“Obviously the economy is job one. I mean all of our problems are linked somehow to a faltering economy. So if we can get jobs, if we can get the economy moving again, everything else tends to take care of itself. I mean, this push for immigration reforms is also badly needed. Plus it will help Democrats win next election if we can have a firm base of Latino voters. It’s going to help the Democratic Party. I am a strong supporter. The gay rights, I mean it’s time, it’s time that we get it front and center front center. So those are main things.”
(Brian Caufield, 54, of Syracuse, mobile application developer at the Syracuse Technology Garden, Democrat)
“Continue to work on the economy, absolutely. Continue to work on job creation here in the states. That should be the main priority. I would invest in more science and technology, different types of energy to help create industries here in the United States. Invest in more research and development. Invest in more new industries having to do science and technology and energy.”
(Lisa Miles Raposo, 42, of Syracuse, assistant director of the State University of New York Training Center system, Democrat.)
“We are already so far in deficit debt, things from what I hear anyway, everything is going wrong. But it’s too many people with a lot of money for there to be homeless people and hungry people. Too many people as rich men — they should be in a position to help people out. Billionaires, they wouldn’t spend all their money in 30 lifetimes. You know how many people that they can help.”
(John Edwards, 39, of Syracuse, not affiliated with a political party, homeless for the last six years. )
“First and foremost thing, I think the recent incident happened with the little kids. They should stop about the guns. They need to stop doing it as a commercial thing. That’s the first thing. Secondly, whatever the best for the companies – especially the middle-level companies for the tax benefits. Issues? There are many to discuss. But the first one is safety. Everyone thinks the U.S. is the best and safest place in the world but things are not going that well.”
(Hema Suman Yalavarthi, 36, of Syracuse, a human management consultant at National Grid, unaffiliated with a political party)
“Probably our spending would be the biggest issue. Taxes. We shouldn’t be taxed so much. The spending, we probably could find some better uses for our money instead of what Obama is doing right now. And we are supposed to be — the middle-classes are not supposed to be taxed more. And now we have more coming out of our paycheck.”
(Nichole Carlyle, 32, of Syracuse, Solu Technology Partner, Republican.)
(Maya Gao Qian is a graduate student in magazine, newspaper and online journalism.)
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