For 10 years, the United States has been fighting very real and very expensive wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But we have never levied a dime in special taxes to pay for either of these conflicts, let alone the also-expensive war at home (in the form of homeland security).

For significant numbers of poor children and families, programs like Medicaid, food stamps and the Earned Income Tax Credit are vital, but they are not sufficient by themselves to overcome the serious multiple barriers these individuals and families can come up against.

Pension costs seem to loom over so many state and local budget battles like a sinister sword of Damocles, a dark reminder of Big Government's tyrannical profligacy. Should we panic?

Social Security's benefits are modest by virtually any measure, but vital to the millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors who rely on them. The annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is not a benefit increase, but a part of the basic benefit.

Romney's economic plan has gained the public endorsement of more than 600 professional economists. This public support, however, is diminished by the fact that most of these economists are urging voters to do as they say, but not as they do.

Now that the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act has been established, people need to know how it is going to work for them.

This Romney statement must be such a long throw to appeal to and energize the far right, but it is so wrongheaded that his desperation at this stage is downright amazing.