Not just an education issue

California's woeful dropout rate is emerging as a key issue in the race for the state superintendent's seat.

That makes sense, of course. Nearly 40 percent of Latino and African American students fail to finish high school in California each year. The state also loses about 20 percent of its white students and 10 percent of its Asian students before graduation. 

But this is not just an education issue — it's a public safety issue and an economic issue.

So while it's great that the candidates for state superintendent are talking about this issue, why isn't everyone else?

Why isn't the dropout epidemic a key issue in every race? Why isn't it an issue for those running for Congress? For those who want to be the state's next governor?