Top local concerns

Dear Editor,

I've been asking people around McCook a question that varies in form, but today it came out as "What are the top three issues you are concerned about, whether on the national-international level, state level, or local level?"

What am I hearing? (a summary)

* I almost always hear about the war in Iraq, about the current U.S. Administration in general, and about the loss of American freedoms to an over-active executive branch.

* I often hear about economic matters, ranging from the national debt through fuel prices to economic development to trying to live on a limited income.

* I often hear about issues of welfare, life-style, and moral priorities (but not the issues the religious right usually pushes. In fact it comes up regularly that people are very worried about the roles religious institutions are assuming in politics and government.)

As an example, here's a top-four list that came out this noon in response to my top-three question:

1. Economic development / economic opportunity / population decline in Southwest Nebraska.

2. "Losing our freedoms" in our over-reaction to terrorist threats, and in unwise and unplanned reactions.

3. "Peace in the Middle East"

4. Research money and research efforts to develop more options in bio-fuel development.

Here's a broader list of top concerns from a number of people I've talked with in the past week or so. They are not ranked by frequency of occurrence, and some are grouped together. They were all obviously serious concerns to the persons mentioning them. Do you share these concerns?

* The war in Iraq (usually as in "get out of there" or "They lied their way into it", also as to providing adequately for the troops while they're there, and after they become veterans)

* The national debt / deficit (as in "bankrupt us" or "tax refunds when we cannot afford it")

* The dangers of "religion in politics," or "the religious right"

* Trying to live on a limited income

* Women's and children's issues

* Youth (as in Nebraska's very high ranking in underage drinking and in teen pregnancy, frequency of parents assisting their kids in alcohol and drug use, lack of youth activities in rural Nebraska)

* "Cowardly Democrats" who won't stand up for the people or for the truth of what's being done (and, "Democrats have to step up to the plate")

* The Bush Administration in general (as in "lying" and "sowing distrust of government")

* The President "taking too much power to himself," the loss of our freedoms because of hasty and unwise anti-terrorism measures, loss of civil liberties (as in phone and Internet eavesdropping, loss of rights to due process)

* No Child Left Behind (described as "no school teacher left standing" or "lots of children left behind")

* Groundwater

* Federal lack of competence in pursuing the goals of "homeland security"

* Immigration (both as to uncontrolled borders and as to threats to low-income citizens)

What are your top three concerns?

Thank you to those who visited with me, and thank you all for your interest!

Larry Harvey

McCook

EDITOR'S NOTE -- Harvey is chairman of the Red Willow County Democratic Party.