Dow Closes Down 2.93%

I just received my trusty New York Times Afternoon Alert saying that the Dow closed down today 2.93%. Now I don’t know much about the stocks, except that my entire happiness after 65 is relying on a robust market, but I do know that this is bad. With all focused on the war in Iraq, health care and immigration, the economy is starting to wail with tell-tale middle child syndrome symptoms. Have we forgotten about the impact that 7 years of ineptitude and gross overspending on “national security?” Of course, I am preaching to the choir here on RH Reality Check about these issues, but it seems like the economy, as well as other former hot button issues like abortion, have gotten lost this year. This is not to say that “new” issues like the environment and same-sex marriage have aren’t 100% deserving of the attention they are getting by our candidates, but if we don’t focus on a wider range of issues (and the media is mostly to blame for the coverage they provide), these “forgotten” issues will begin to rear their ugly heads in much the same way that the Dow is today.