The Peever had a posting about “single issue” voters. Prompted me to get started on updating my checkoff list for the election.

In a sense I guess I am a “single issue” voter. Certainly not abortion or gay marriage or something idiotic like that. My single issue is the economy.

A couple of comments to begin with. Will rogers said all men look good until they are elected and that Congress' greatest contribution is to get the 500 biggest liars in the country in the same place. You know how to tell when a politician is lying? His mouth moves. Obama was on GMA this morning and very unartfully avoided the question.

Some sub issues about the economy and how the candidates look to me (based largely on their websites).

The National Debt. McCain wants to reform the Federal bureaucracy and keep taxes low. Obama wants a “jumpstart” and tax relief. But taxes are a separate category. A lot of this is fighting Congress' corruption and the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Close but Obama gets the check on this one.

The War. We should not have ever gotten into it. But we are in it and it must be ended correctly. A terrible drain on the economy. Sue Bush for the costs of the war. But an economic draw between McCain and Obama. Too much smoke screen and flipflopping.

The dollar. A lot of this to my mind is the national Debt and what them furriners think of us 'Murrikins. Bush is the international symbol for evil and McCain will not be able to turn that around. Trade barriers, international business are hard to find out about. Obama gets a definite check.

Taxes. Complicated. A lot of smoke from both sides. Tend to go with the age old idea that Republicans go for smaller government and Democrats are tax and spend. McCain gets a tentative check.

Energy and gas. Like all of the ideas about off-shore drilling, alternative sources, alternative transportation, nuclear, oil company profits (lots of luck on that one), etc. Neither will go for higher gas taxes but I think that is the way to go. Pretty even between them. Maybe McCain.

The environment. This is a big economic issue. Cleaning stuff up is expensive. And dollars spent now will means lots less spent by my grandchildren. Obama's website has a list of things he promises to do. Sounds good before the election. Check for Obama.

Earmarks and Congressional corruption. Again, lots of smoke. These are politicians talking about their bread and butter, after all. Based on McCain's record in Congress, a definite check for him.

Summary: close but an edge for Obama.

Both of the websites are full of what they are going to do. Neither really tell how. Whatever the how is, it will cost us – a lot. My peronal economic plan will be a joke. And neither tell how they will get around a donothing, corrupt, political Congress.

And then there is this that showed up in my inbox this very morning: "A president's pension currently is $191,300 per year, until he is 80 years old. Assuming the next president would be Sen. McCain and he lives to age 80 at the end of two terms as president, he would receive ZERO pension. Sen. Obama would be retired for 26 years after two terms and would receive $4,973,800 in pension. Therefore it would certainly make economic sense to elect McCain in November."

Comments and additions welcomed.