June 29, 2007

StreetTalk by Carol Rosen

What are the best and worst things about living in America? (Asked at Longs on San Felipe and Yerba Buena roads)

“The best thing is the freedoms we enjoy but they are unappreciated. The worst is that our children grow up without a proper worldview. They see America as the center, and that’s not true.”

Dalila Epperson, 40
South San Jose
Homemaker and student


“The best thing is all the freedoms we have, especially as women to have a career, our own lives and our own money. The worst thing right now is the way we are perceived throughout the world. It’s hard to travel; people from other countries don’t like our government.”

Julie Wash
Evergreen
Physician assistant


“The best thing I feel is the fact that we still allow so many foreigners to come into our country. I like to experience different cultures and eat different types of foods. The worst is how our two-party system has let our citizens down. There are no longer two parties, they have blended together. For instance, in the 60s there were only 12 lobbyists in the United States, today there are more than 78,000. Our elected representatives no longer work for us. That’s been a problem since the Johnson administration.”

Roy Wash, 66
Evergreen
Retired


“The best part is I like the freedom to do what I want as a woman. The worst is that things are getting over-regulated. Taxes are too confusing. I don’t mind paying, but there should be a simpler way of doing the paper work - and I’m an accountant.”

Tracy Davis, 40-plus
Evergreen
Accountant


“I always thought our economy was good, but lately everything is going up but our salaries—raises are frozen. I have two cousins working at Home Depot that are getting their salaries cut."

Sandra Bruton, 21
Evergreen
Lockheed Martin


“The best is being an American citizen and having all the privileges we have. It’s hard to say what the worst thing about living in this country is. I have no complaints, I’m treated very well.”

Jeanette Machado, 77
Evergreen
Retired rancher


“The best is all the opportunities and freedoms in this country. The worst is that it’s getting more and more expensive—gas, mortgages, real estate—and the pressure.”

Bill Salazar
Evergreen
Machinist