ANDERSON, Ind. —
Ahead of President Barrack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, The Herald Bulletin asked some Anderson residents what issues they’d like to see tackled.
Answers ranged from gun control to the economy, race relations to equal rights for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered.
Here is a sampling of comments:
Elisha Blount, 25
“Race is the big thing. Once we get over this racial hump and realize we all have to come together, that’s how we’re going to stand tall as Americans. We’re not going to stand tall as Americans if we’re fighting all the time, in our own country.”
Dave Meiers, 52
“We need to look at the future direction of the country, especially the economy — our jobs picture, taxes, fiscal responsibility. We need a sound plan; we need everyone, both parties, to work together, which unfortunately doesn’t usually happen.”
Barbie Fauss, 25
“There aren’t enough jobs out there. It’s just crazy; it’s like everything’s going downhill. At the same time, things like Medicaid and Medicare are getting cut. I don’t think that’s fair to everybody. I mean, I myself am on Medicaid and if they cut that, where would we be?”
Deanna Petry, 20
“I’d like to see something done to improve LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning) rights. I have friends who don’t want to come out in public because they don’t feel safe. I have transgender friends who are afraid to be seen in public as they want to be, dressed the way they want to dress because some people have decided that if you’re not the stereotypical image of what people should be, then you’re not worth living.”
Michael Porter, 55
“Gun control. They (legislators) are all focused on the guns, but it’s not about guns. It’s about the people behind the guns. There needs to be more punishment. ”
Kevin Bailey, 20
“The economy is the big thing. I mean, people don’t have jobs, houses are getting foreclosed, people are homeless. There are hardworking Americans out there who can’t find jobs. That doesn’t make any sense. If we don’t do something financially, we’re all going to be in trouble.”
Find Baylee Pulliam on Facebook, @BayleeNPulliam on Twitter or call 648-4250.
Nation & World
Related Photos
-
President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in Washington. Charles Dharapak
Discussion
Economy, gun control among issues Anderson residents want addressed
- Nation & World
-
-
Britain: Soldier slaying suspects had been probed
Two men accused of butchering a British soldier had featured in previous investigations by security services, a British official said Thursday, as investigators searched several locations and tried to determine whether the men were part of a wider plot to instill terror on the streets of London.
-
Restaurant torched in 4th night of Sweden riots
Groups of youths have burnt down a restaurant, torched more than 30 cars and injured three police in a fourth night of riots in suburbs of the Swedish capital that started following a fatal police shooting.
-
Third-grader who loved to sing among tornado victims
A soccer-loving 8-year-old and a precocious "big sister" were among the young victims of Monday's monstrous tornado, their small bodies pulled from the rubble of Plaza Towers Elementary School after it was reduced to a massive heap of bricks and twisted metal.
-
Boy Scout leaders to vote on lifting gay ban
As protesters made one last stand, the Boy Scouts of America's leadership began a conference Wednesday that was expected to culminate in a long-anticipated vote on whether to allow openly gay Scouts — a decision that, either way, could deeply affect the organization's membership and funding.
-
Indiana presses ahead with I-69's next section
Indiana is pressing ahead with its search for a company to build a 21-mile section of the Interstate 69 extension under a public-private deal that calls for a contractor to line up its own financing to design and build the highway segment, state officials said Wednesday.
-
AAA: 31.2 million drivers to take Memorial Day road trip
From Thursday through Monday, 31.2 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more to a beach, campground or other getaway, according to car lobbying group AAA.
-
Man shot to death while questioned in Boston probe
A Chechen immigrant was shot to death by authorities early Wednesday after he turned violent while being questioned about his ties to one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, officials said.
-
Two infants among 10 kids killed in Oklahoma tornado
Two infants were among the 24 people killed by the tornado that ripped across the Oklahoma City area this week, the Oklahoma medical examiner's office said Wednesday.
-
Polish man gets quick face transplant after injury
A 33-year-old Polish man received a face transplant just three weeks after being disfigured in a workplace accident, in what his doctors said Wednesday is the fastest time frame to date for such an operation.
-
Anthony Weiner launches bid to become NYC mayor
Anthony Weiner's run for a renaissance is officially on.
- More Nation & World Headlines
-
Britain: Soldier slaying suspects had been probed
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
