now but Americans are just now awakening to the catastrophe that has been created in the healthcare industry. The healthcare problems are caused by a multitude of factors but the greatest blame goes to pure human greed. Industries' concern for their bottom line and their need to sustain an acceptable profit for their shareholders makes the costs of healthcare beyond reach for many businesses and individuals. The motivation to make a profit requires insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies to adopt and practice borderline unethical policies. As a result, healthcare coverage is becoming a luxury that can only be afforded by the upper-middle to upper class of the socioeconomic scale.

Jobs is an umbrella issue covering many sub topics. Stagnant wages, little or no pension and benefit compensation, employment security, and miserable working conditions are a few of the sub-concerns in the category of jobs. People are feeling insecure about their future employment prospects. Gone are the days of job security, decent benefits, satisfactory working conditions, and salary advancement. Current generations are facing uncertain futures with little or no negotiable clout for change. Due to consistent inflation and stagnant wages, many are facing a diminishing of their standard of living.

Finally, the Iraq war is a drag on the economy. There is much question as to the validity of the war to begin with. The lives lost create a need for the war's justification. Yet as the war goes on, the cost of the war digs the country's collective debt hole deeper and deeper. Americans are nervous about the continuous loss of lives and debt accumulation. They are concerned about the lack of an action plan. It's as if we're "winging it" with our strategic war plan. The end is uncertain and unclear.

So the desire for change is louder than it has been in many years. The president's approval rating is at an all time low and the next president will walk into a quagmire of complex, difficult, and expensive problems. Many Americans have had to put their personal pocketbooks on a diet and the country will have to do the same to dig out of the financial hole that has been created by the political decisions of the past few years.

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