Where is the Domestic Agenda?

With so much focus on foreign problems, it feels like media coverage of important domestic issues has been replaced by misleading stories on the Iraq conflict. Republicans seem to be floundering for anything positive and Democrats are struggling to come up with a better message than "You're wrong". We need somebody or something to step up and lead elected officials back to issues at home like the rising costs of health care, possible social security failure and struggling public schools when compared with other countries. And, how can we expect politicians to come up with good solutions when they are shielded from the effects we all feel? Too few in the media question why government officials have lavish health care plans, impressive pensions and who seldom let their own kids attend public schools. It's not that these benefits are bad; I certainly would be happy with them. The problem is that when many Americans clammer for changes that could make it easier for us to secure such benefits, politicians of both parties drag their feet. I'm talking about social security privitization and school vouchers . . . of even a limited kind as to test their effectiveness. Unless they feel the actual pressures of middle class America, I'm afraid that our elected officials have no real reason to address these issues.