KPBS has decided to end the weekly Current Conversation, and instead encourage our visitors to particpate in discussions on our blogs. Share your thoughts on the latest election news with our Citizen Voices -- a blog about election politics written by people like you.

California’s highest court will hear three hours of arguments Tuesday on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to be legally married. The case stems from a combination of lawsuits from 15 same-sex couples and the City of San Francisco. The suits were filed the day after the court halted a month-long wedding spree in San Francisco in 2004. A ruling is expected within 90 days.

In this controversial and emotionally-charged issue, do you think the decision should be up to the courts, or should the voters be the ones to decide?

The biggest beef recall in U.S. history happened this week, following animal abuse allegations at a Southern California slaughterhouse.

Federal officials suspended operations at the slaughterhouse when an undercover video by the Humane Society surfaced, showing sick and crippled cows being kicked, shocked and shoved with a forklift. USDS officials say downed cows pose a higher risk of contamination from E. coli, salmonella or mad cow disease. To date, more than 143 million pounds of beef, much of it destined for school lunches, have been recalled.

Does this latest incident raise your concerns about the United States' food supply?

The checks aren’t even in the mail yet, but many people already have big plans for their tax rebates. President Bush signed the $170 billion stimulus package this week, in hopes of setting off a rush of springtime spending, and adding a spark to the slowing economy.

The plan will give rebate checks of $300 to $600 for people who have an income between $3,000 and $75,000, plus $300 per child.

 Do you have plans for your rebate check? Do you think the stimulus plan is a good idea?

Super Tuesday has come and gone, and Hillary Clinton and John McCain have come out the winners in the big ticket state of California. Were you surprised by this or any other results from the Super Tuesday election? Share your reactions.

For the first time in decades, California voters are excited that they’ll be casting their ballots while the presidential race is still in play.  It’s a welcome change from years past when California was the political piggy bank, and the race was all but decided by the time voters took to the polls in June.

What makes this election exciting for you? What was your voting experience like at the poll today? 

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The economy's rapid decline in the last few months has caused a turnabout on the presidential campaign trail. Candidates have turned their attention away from the war in Iraq, and instead focused their efforts on telling hard-pressed Americans how they would bolster the slumping economy. Recent polls show Americans have economic anxiety over the halt in job growth, skyrocketing oil prices, teetering stock market and millions of home foreclosures.

How important is a candidate's economic platform to you as a voter? What issue is most important to you this presidential election?

Special Statewide Broadcast:
Primary Concerns: California Speaks Out
A collaboration between KPBS, KQED, KPCC, & Capital Public Radio
Thursday, January 24 from 9-11 a.m.
Listen to the archive online

It's been nearly five years since the creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The move was recognized as the most significant reorganization of the federal government in more than fifty years. It brought together 200,000 federal employees and two dozen other law enforcement agencies to protect the U.S. from terror attacks following 9/11.

DHS was recently criticized in a report by the Government Accountability Office for failing to achieve even half of what it was assigned to do, and leaving our country vulnerable to another major terror attack. But the fact is, there hasn't been a terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

 

Five years later, do you think the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is protective or ineffective?

 

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The race among Republican and Democratic presidential candidates is heating up for the rapidly approaching Tuesday primary in New Hampshire. Clinton and Romney were defeated in last week's Iowa caucuses and are struggling to avoid another major loss. McCain is gaining ground on the Republican side, and polls show Obama leading on the Democratic side.

(Updated January 8, 2008) In a night of comebacks, Sen. John McCain has won New Hampshire's Republican primary, and Sen. Hillary Clinton clung to a narrow lead over Sen. Barack Obama to win the Democratic primary.

What is your reaction?

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