President Barack Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night will focus on energy, manufacturing, education and job training and other issues he says are crucial to nursing the U.S. economy back to health.
But are those the issues on voters' minds?
Because it's an election year, the speech before a bitterly divided Congress will be examined, analyzed and parsed to a fare-thee-well. Four candidates -- front-runners Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, along with former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Congressman Ron Paul -- are vying for the GOP nomination to run against Obama this fall.
And while there are weighty foreign policy issues looming, the nation's economy will be the focus of the address.
"I'm going to lay out a blueprint for an economy that's built to last," Obama said in a video released by his re-election campaign.
We asked MSN Money's Facebook community for comments on what they'd like to hear in Tuesday night's speech. Here are a few of the dozens of responses:
AnnMarie M.: We need jobs, Mr. President, to move forward.
Ed R.: Demand term limits for congress, demand a Constitutional amendment to get money and lobbyists out politics, demand tax reform, reduce military spending, reform entitlements. that should keep some people busy for at least a few months if they'd work a little harder and stop all the rhetoric.
J. Thomas G.: What's the use. Obama is just going to use his State of the Union address to pander to his dependency constituency with calls for more government handouts for votes.
Sandy B.: Please address those of us that have very poor medical insurance and cannot get underwritten for other insurance carrier's. I am not old enough for Medicare, not poor enough for Medicaid and cannot go for 6 months without any type of assistance to get government coverage as available by the states. Our Country has a big doughnut hole group of baby boomers that are extremely under insured and need help now!
Jerry F.: Seek a shared equity solution on future price appreciation for investors in exchange for reduction of principle on mortgages. Investors then have some hope of recouping their investment over time, home owners aren't evicted, and cities don't become blighted.
George B.: Just protect the safety nets and perhaps add the public option or better yet Medicare for all... Oh and get big money out of government.
Bradley S.: End creative accounting for the giant companies screwing over America.
Trish T.: Foreclosure crisis. Jobs.
Isidro F.: We'd like to see more jobs opening, bring back those companies making goods outside usa paying pennies and selling their goods for good coin.
Jesus S.: Cut congressional perks, bring them down to the level of the people they are supposed to represent.
Cammie F.: We also need to reinstate bank regulations!
Jeff L.: Federal and State public employees should take pay cut as private sectors when our government is running a deficit budget.
Sandy Lynn B.: Taxes should not be paid at all by the lower middle class; and taxes should be higher for the rich! Mitt pays his 15% and I pay my 35%!
David J.: Discribe how your administration can equlize the current trade imbalance with China.
Janet C.: Why do the leaders of this country have platinum level health care benefits and retirement. Why not have them all enroll in Social Security and (Medicare) like the average joe. .. bet they could come up with some solutions to those area problems then.
Mick G.: Legalize and Tax marijuana.
George O.: Open up all lands and coastlines for oil and gas exploration. Eliminate or ease up on any regulation that creates artificial obstacles to conducting business.
James H.: In order to get corporate money out of politics I am announcing that all elections will now be publically financed. Every politician will be term limited to two terms. This will be at all levels of government.
