In this presidential election year, you can be assured that someone is saying something that appeals to you. Are you looking to the right leader when considering your long-term future?

Launch Google News and you'll see that virtually every news story has a negative message. With so much bad news about the economy and where things are headed, it is curious just what people in the U.S. are hoping for from the 2008 presidential election candidates.

For the sake of focus, just look at the state of the U.S. economy. What questions would you ask the current 2008 presidential election candidates about their plans for turning around the economy? Would you start by asking WHY, whenever inflation is reported, important factors such as gas prices and food are stripped out? Why do you think that is? Are the "leaders" in Washington just that detached from reality over what this means, or are they counting on an apathetic general public, that won't call them on it.

For those over the age of 65 who are on social security, what would you say to the 2008 presidential election candidates if you knew that including gas and food prices in the inflation calculation would net you a significantly larger monthly paycheck? Would you expect to get paid? How would you react if you were told that with a current estimated Federal debt of $53 trillion (that's "trillion" with a "T"!), the nation just cannot afford to cover the payments it owes you?

Have you ever considered the implications of the fact that just 30 years ago, the United States was the world's largest creditor nation (meaning other countries owed more to the U.S. than any other country), yet today we are the biggest debtor nation (meaning we now owe more to other countries than any other country in the world)?

Is it any wonder there are estimates that nearly 200,000 people per week are starting in a home-based business? Just read the headlines on any given day, and you'll see just how little security there is in the traditional job market. Consider the status of long-term companies like Morgan Stanley, General Motors, Southwest Airlines, Country Wide, and Citigroup. They are cutting jobs in the tens of thousands, or going bankrupt. Where will it end?

As you listen to the 2008 presidential election candidates make their speeches about what they would do if elected, ask yourself just one question: Are you looking to the right leader to provide for your future?