And so most of us remain blissfully ignorant about candidate differences on vital issues. What are their exit strategies for getting out of Iraq, and how realistic are those strategies? What will they do about a national debt growing faster than springtime morning glory? How concerned are they about the U.S. Congress giving up powers granted by the Constitution exclusively to Congress?

What will they do about the growing trade deficit which results in declining worldwide value of the dollar? What's the plan to deal with the Social Security crisis when the national retirement program goes broke in a few years? Is a grossly underfunded "No Child Left Behind" program helping or hurting the education system?

What are their solutions for a health care system characterized by ever-increasing costs and ever-decreasing access? What about global warming?

These are only a few of the issues we face — issues critical to the future of the nation.

No doubt, the United States is strong enough to struggle through these challenges over the long term. But what price will our children and grandchildren pay in the process?

It may not matter so much who wins the election, but it does matter that those of us in Utah are left out of the discussion. We deserve the same opportunities to be informed as those who live in so-called "swing states." We deserve to know how candidates plan to deal with critical problems. We deserve to be included in the democratic process.

Candidates do not visit our state, and we are spared the barrage of political commercials. But we are left out of the decision-making process. No thoughtful Utahn believes the trade-off is worth it.

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G. Donald Gale is president of Words, Words, Words Inc. He was formerly editorial director at KSL. He earned a Ph.D. at the University of Utah and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Southern Utah University. E-mail: dongale@words3.com